How to connect frontline workers without extensive network changes

From retail to field services, frontline workers are crucial to business success as they best represent brand competency and commitment to quality customer service. However, research suggests that this important segment is often overlooked during optimization opportunities, an issue that directly contributes to high labor turnover and expensive rehiring costs exceeding $5,000 per lost employee. In addition to high rehiring costs, disconnected frontline workers can lead to:

  • Impacted brand representation
  • Wasted resources such as fuel, packaging, and labor hours
  • Employee dissatisfaction
  • Slower customer support, deliveries, and maintenance reports
  • Overlooked worker safety concerns

To minimize these effects without completely restructuring your digital framework, Avalon partners with Zebra Technologies to introduce a seamless way to empower frontline teams in the most demanding environments. 

Rise up to any challenge with Workforce Connect. Watch our video to see how:

From the production floor to the front of the store, your whole supply chain operates as a team to ensure business continuity. That’s why Workforce Connect breaks through barriers in order to unify teams with greater operational visibility, real-time communication, and clear task organization. Deploy Zebra’s push-to-talk software on your enterprise-grade mobile device to create a scalable communication solution that connects the whole team on one platform. 

By simply strengthening communication channels within the workspace, you can foster new optimization opportunities such as:

  • Hardware reduction – Save on operational costs by streamlining data capture, computing, and communication into one device, eliminating two-way radios and extra maintenance services. 
  • Real-time task assignments – Notify teams of immediate changes in the workflow without disrupting operations and manage task completion to certify action was taken properly.
  • Ensured worker security – Amplify workflow visibility to pinpoint safety issues and disperse your workforce, mitigating accidents and risks in the warehouse and on the road.
  • Customer-centered order tracking – Provide your customers with real-time updates on their order’s status to meet new consumer expectations.
  • Appropriate hand-free communication for drivers – Integrate voice commands for calls and text messages in your fleet, so drivers can remain connected without taking their eyes off the road.
  • Actionable insights delivered on your handheld – Track delivery reporting, location history, dispatch interferences, and more through one interface set on your mobile device to facilitate data sharing and analytics. 

See how Workforce Connect enhances more than the warehouse when you download our brochure. 

Flexible and adaptable to your needs, Workforce Connect can be implemented on any of Zebra’s dependable enterprise devices. Reach out to our automation experts today to learn how you can deploy Workforce Connect in your current technologies and connect your frontline workers with a communication solution crafted to empower the workforce. 

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Evaluating Data Capture Modernization for Expanded Operational Visibility

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Way before the global pandemic, modern order fulfillment had already proven to be both complex and fast-paced. As e-commerce continues to fuel the now-economy, today’s fulfillment centers and supply chains find themselves in a competitive landscape to meet evolving customer demands such as:

  • Faster order delivery falling between 1 to 5 business days
  • Ability to track orders as they move down the supply chain
  • Certified worker safety, disinfection, and contactless transactions
  • Continuous stock availability 
  • Seamless and free returns

Failing to meet any of these requirements can hinder the customer experience, ultimately impacting brand loyalty, satisfaction rates, and profitability. While there are several ways to optimize each requirement, data capture automation stands as a simplistic method to start securing efficiency and greater visibility across the whole supply chain with less workflow modifications. 

What to look for in your automated data capture solution?

Studies indicate that while 72% of businesses are investing in technologies designed to reduce TCO, about a fifth of companies still struggle to implement effective automation. Easy-to-deploy and cost-effective, automated data capture has taken center stage as a bridge to softly allow businesses to modernize without restructuring their operations. To accomplish this, modernized data capture should…

  • Integrate intelligent capabilities – While general-purpose scanners can effectively capture barcodes within a controlled setting, warehouses may be operating in busy and/or extreme conditions. That’s why intelligent scanners must be able to capture small, fading, and even scratched barcodes in a variety of surfaces, sometimes multiple codes at once. Applications like Zebra’s SimulScan and Multi-Code Data Formatting (for mobile computers and handheld scanners respectively) illustrate this by capturing specific barcodes within one larger document. Intelligent PRZM imaging also helps expand scanner performance by accelerating data capture and deciphering inferior barcodes for accurate scans. 
  • Connect with your data processing system – Your digital devices are merely an extension of your team, which means they should strive to connect teams. Solutions combining data capture and computing within one device cut complicated workflows by keeping your data accessible and safe through one platform.  Collected data can be converted to actionable insights and timely updates to prevent future complications before they arise.
  • Be scalable and adaptable – Demands can change in a blink of an eye. Consequently, a modernized scanning solution should be able to readily adapt to fluctuating workforce size, stringent disinfection cycles, longer shifts, and increased order throughput without increasing training times or radically changing crucial applications. This is where intelligent rugged scanner design combined with an intuitive software can help maintain uptime in the midst of change, freeing up your teams to focus on other opportunities for growth. 

