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Labor shortages plus the E-com Boom is a recipe for stress. See what T&L businesses are doing about it.

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The first half of 2021 has been marked by an ever-dwindling workforce across multiple industries. From foodservice to warehousing, businesses have struggled to attract and retain skilled employees due to growing issues such as greater job options, requests for higher wages, and limited childcare opportunities. While warehouses are slowly regaining numbers, transportation and logistics firms may still face greater demands with the end-of-year e-commerce boom brought on by the holiday season. With delivery timeframes expected to shrink even more and high turnover rates, T&L businesses find themselves with the challenge of accelerating order processing without overwhelming current employees. To do so, field teams have adopted the following strategies:

  1. Streamline operations through one consolidated workflow – Individual devices incur individual costs such as maintenance, software, and replacement fees. Moreover, new employees must then learn to operate several devices quickly to maintain productivity levels, further increasing training costs. Newer mobile computers such as Zebra’s TC72/77 reduce costs by streamlining computing, data capture, and communication channels into one device. This reduces training times and operational costs as employees only need to grow accustomed to one device.  
  2. Track worker safety to prevent more understaffing issues – Worker safety both in and outside the four walls continues to be a deciding factor when it comes to employment retention. That’s why exposure awareness systems have become increasingly more popular as they allow transparent traceability of possible germ exposure. Moreover, on the field, secured connectivity systems like Zebra Workforce Connect enable hands-free communication with warehouses in real-time, preventing accidents and facilitating precise driver locationing and delivery status through one interface.
  3. Remove paper-based reporting for zero-wait data sharing – Unlike pen-and-paper inventory management, modernized data capture preserves team connections by facilitating instant data sharing through one centralized database. In doing so, warehouses can update delivery teams of order volume, changes in ETA, and routing changes without delay.
  4. Minimize touchpoints between loading and shipping – Contactless transactions have gained popularity across the supply chain due to their speed and safety. RFID technology has led the forefront in minimizing extra touchpoints by capturing multiple barcodes in one scan and tracking in-motion inventory for maximized visibility. 

Optimizing scalable efficiency can take many shapes depending on your operation’s current struggles. Get a clearer picture on how to start safeguarding productivity in your workflows when you schedule an in-depth assessment and stay a step ahead of change with a modernization solution that adjusts to your needs.

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Seize the Edge: What Label Printer Should You Choose?

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Ensuring seamless inventory movement down the supply chain, your enterprise printing solution works hard to deliver crisp, legible, and durable labels and tags carrying vital stock information. Needless to say, your printer is the foundation of an effective printing solution, which is why careful consideration of the following four factors must be taken when upgrading your enterprise printer:

  1. Workspace type – While highly durable, large industrial-grade printers take up a lot of space. On the other hand, small desktop printers lack the needed portability mobile printers bring. Assessing where your printing stations will be located helps narrow down choices.
  2. Connectivity type – All printers must possess a way to communicate with your database to produce labels. Modernized printers can connect via Bluetooth, allowing workers to print from anywhere through their handheld devices.
  3. Future applications – Understanding the differences between direct thermal and thermal transfer printing allows you to select a printer with the durability standards needed to handle high continuous heat.
  4. Ease-of-use – Lastly, as supply chains strive to meet smaller timeframes with an ever-changing workforce, ease-of-use has also become a prioritizing factor since a simplistic printer may enable faster deployment and maximized productivity when compared to a complex model.

Integrate an adaptable printing solution with Zebra’s ZD621 Desktop Printer

Changes in supply chain demands and labor availability can make it difficult to estimate how much printing power your operations will need in the future. To circumvent disruptions, Zebra’s newest desktop printer aggregates key features to boost adaptability in smaller workspaces. Unlike previous models, the ZD621 enables:

  • Increased printing power that’s 30% higher than previous models and 300% than legacy devices.
  • Backwards compatibility with your current label formats.
  • Application adaptability as you can choose between direct thermal, thermal transfer, and RFID models.
  • Streamlined troubleshooting and update deployments through Zebra’s Printer Profile Manager Enterprise app.

Click here to see the full list of the ZD621 printer’s benefits.

From longer printing performance to faster label production, discover the ease of modernized label printing with the next evolution of warehouse technology. Contact us to take a closer look into the newest edge of durable printing.

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Why Add a Keypad to Rugged Scanner?

