How to Integrate Visionary Visibility into your Warehouse

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In 1999, the term, “Internet of Things” (IoT) was merely a concept used to explain the possibilities of early RFID technology; however, today’s 26 billion internet-connected devices have turned the concept into reality. From enterprise-grade to consumer technology, studies project a 49 billion growth in internet-connected devices worldwide by 2025, averaging around 10 devices for every human on the planet. 

Not surprisingly, modern-day locationing solutions have evolved to enhance warehouse visibility while accommodating more devices into increasingly complex supply chains. However, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all locationing solution. From RFID tags to GPS tracking, today’s locationing systems can be adapted to fit your workflow’s unique requirements. As leaders in innovative efficiency, Avalon Integration encourages considering eight elements that can dictate locationing efficiency.

Transportation Logistics Receiving Dock Visionary Visibility

Avalon Integration can help you find the best locationing system

Locating the Best Locationing System

Every industry can benefit from accurate locationing, but that doesn’t mean all solutions will be the same. Storage facilities may not require detailed real-time visibility if only general locationing suffices. On the other hand, food-processing factories might need in-depth visibility into storage temperature and asset lifespan. Whatever your application may be, consider the following influencing factors:

  • Read range – Not all readers can cover large warehouses, and not all tags can survive long voyages across the globe while remaining functional. Determining read range is crucial in selecting a reader that fits your operations.
  • Location accuracy – Today’s RFID solutions can track moving inventory, but if your assets are mostly static, this may not be needed.
  • Asset type – Certain solutions may not fit with your assets. For example, RFID tends to underperform on metal, and real-time locationing may be unsuitable for tracking personnel due to privacy issues. In addition to asset type, work environment may also impact your locationing system’s efficiency.
  • Battery Lifespan – Much like read range, battery lifespan limits how far your locationing system can go.
  • Connectivity Options – From Bluetooth to WiFi, every connectivity option has its benefits and limitations. Common connectivity options include Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, cellular/satellite, 4/5G, and LTE. 
  • Compatibility – Data without readability is useless. Insight collected by your locationing system can be used to optimize operations and streamline efficiency; therefore, data should be accessible through your mobile devices.
  • Cost – Because of different read ranges and lifespans, locationing systems can vary in price, which means there could be a more cost-effective option than mainstream solutions.

Offering a wide ecosystem of visibility technology, Avalon Integration partners with Zebra Technologies in designing efficient locationing systems that address every consideration listed above with efficient functionality.  Whether it’s through Zebra’s RFID-based MotionWorks or the industry’s most-efficient line of enterprise-grade tablets, choose a visibility solution that best adapts to your workspace.

Ready to start? Contact Avalon Integration today for an in-depth assessment of your workflow to find a visibility solution centered on your needs.

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Go Green with RFID: See How RFID Technology Fits in the Sustainable Warehouse

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Within the past decade, new research and manufacturing policies have brought environmental concerns to the forefront of consumers’ attention. Results from the CGS 2019 U.S. Consumer Sustainability Survey show that 68% of today’s consumers see sustainability as a deciding factor in whether or not to purchase a product. In 2019, products labeled sustainable accounted for as much as $114 billion in revenue, a 29% increase compared to 2013. From product assembly to shipping methods, there are several ways companies can integrate sustainability into their supply chain. However, while it may be tempting for companies to label products as sustainable, the Federal Trade Commission deals heavy fines for misleading and/or inaccurate labels. 

In our commitment to both the environment and operational efficiency, Avalon Integration investigates new technologies and their benefits beyond the warehouse. Among these technologies, RFID tracking stands as one of the most promising resources in establishing sustainable practices with the supply chain. By providing true real-time visibility, RFID equips you with actionable intelligence into every detail of your operation to reduce environmental impact.

Creating the Green Warehouse, One Tag at a Time

MC3390R Green Sustainable Warehouse

MC3390R Being Used in a Sustainable Green Warehouse

Before choosing any particular RFID solution, it is important to consider tag composition and durability. Because they will face several sorts of environments even after application, RFID tags should be designed with strength in mind. Like is quality consumables, Zebra’s RFID tags are tested for continuous performance on a wide range of surfaces, so you do more than just can track more than inventory.

  • Manage inventory to prevent overstocking – A common issue in the retail industry, overproduction can lead to wastefulness and product depreciation. By managing processed goods in real-time, companies can regulate assembly speed to match the market demand.
  • Minimize unnecessary and inefficient transportation labor – Inaccurate orders require labor and money to rectify. RFID readers can verify loaded shipments to prevent unnecessary truck deliveries and additional CO2 emissions.
  • Implement additional policies with greater visibility – Since RFID technology can provide a full overview of warehouse activity, gathered intelligence can be used to pinpoint bottlenecks, extraneous energy usage, and wasted storage space.

But RFID isn’t the only technology revolutionizing supply chains. Catch an up-close look of 2020s most prominent technologies at MODEX 2020 and join Avalon in exploring the next generation of efficient technology. 

When it comes to lessening environmental impacts, small changes can go a long way. To see how RFID can enhance your operations, contact us for an in-depth assessment of your current workflow.

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Avalon’s Finest: See how our Interns are Shaping the Future

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As part of our commitment to innovative efficiency, Avalon Integration is always proud to recognize innovation in our community, especially in our interns. That’s why we were floored to see how our very own former intern Danielle Houser is taking innovation beyond our four walls and into capitol hill. 