See how Zebra’s DataCapture DNA continues to simplify scanning automation in our video:

As a Zebra Premier Solutions Partner, Avalon Integration works with a wide variety of enterprise-ready scanners and mobile computers to seamlessly automate data capture. To see how you can start upgrading your scanning systems without disrupting operations, contact our modernization team for a free assessment.  

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Explore a new level of supply chain optimization with Avalon’s Experts

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In the digital age, efficient innovation can take many forms, which is why Avalon’s modernization experts are constantly watching and experimenting with the latest trends. As solutions like robotics, machine intelligence, and time-efficient automation continue to reshape the post-pandemic world, we’ve invited our team to share valuable insights as to how you can benefit from these new modernization initiatives. Tune into our podcast to learn more:

With over 70% of warehouses planning to enhance the workforce with automated solutions, there has never been a riper time to start modernizing. To see how you can start integrating future-forward technologies into your workflows, reach out to our team for a comprehensive assessment of your opportunities.

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4 Benefits DataCapture DNA Brings to the Table

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While a rugged scanner’s design can help secure uptime, intelligent software goes beyond data capture by expanding performance and streamlining data processing. As we continue to explore the qualities of a modernized scanning solution, we turn to Zebra’s DataCapture DNA software as it eliminates modernization complexities while accelerating deployment. When paired with Zebra’s rugged scanners, DataCapture DNA can…

Simplify device management

To alleviate your IT team, Data Capture DNA comes with three remote-management applications:

    • 123Scan – Create a programming barcode that can be used to update one or more scanners without extensive programming.  
    • Remote Management – Access scanner information to set updates and create parameters through your Zebra Scanner Management Service or Windows Management Instrumentation tool. 
    • PowerPrecision and Battery Management – Prevent downtime by monitoring battery cycles for all your deployed devices. 

Expand operational visibility across the workplace

Track operations and collect insightful data with two scanning applications to prevent surprise downtime

    • SuperSpeed Analytics – Identify operational patterns through collected data to create safety parameters within your inventory. 
    • Remote Diagnostics – Collect asset data to monitor maintenance schedules and spot issues before they cause downtime.

Enhance scanner productivity

While there are many productivity tools designed to support unique workflows, the following applications assist in streamlining workflows for faster processing.

    • PRZM Intelligent Imaging – Optimize decode performance with an application that allows you to capture codes in virtually any condition, increasing scanning capacity by 56% compared to competing solutions.
    • Multi-Code Data Formatting – Accelerate scanning with a 2D imager that decodes multiple barcodes at once. Scan up to 20 barcodes on one label simultaneously and automatically format them on your device.
    • Preferred Symbol – Automatically detect and scan your preferred barcode without having to cover up the rest of your label and expect accurate and fast scanning with every trigger pull.
    • WiFi Friendly Mode – To eliminate interruptions, Zebra’s WiFi Friendly Mode keep Bluetooth-operated scanners from overlapping with other WiFi channels.
    • Intelligent Document Capture (IDC) – Unlike flatbed scanners, IDC takes a digital image of your document and deciphers any barcodes for quick and efficient scanning. 

Accommodate developmental changes

Facilitate pairing with just one step for accelerated integration with:

    • Scanner Software Development Kit – Shorten development cycles with Zebra’s technical assistance resources such as how-to videos, source codes, and sample applications. 
    • Scan-to-Connect Connect scanners to your mobile devices via Bluetooth. 
    • Scanner Control Application – Control your Bluetooth-enabled scanner via your preferred tablet or mobile computer. 

Get a full view of how DataCapture DNA goes beyond the barcode in our infographic.

Whether you are looking for a general-purpose scanner or enterprise-intensive data capture, expect more from your devices with intelligent high-performance applications developed to increase efficiency. Contact Avalon Integration today to see how you can bring the benefits of DataCapture DNA into your operations.   

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What kind of scanner do your operations need?

From mounting options to data capture range, today’s modernized scanning systems can be customized to fit in the smallest spaces and work through the longest shifts without compromising scan accuracy. That’s why researchers expect a 19% growth in scanner upgrades by 2022, as more operations strive to meet demands with automation. Consequently, modernizing data capture technologies may seem overwhelming at first due to the many differentiators now available through leading manufacturers. To facilitate optimization, Avalon Integration and Zebra Technologies investigate the major differentiators one should consider when upgrading scanners.

