What will a traceability blind spot cost your production line?

Just in the last decade, food giant Chipotle made history when it agreed to pay the largest fine in history – a whopping $25 million in response to its part in a sickness outbreak that would affect over 1,000 customers in a span of 3 years. Unfortunately, compromised food safety is a widely shared issue amongst manufacturers and distributors within food service. The costs of one communication gap may end up being incalculable when you factor in:

  • Lost hours of productivity as teams search for operational blind spots
  • Recall execution expenses such as setting up automated phone calls and postage for returned items
  • Severed distribution relationships as partner businesses must also adjust to recalls
  • Missed compliance fees and audits that come up after mistakes are noticed
  • Reverse logistics and storage as brands must process returned items while keeping them separated from uncompromised products.
  • Broken consumer trust as shoppers will avoid brands with a history of recalls even if it’s just from one event.

Even if spoiled products are identified before leaving facilities, businesses still take a heavy blow financially as products must be discarded.  Experts estimate food manufacturers and distributors can lose as much as $750 billion per year due to poor handling procedures, improper cold storage, and inaccurate data processing. Consequently, targeting blind spots within food distribution has become an undisputable priority.

Three technologies enhancing food safety visibility

Several next-generation devices are now built to simplify tracking and tracing workflows; however, because food service often runs into the challenges of cold storage, technology solutions must also be durable enough to protect real-time visibility. In our partnership with Zebra Technologies, we’ve seen the following technologies thrive in the challenges of maximizing food visibility:

  1. Bluetooth-enabled temperature sensors – Battery-operated Bluetooth sensors mitigate interference issues to protect undisrupted temperature tracking even after products leave the dock. Sensors can be read through any Bluetooth-compatible device for real-time storage verification as products travel down the supply chain. This trackable visibility allows businesses to quickly pinpoint and remediate inadequate temperatures before they harm products.
  2. Customized labels for crisp barcodes – As stated many times by many experts, identification labels are a lifeline for your products since they display vital information such as storage notes, handling instructions, and compliance codes. Constant movement throughout the distribution process can contribute to early label damage such as scratches, fading barcodes, and peeling. Therefore, to protect inventory identification, labels should be tailored for food handling, able to survive extreme temperature changes and long transportation. Zebra’s Certified Consumables fulfill these requirements in drawing strength from several pre-tested materials to ensure consistent performance anywhere they go.
  3. Fixed industrial scanners and machine vision – Multiple purchasing options, new markets, and updated compliance standards have created a more dynamic supply chain with multiple possibilities for blind spots. Consequently, automated fixed scanning and machine vision have taken center stage in seamlessly verifying product quality without halting productivity. Conduct simple track and trace and/or quality inspections across the whole supply chain with automatic visibility that connects to your WMS in real-time for less guesswork.

Selecting a visibility device is only a small part of complete solution design and deployment. To fully reap the benefits of higher operational visibility, we recommend starting with a full evaluation of your current workflow to target hidden blind spots. By assessing where they’re located, your team can then integrate a scalable solution that stays within allocated budgets while deploying future-forward technologies. By doing so, businesses not only protect transparent traceability, but they also prevent operations from being blindsided in the future by new changes.

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When it comes to mobile computers, you have lots of options. Let’s explore them.

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The mobile computer has become the face of modernized automation in today’s industries. From healthcare clinical devices to field service communicators, mobile devices have progressed technologically to streamline vital workflows for simplistic usage and upgrades. As a result, unique challenges have created a variety of different mobile capabilities, giving businesses more flexibility when selecting a modernized device. On the other hand, more options may equate to more confusion, which is why it’s important to assess your computing needs with the following questions:

  • What sort of workflows am I consolidating?

Android’s open ecosystem allows businesses to implement new applications to expand device functionality without extensive recoding; however, rugged devices like the new MC3300ax are built with integrated scanners, WiFi 6, and push-to-talk connectivity, enabling 2-way communication and automated data capture right out of the box without additional hardware. Learn more about the new MC3300ax in our video.

  • What scanning range do my employees need?

A field technician may not need to consistently capture barcodes 75ft away. Flexible scanning ranges such as the ones available in the MC3300ax allow businesses to reduce deployment costs by selecting devices perfected for the size of their space. In addition to scanning range, connectivity range should also be considered since captured data should essentially be digitally transmitted onto your WMS’ database without any disruptions.  

  • How rough is the work environment?

Micro-fulfillment warehouses located inside of stores or smaller urban areas can get by with less rugged devices compared to cold storage facilities. Zebra’s EC5x provides superior connectivity, data capture, and ease-of-use for store associates and growing warehouses whereas the ultra-rugged MC9300 can be customized with a freezer-ready screen and glove-friendly keyboard to withstand the temperature changes of cold storage environments. Regarding field service, the TC7x stands apart from in its class due to its flexible connectivity networks to protect long-range communication channels and its rugged outdoor-ready design. 

  • Do my workers need a keyboard?

Touchscreen devices have been shown to minimize training times since they resemble consumer-grade devices. However, keyboards facilitate heavy data entry without forcing workers to travel to a centralized computer station. Zebra’s TC8300 combines touchscreen simplicity and warehouse data applications within one touchscreen device to reduce the errors of manual data entry. For previously keyed workflows such as TE applications, Zebra’s All-Touch Terminal Emulation can convert green screen apps to fit touchscreen interfaces without extensive app rewriting. 

  • Which disparate devices are included in my solution? 

If workers will carry other devices such as mobile printers or scanners during their shift, a lightweight wearable computer like the WT6300 may be a better option in order to maximize worker comfort and integrate additional devices without overwhelming workers. 

Look through our complete Zebra portfolio to learn more about next-generation devices. 