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Zebra’s newest DS3600-KD is expected to set a new standard in ease-of-use, yet at face-value, one might wonder how an additional keypad is more beneficial to a scanner, and how it differs from previous touch-computers. While similar to enterprise computers, the keypad-scanner merger lowers adoption rates since it is familiar to employees already using handheld scanners, particularly the frontline workforce. An additional keypad harnesses small-scale benefits that work together to speed up data entry for faster service. In doing so, distribution centers can meet higher customer expectations surrounding faster and same-day shipping – all without additional strain and costs to an already busy workforce.

4 Ways Zebra’s Additional Keypad Elevates Operations

When workers can key in crucial data such as location and quantity directly on the spot, they no longer have to waste time interacting with additional host devices or rescanning the same object for more data. Moreover, the DS3600-KD is equipped with pre-built applications to further elevate operations through:

  1. Eliminating additional trigger pulls – A keypad boosts ergonomics by decreasing instances of finger fatigue as workers can adjust quantity data with one hand.
  2. Adding location data to individual products – Quickly update locationing information by entering aisle and shelf number to your scanned data. This further accelerates order picking as following shifts can use previously captured data to find products in the warehouse.
  3. Image documentation – Capture images of the assembled order and share it with your host for a recorded verification track of orders and possible damages.
  4. Quick matching scans – Scan the container’s outer label and then each individual item inside an order with the help of the screen’s visible confirmation to make sure the container has an accurate completed order before shipment.
  5. Sustainable inventory cycle counting – To ensure 99.99% inventory accuracy across the warehouse, the DS3600-KD has been developed to retain connectivity even when away from the cradle, so your data is always transmitted to the host as your workers navigate around the workspace.

Get a closer look into how the DS3600-KD is setting a new standard in intelligent durability with our application brief, available here.

The limits of innovative efficiency are constantly expanding to embrace a new generation of fast, accurate, and customer-centric technologies. Reach out to an Avalon modernization expert to explore a new way to optimize data capture with Zebra’s newest ultra-rugged scanner.

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Start gearing up your warehouse with 5 inventory management initiatives set to skyrocket in 2022

Start gearing up your warehouse with 5 inventory management initiatives set to skyrocket in 2022

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Technology advancements have facilitated faster order fulfillment and warehousing tasks by consolidating mainstream workflows onto user-friendly platforms. However, with advancements came a deeper interconnectedness amongst the different parts of the supply chain. One change in the production line affects the checkout lane. This has been consistently noted with issues like the global pandemic, escalating import tariffs, and material shortages. To thrive in the dynamic supply chain, warehouses have begun adopting new inventory management initiatives dedicated to expanding communication channels and protecting end-to-end visibility.

It started with automation, but the applications are now limitless

The 2020 pandemic served as a catalyst in accelerating advancements to meet an outburst of new and old demands. Researchers now believe the following trends will become mainstream best practices in modernized warehousing within the coming years:

  1. Multi-warehousing – Last-mile costs paired demands for same-day shipping has led companies to consider relocating closer to urban areas, yet city-based warehouses have higher operational costs and may incur zoning issues. As a result, mass warehouses have split into smaller localized segments that are monitored by a main central location. Efficient multi-warehousing depends on real-time connectivity to ensure visibility across sites. This is where intelligent devices like enterprise tablets help expand visibility while providing a scalable mobility solution for newer sites. By breaking apart warehouses, operations can provide faster shipping at a smaller cost. Multi-warehousing also amplifies flexibility since you can keep operations running even if one site is affected by a sudden change.
  2. The return of Internet of Things (IoT) – Studies suggest COVID-19 was also responsible for a halt in IoT adoption as warehouses scrambled to meet current demands. Now, as businesses are readjusting to new demands such as transparent traceability and worker safety codes, IoT can provide the key connectivity between digital assets. When mobile devices are all connected on a shared platform, warehouses can manage stock levels in real time as well as inbound and outbound operations linked manufacturing plants and retailers.
  3. Push for sustainability – It’s estimated nearly a third of today’s young consumers (ages 18 to 30) prefer brands committed to sustainable, eco-friendly warehousing. RFID tracking technologies have been gained maximum traction to both reduce paper labels and closely monitor inventory movement. Automated data verification helps minimize the unnecessary use of paper systems while preventing stock from getting lost and exacerbating expenses.
  4. Inventory forecasting – Intelligent visibility between supply chain steps is only the start to guaranteeing smoother workflows. That’s why operators are now investing in forecasting systems that synthesize purchase patterns from collected data to create possible response plans in the event of disruptions. Zebra’s MotionWorks takes it step farther by ensuring simplistic ease-of-use so your workforce doesn’t have to rely on an IT team to transform collected data into actionable insight.
  5. Real-time communication across the supply chain – Last, but certainly not least, unbreakable communication systems between manufacturers, field teams, warehouses, retailers, and even end-customers has become a centerpiece of effective modernization. This allows businesses to quickly alert team-members of changes and updates from anywhere in the supply chain, minimizing lost time and expenses. 