  • Indoor or Outdoor?
    Although all of our enterprise scanners are built to last, outdoor-purposed devices are equipped with longer scanning ranges, higher drop specs, and light-
    resistant aimers to maximize scanning efficiency on the go. In a similar vein, indoor scanners have also come a long way by remaining durable despite their smaller size. Moreover, scanning engines have adapted in order to fit into mobile computers, eliminating the need for an additional handheld device that could add to worker discomfort.
  • Handheld or Hands-free?
    As “contactless” becomes the standard in workflows across multiple industries, hands-free scanning options such as fixed mounted scanners and ring scanners have become popular. These options empower workers to capture data without additional movement or touch points, accelerating workflows while preserving worker safety.
  • Long Range or Short Range?
    Certain use cases such as inventory management may be well performed with a standard range scanner (under 50ft) to avoid capturing the wrong code. On the other hand, shelf auditing and cross-docking can benefit greatly from long range data capture as barcodes are often located further away or on high shelves. Long range data capture such as the MC9300’s 70ft scanning range enable fast accurate scans without the need to move inventory for a closer line of sight.
  • High-Volume or Low-Volume
    While most scanners are designed to capture over 1,000 scans per charge, modernized scanning applications like Zebra’s SimulScan accommodate high-volume demand by capturing multiple codes at once. For both high-volume and high-demand, scanners like the DS3600 combine simultaneous scanning with longer and hot-swappable batteries, ensuring uptime into longer shifts.

As a Zebra Premier Solutions Partner, Avalon is able to equip you with Zebra’s best-in-class enterprise scanners, each designed to adapt to your unique workflow while
bringing dependable accuracy, ease of use, and remote management into your operations. See how in our video:

To see which Zebra scanner best fits your goals contact our automation experts today for a free assessment of your data capture needs.

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Defeating 4 Misconceptions About Modern Warehouse Automation

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Innovative technologies, such as machine learning and real-time locationing, have long served as prime examples of today’s modernization efforts in warehousing, yet these disruptive initiatives have also been seen as “too complex” and “far off” by many operations -largely because of common misconceptions such as:

  • “Modernization requires extensive piloting and time to produce measurable ROI.”
  • “Modernization is only suitable for large-scale operations.” 
  • “Modernization will replace human operators.”
  • “Modernization is too expensive.”

With at least 69% of businesses claiming to have poor visibility into their supply chains, the time for misconceptions such as these is over. Because the digital era demands both speed and accuracy equally, outdated warehouse processes are no longer suitable to keep you competitive. However, modernization doesn’t have to be as complicated as you think, which is why we wanted to bring clarity to the four statements presented above:

  • “Modernization requires extensive piloting and time to produce measurable ROI.”

Design and piloting allow your team to test and tweak your solution for best results; however, extensive testing can drain budgets while causing downtime due to longer training periods. Nevertheless, modern touchscreen interfaces and Android’s user-friendly platform are developed to help minimize training for faster deployment and ROI. As a matter of fact, TE-app converters such as Zebra’s All-Touch Terminal Emulation help convert “green-screen” apps right out of the box without backend modifications for faster integration. 

  • “Modernization is only suitable for large-scale operations.” 

Working with a wide range of clients, from small and growing businesses to Fortune 500 companies, we’ve seen modernization solutions built with enterprise-grade technologies readily adapt in various-sized businesses. By streamlining multiple tasks through one device, technologies like the MC9300 computer can accomplish several specialized tasks through one intuitive interface, adapting to different workloads while accommodating growth.  

  • “Modernization will replace human operators.”

This is a common -and serious- concern regarding warehouse modernization, yet studies show that over 70% of warehouses actually plan to enhance human labor with partial automation. Simply put, while computers can intelligently gather and deliver information, human minds are still crucial to executing final decisions. For example, Zebra’s MotionWorks solution incorporates future-forward RFID locationing to track in-motion inventory and provide actionable insights that allow your workforce to make accurate plans to meet future needs and overcome challenges before they happen. By automating repetitive tasks, a modernized warehouse can also empower the workforce to deal with more high-level tasks.   

  • “Modernization is too expensive.”

Because effective modernization does not require a complete restructuring of your operations, it may actually be more affordable than previously imagined. On the flipside, outdated technologies can lead to high inaccuracies, missed compliance codes, multiple device servicing contracts, and frequent tech support and downtime – all greatly contributing to operational costs.  As a Zebra Premier Solutions Partner, Avalon works hard to make modernization as seamless and cost-effective as possible. Upgrade legacy devices from any manufacturer through the GO Zebra Trade-In Program to get cash back rebates up to $650 per device towards your upgrade. 

Every operation possesses its own unique requirements, which is why we know there may be other concerns and misunderstandings beyond what was covered. Contact us today to see how efficient modernization can help ease your doubts and turn challenges into opportunity. 

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