Serving as Rep. Neal P. Dunn’s (R-FL) legislative aid for military affairs, Miss Houser has implemented the core of Avalon’s goals by designing seamless accessibility to crucial resources for several Florida military bases. By ensuring bases had access to necessary resources, Miss Houser helped maintain public safety during Florida’s hurricane season. We are confident she will continue to demonstrate great passion and determination as she moves on to a career in the U.S defense sector because whether in warehousing or public service, Avalon is dedicated to implementing efficiency wherever we go. 

 Check out Avalon’s Finest in Our Video Below:

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This is How Avalon Integrates Efficiency

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There is no limit to perfection. It took as close to 75 years for 100 million people to adopt telephones, yet only a day to get that same number of people onto a mobile app. Founder of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schawb, has characterized the blurred lines between technology and society as the 4th Industrial Revolution, and like past technological advancements, the present rise in new systems and operations is set to reshape industries across the globe, including warehousing, T&L, healthcare, and many others. 

However, unlike past innovations, today’s new technologies, such as RFID and advanced machine learning, bring a new level of automation that enhances an employee’s unique capabilities by valuing critical skills and simplifying routine operations. As a result, Avalon Integration explores popular technologies due to redefining modern-day supply chains with more efficiency and visibility.

Efficiency and Developing Purposeful Connected Labor

Zebras RS5100 and WT6000 Improve Warehouse Efficiency

Zebras RS5100 and WT6000 Improve Warehouse Efficiency

As labor costs continue to rise worldwide, the need for purposeful labor increases as well. To develop purposeful and cost-efficient practices, automated systems relieve employees to focus on more pressing tasks. Nevertheless, automation’s usefulness has also been perceived as a threat. Research conducted by the Gallup Research Center found that almost 73% of working Americans believe intelligent machines may eliminate jobs. On the other hand, 61% of responding warehouses reported relying on a combination of both technology and human effort. Today’s most advanced technologies still require human collaboration. Therefore, automation’s goal is not to outright replace labor but to enhance it. A few examples include:

  • RFID – Able to gather over 40 codes into one tag, RFID further maximizes visibility by tracking asset movement, market demands, and storage requirements all through one solution. This reduces the need for extraneous labeling while diminishing processing errors as products are prepared for shipment.
  • Wearable Technology – Further elevating warehouse ergonomics, wearable technology such as Zebra’s WT6000 can increase productivity by 15% by pairing accuracy with speed, so workers can process more inventory with less  Moreover, wearable technology proves to be highly adaptable as it accommodates other technologies with less space. As a matter of fact, over 70% of warehousing facilities seek to employ wearable technology within the next five years.
  • Hands-Free Picking – To eliminate additional time-consuming touchpoints, hands-free picking and voice picking accelerate workflows when integrated into wearable technology.
  • Internet of Things (IoT) – Breaking the established limits of connectivity, IoT expands visibility with real-time updates. Crucial data can be tracked and modified across a whole warehouse…and even outside the four walls.
  • Blockchain – Taking connectivity beyond singular teams, blockchain technology brings every member of your supply chain closer, from manufacturers to retailers. With data safely updated across a whole supply chain, fewer bottlenecks threaten inventory as transparency is maximized.

The future is filled with new uncharted opportunities. To see how these technologies and more can strengthen your workforce, contact us for an in-depth assessment and/or demonstration at your convenience.  

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Good-Bye Windows: Welcome Opportunities with Android

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With the close of the decade comes the close of the Microsoft era. As of January 1st, Microsoft has ended its support for Windows’ mobile operating systems which have powered enterprise technology for decades. Although support for Windows 7 will continue until 2021, Avalon Integration is already exploring several ways in which Android empowers the workforce to thrive in the face of the industry’s most notorious demands. 

The MC9300 uses Android to scan in any Environment

The MC9300 uses Android to scan in any Environment

Zebra researchers have uncovered numerous challenges to be expected within the coming months. As technology continues to advance and social media platforms become ever more prolific, the rise of e-commerce will contribute directly to the 76% increase in ordered assets, which leads to more deployed devices and a greater need for efficient long-term labor. Paired with the rising labor costs across the nation, the labor shortage has also led to higher turnover rates. In the end, the 2020’s top challenges can be summarized in:

  • Rise in omnichannel retail
  • Inefficient labor retention
  • Compressed logistics operations

Fortunately, Android operating systems have been thoroughly enhanced by both Zebra Technologies and Google to fit into the enterprise landscape.

Android is Ready. Are You?

The MC9300 uses Android to versatile for anywhere and everywhere

The MC9300 uses Android for anywhere you need it

When done correctly, OS migration can be seamless and profitable. As a Zebra Premier Solutions Partner, Avalon Integration provides all the resources needed to help you catch up with change without impacting productivity. As Zebra’s OS of choice, Android integrates efficiency by:

  • Delivering much-needed security: Within the first six months of 2019 alone, there were over 3,000 publicly disclosed data breaches. As the risk of cyberthreats grows exponentially, Android is refined for enterprise with government-grade encryption and Zebra’s LifeGuard, which delivers 90-day security patches and automatic silent OS updates.  
  • Implementing familiarity: There were over 2 billion monthly active Android consumer devices worldwide in 2017 alone. As one of the top operating systems in the world, Android simplifies the user experience, lowering training times since the interface is already familiar to workers. 
  • Accommodating the next generation of productivity technology: From the latest ultra-rugged designs such as the MC9300 to native productivity applications like Mobility DNA, Android powers the latest technology designed for faster operations, accurate order fulfillment, and increased warehouse visibility from packing to shipping.

Despite the new year, it’s still not too late to migrate. Ease into a new operating system, designed for enterprise efficiency when you create your modernization strategy with Avalon Integration. Count on two decades of experience and in-depth assistance while securing productivity with solutions tailored to your needs. 

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