A method of storing and picking individual articles and/or packaging units in a storage system includes separating and transferring individual articles from incoming-load carriers and depalletizing and separating packaging units from incoming-load carriers. Individual articles, load carriers and packaging units are transported to a warehouse for intermediate storage of individual articles on or in load carriers and packaging units. Individual articles and packing units are picked at a picking area and the picked articles or packing units loaded onto order-load carriers. Individual articles, load carriers and packaging units are transported from the warehouse to the picking area. Load carriers are used only for the transportation and storage of non-conveyable individual articles or non-conveyable packing units and conveyable packaging units and wherein conveyable individual articles are transported and stored directly and without load carriers.