As new trends continue to emerge, Avalon remains committed to simplifying modernization through effective innovation. Discover new approaches to refining your competitive edge when you reach out to Avalon to learn more.

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How Rugged Should Your Handheld Scanners Be?

How Rugged Should Your Handheld Scanner Be?

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Automated data capture is a business’ ticket to maximized accuracy and labor efficiency; however, to deliver realized benefits, your scanning device must be appropriately paired with your workflow. Under-performing scanners halt productivity with lower battery lifecycles and short-range scanning, but misused ultra-rugged scanners can be too complicated and bulky for mobile workers to use. Therefore, it is important for operations to first assess the ruggedness features in your desired scanner to enable:

  • Accurate asset tracking
  • Real-time inventory updates
  • Seamless order verification
  • Minimized data errors in your WMS
  • Connected field services

“What should I be looking for in my scanner upgrade?”

Coming from a long legacy of tested durability, Zebra’s enterprise-grade scanners have been constantly redefining the standards of modernized data capture. Whether you are looking for a general-purpose imager or a high-performing rugged scanner, consider the following:

  1. Data capture mechanism – Scanners can be categorized by whether they use a laser or imager to read barcodes. A laser scanner like Zebra’s L14278 is generally more cost-effective since it utilizes a red laser to read 1D black-and-white barcodes. Omnidirectional laser scanners eliminate the need for precise aiming, speeding up the scanning process. On the other hand, imaging technologies can capture the entire barcode in a digital image and decipher the information from both 1D and 2D barcodes. Intelligent PRZM scanners such as the DS4600 are more suitable for 2-D barcode applications in frontline operations.
  2.  IP rating and other durability measures – Outdoor and unique applications such as cold storage will require more than a higher IP rating. For example, Zebra’s DS3600 is equipped with an 8ft. drop spec, waterproof and dust-proof design, and 23% more durability than competing devices. For a more lightweight option that still survives in tougher industrial environments, the DS8100 is a viable option as it provides similar benefits in a more simplistic design.
  3. Connectivity options (hand-free or fixed-mount) – Hands-free scanners have overtaken the modern warehouse due to their ability to leverage natural muscle movement in the workflow to faster employee onboarding and data capture. Easy tap-and-pair in devices like the RS6000 facilitate total wearable solutions for increased productivity and picking accuracy. As for corded/fixed-mount images similar to Zebra’s DS457, these eliminate Bluetooth interference and possible battery depletion issues.
  4. Scanning speeds and distances – Fast-paced operations such as fulfilment for e-commerce count on quicker scanning speeds to avoid shipment delays. That’s where intelligent scanning applications such as SimulScan come handy with multiple barcode capture. As for scanning range, standard-range devices successfully grab information nearby without confusing devices. In contrast, intelligent long-range readers are designed to target barcodes up to 70ft, enabling safe scanning of products located on high racks and shelves.
  5. Battery performance – Lastly, enterprise-ready scanners should last beyond the standard 8-hour shift to prevent downtime from uncharged batteries. While individual scanners may come equipped with long-lasting batteries, Zebra’s PowerPrecision mitigates surprise downtime by enabling clear battery management for all deployed devices. That means your workers can verify devices were properly charged and are fit for a full shift before the day begins. 

To explore Zebra’s entire scanner portfolio, click here.

Make the upgrade with the GO Zebra Trade-In Program

Avalon facilitates your upgrade with the GO Zebra Trade-In Program. Simply purchase your upgraded scanner and submit your claim form within 90 days of the invoice date to trade-in devices from any manufacturer for cash rebates towards your upgrade.