How to start your upgrade

To select the best fit device for your mobility solution, we recommend first meeting with a modernization specialist to assess current workflow challenges and outline realistic implementation goals. Depending on your selected upgrade, your devices may be eligible for cash rebates if upgraded through the GO Zebra Trade-In Program. Eligible devices can be traded in for cash rebates in three steps: 

  1. Purchase your eligible Zebra device
  2. Submit a claim form within 90 days of your invoice date
  3. Trade in outdated devices from any manufacturer for up to $650 in rebates per device

Meet up with an Avalon modernization specialist today to get started.

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7 Things Power Carts Bring to Your Warehouse

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Today’s warehouses are navigating a multitude of challenges; however, two obstacles stand in attention-worthy contrast: high order volume and crippling labor shortages. While order fulfillment rates skyrocket from year to year, employee shortages have created an obstacle in accurately fulfilling the surplus of orders within a smaller timeframe. The Bureau of Labor reported that 45% of warehouse jobs remained unfilled by December of 2021. Meanwhile, labor turnover rates across industries has increased by 8%, costing up to 33% of an employee’s annual earnings to remediate. 

It is no surprise then that automation has become indispensable for warehouse survival. To alleviate pressures on fluctuating workforces while maintaining high order throughput, automated solutions must prioritize versatility, mobility, and ease-of-use. Combining these three factors in one solution, mobile workstations like Newcastle’s Power Carts empower distribution centers by delivering seven game-changing benefits:

  1. Rapid return of investment – By accelerating ROI, companies have more available resources to implement more automated and/or predictive measures. This protects business flexibility in the event of future disruptions. 
  2. 63% increase in ordering volume – By streamlining scanning and label printing through one mobile station, warehouse teams can label and verify orders in strategic places throughout the warehouse. Increased speed results in more orders being processed within smaller time frames since workers no longer need to wait in bottlenecks to print and label orders. 
  3. 50% productivity increase – Equipped with industrial printers like Zebra’s thermal printers, power carts also cut down wait time with faster printing speeds and higher label resolution. Moreover, because they are mobile, printing stations can also cut travel time, keeping workers productive instead of idle. 
  4. 5 to 10 hours of extra work saved – In addition to faster printing, automated data capture via Zebra’s ultra-rugged scanners connects workers to inventory data without losing a second. Real-time order and inventory updates eliminate the need for excessive end-of-shift reporting, further lowering labor costs. 
  5. 90% reduction in labeling errors – Unlike manual data entry, which is both error-prone and time-consuming, automated data capture and sharing reduces the likelihood of errors progressing down the supply chain. Fewer labeling errors also protect orders from mis-shipments and delays, increasing overall customer satisfaction. 
  6. Less bottlenecks for easier social distancing practices – New concerns regarding employee health and social distancing should discourage high employee density. By leveraging high-speed automated solutions, power carts reduce the time employees spend gathered around centralized printing stations, protecting them from unnecessary germ exposure.   
  7. 75% reduction in overtime – Fast-acting technologies are developed to streamline and simplify complex workflows, which means businesses can also expect to save money allocated to overtime. 

Learn more about all-in-one mobile workstations in our brochure, here. 

Depending on the nature of your facility, mobile workstations may bring additional benefits to your workflows. For a full overview of your opportunities, contact Avalon’s modernization specialists to schedule your workflow assessment.

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We’re (Finally) Unwrapping the Benefits of Zebra’s ET80/85 Tablet!

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From first responders to field technicians to manufacturers, today’s workflows depend on agile performance from workers and technologies alike. Fast real-time updates prevent communication breakdowns, expand inventory control, and facilitate employee tracking, all culminating into maximized uptime and lowered operational costs. To accomplish this in a myriad of environments, Zebra’s newest 2-in-1 Windows Tablet was developed with flexibility in mind. Joining the versatility of an enterprise Windows platform with dependable security and high durability standards, the rugged tablet is expected to redefine enterprise flexibility as noted in our Product Knowledge video below:

The Delay is Over: Transform your Workflows with one Future-Forward Solution.

As supply chains and crucial operations become ever more connected, next generation technologies must aim at expanding accessibility to diffuse vital data safely and efficiently across the entire workforce. This allows workers to cultivate teamwork in any environment by:

  • Enabling remote workflow monitoring – Windows 10 delivers real-time visibility to connected devices. Moreover, the tablet’s detachable keyboard provides a laptop functionality suitable for administrators, thus standardizing device selection across the whole operation.  
  • Preventing data breaches – Multiple authentication layers, credential validation, and Windows Hello facial recognition allow users to have tiered security levels, preventing accidental sharing or cyberattacks. 
  • Unifying entire teams in and out the four walls – Connectivity is indispensable to ensure smooth workflows. That’s why the ET80/85 leverages several connectivity options such as 5G, Bluetooth, and even WiFi 6 to help teams plan and update routes based on real-time information. Further sustain team communication with Zebra’s Workforce Connect for push-to-talk capabilities and secured text messaging, all deployed through your tablet. 
  • Facilitating on-the-spot quality control – Continuing the legacy of purpose-built technologies, the ET80/85 integrates a handheld scanner along with high resolution cameras for on-the-spot data capture. For manufacturers, this means quality control can happen in multiple locations within workflows to prevent recalls and ascertain traceability. 

In addition to these benefits, expected high durability and ergonomic factors are still in place, safeguarding ease of use and device longevity. Download the ET80/85 fact sheet to see more new benefits. 

How to make it yours:

As a Zebra Premier Solutions’ Partner, Avalon facilitates modernization by removing the obstacles of device procurement, software integration, staging and kitting, and more. To see how and where Zebra’s new tablet benefits your workflows, schedule a preliminary modernization assessment with our specialists and carefully evaluate optimization areas in your facility.

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