In a method and arrangement for distributing articles, an order management system acquires an order for delivering articles, the articles to be delivered are transferred from an article store and the articles included in an order are order-picked into at least one mobile shelf unit shelf compartment. The mobile shelf unit is subsequently transported to a dispensing station including a first article storage region separated by a first separating wall and a customer access region and is brought into a handover position, in which the at least one shelf compartment is accessible via a closeable opening in the first separating wall. When an article dispensing system receives a request for picking up the articles by a person or a machine associated therewith, it uncovers the closeable opening if authorization exists for picking up the articles. Alternatively a loadings robot can load the articles to be delivered into the machine.