No two mobility solutions are the same. That’s why we encourage meeting up with a modernization specialist to better pinpoint the data capture needs of your operations to best select a scanner fit for your goals.

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Intelligent Data Capture Just Got Smarter: Meet Zebra’s Newest Barcode Scanner

Intelligent Data Capture Just Got Smarter: Meet Zebra’s Newest Barcode Scanner

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When facing pressing deadlines with a smaller workforce in a high-speed warehouse, technology must deliver unbroken efficiency around the clock. While the world readjusts to life after COVID-19, the demands for fast and accurate order fulfillment has not relented. In fact, online sales skyrocketed by 34% in 2020. As a result, nearly eight out of ten companies seek mass digitization in order to keep up with demands. With the 2021 Peak Season due to reflect even more growth, the time to optimize order fulfillment is now. Intelligent data capture technologies have been crucial in accomplishing this by enabling faster, omni-directional scanning that transcribes barcode data directly onto your inventory management system, eliminating manual processing. With these benefits in mind, Zebra has once again raised the bar in data capture intelligence with the new DS3600-KD Ultra-Rugged Scanner.

What happens when you put a keypad on a barcode scanner?

Built on a long history of rugged enterprise scanners, the DS3600 sports the highest degree of durability with 50% more battery power and 40% more read range. Now, to conquer new customer demands, Zebra’s new scanner equips you with:

  • Customized data entry independent of pen and paper – Make changes on the go to scanned data via the integrated keypad.
  • Pre-built applications – Streamline several crucial workflows such as picking, cycle counting, and order verification through one scanning device.
  • Trusted durability in any environment – Despite its new keypad, the DS3600-KD can still sustain up to 10ft drops, 7,500 tumbles, and extreme temperatures, allowing you to use it in rugged environments like cold storage.
  • Color display for easy viewing – Quite similar to a mobile computer but on a much smaller scale, the DS3600-KD facilitates app usage with a high-resolution display that modernizes the user experience.
  • Over 16 hours of non-stop scanning – Equipped with PowerPrecision+ batteries, the DS3600-KD delivers over 60,000 scans per charge while notifying administrators when batteries need to recharge, thus eliminating downtime from battery failure.

To see the DS3600-KD’s full capabilities, download the fact sheet here.  

From increased inventory visibility to trackable work-in-progress, meet high demand with high performance when you deploy technologies designed to turn trials to triumph. For more information on Zebra’s newest rugged scanner, contact an Avalon expert.

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Hassle-free implementation is possible with these three factors.

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When operating in dynamic supply chains, operational visibility is critical to prevent unseen obstacles from halting productivity and impacting customer satisfaction. However, increasing demands and shortages have created a unique situation where modernization -while beneficial and promising- can be a hindrance if it’s not easily adopted by an evolving workforce. From the production floor to the checkout lane, automation must enhance worker performance. In warehouses, 77% of businesses are currently in the process of equipping workers with automated solutions. At the other end of the supply chain, retailers have claimed over 60% of RFID tag purchases in 2020 alone. To ensure smooth implementation, the following three factors have become popular among leading modernization strategies.

Modernization is built on familiar interfaces, intuitive versatility, and tested expertise.

As automated systems are designed, Avalon recommends considering the following as foundational parts of your modernization plan for hassle-free implementation:

  • Familiar Interfaces – An hour of downtime, whether planned or surprise, can cost businesses over $100,000 per hour in lost productivity, missed deadlines, customer dissatisfaction, and worker stress. To combat this, familiar interfaces such as touchscreen usability and Android’s user-friendly OS help diminish training times while welcoming new hires without complex functionalities.  This is where applications such as Zebra’s All-Touch Terminal Emulation (TE) come in handy as they help convert legacy TE apps into a touchscreen display for immediate use prior installation.
  • Intuitive Versatility – Supply chain efficiency generally depends on three kinds of devices: the scanner, the data processor, and a communicator. For this reason, most team members have been burdened with three or more devices to execute these three main tasks. A feasible modernization strategy should attempt to streamline these tasks through one versatile device. For example, newer mobile computers have been adapted to include intelligent data capture, fast automated data processing directly to your centralized management system, and sustainable communication channels that eliminate the need for bulky two-way radios.
  • Tested Expertise – Working alongside longtime experts such as Avalon’s modernization specialists helps diminish deployment times since they can draw from multiple past scenarios for a tailored design. Furthermore, post-deployment services such as assisted maintenance and tech support certifies your solution is running smoothly for future updates and changes.

With the 2021 Peak Season fast approaching, swift and seamless modernization may just be the key to enhancing your competitive edge and surpassing customer expectations. Take the first step when you talk through your options with an Avalon specialist to begin designing a modernization strategy that elevates productivity and profitability with hassle-free implementation.

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Seize Your Edge: Meet the Device Redefining Wearable Efficiency

Seize Your Edge: Meet the Device Redefining Wearable Efficiency

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As warehouses and distribution centers prepare for the end-of-the-year uptick in order processing, the demand for simplistic technologies increases since it facilitates faster deployment and productivity for seasonal hires. Consequently, wearable technologies have gained traction due to their ease-of-use and maximized safety. Previous studies have cited a 15% increase in productivity without overstraining the workforce or budgets, resulting from:

  • Higher ergonomics which boosts worker comfort
  • Android’s intuitive platform that’s familiar to consumer-grade devices
  • Streamlined data capture and processing to eliminate manual data entry
  • Tap and pair connectivity with current mobile computers and WMS

Moreover, wearable technologies facilitate the integration of hands-free picking technologies, which have been shown to accelerate inventory movement and overall productivity. To truly serve as a viable option, wearable technologies should be lightweight, adaptable to individual workers, and compatible with current picking systems to avoid major disruptions.

Zebra’s HD4000 meets all the goals while enabling additional benefits.

As the first of its kind, Zebra’s head-mounted display connects to your mobile device to promote real-time visibility and hands-free directed workflows set right before your employee’s eyes. The result has consistently been…

  1. Maximized task accuracy since digitized orders no longer require manual input.
  2. Faster order fulfillment since inventory location and status information is poised right in front of workers as they navigate throughout the warehouse.
  3. Greater worker safety as employees are able to travel around the warehouse with their eyes focused directly at the task at hand.
  4. Faster adaptability to changes since displays can be remotely updated in the event of supply chain changes and sudden demands. This helps warehouses prevent out of stocks since inventory levels can be monitored in real-time.  
  5. Individualized worker flexibility backed by leading optical display technology that adjusts to pupillary distances, glasses, and differences between right and left eyes, all to minimize eye fatigue.

See how the HD4000 increases productivity in our fact sheet. Simplicity and intelligence go hand in hand when developing a modernized order picking solution. Contact Avalon to see how you can increase both with wearable technologies designed for the high-demand digital age.

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What Makes Intelligent Automation So Smart?

What Makes Intelligent Automation So Smart?

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It’s no surprise that intelligent automation has been on the forefront of current modernization trends. Over two thirds of warehouses across the globe have continuously cited partial automation as the key to increased profitability and competitiveness, yet not every automation solution is built the same. This explains why so many warehouses remain cautious to swap familiar systems such as pen-and-paper inventory tracking for newer solutions such as RFID locationing since disruptions can lead to:

  • Operational delays that affect the whole supply chain – Studies suggest parcel shipments will double to 220 billion shipments worldwide by 2026.
  • Negative brand identity – Nearly seven out of ten shoppers abandon brands if their purchase isn’t delivered within two days the stipulated time frame.   
  • Lost sales and customer loyalty – Customer acquisition costs can amount to 25% more retention costs.
  • Inventory and asset misplacements that contribute to higher TCO – Improper storage and handling has created a $750 billion loss in the food industry alone.
  • Worker stress that fuels labor turnover rates – With turnover rates exceeding 30%, warehouses simply can’t afford to risk complex systems requiring longer training and onboarding time.
What Makes Intelligent Automation So Smart image

Sense, Evaluate, and Expand

Streamlining workflows from multiple areas in the warehouse, truly intelligent automation solutions should be able to leverage captured data into actionable insight without hindering productivity. Assess a solution’s intelligence by analyzing its capacity to accomplish the following three goals:

  1. It empowers you to sense change while communicating with supporting systems such as your WMS, ERP, and TMS. For example, Zebra’s Fortified Android enables greater intelligence by aggregating new applications into its open ecosystem, ultimately facilitating data sharing between systems and departments.
  2. It simplifies data evaluation to create actionable insights. Paper-based data systems have been shown to be more error-prone, thus complicating actionable intelligence since workers must navigate through several logs and systems. On the other hand, automated data capture and RFID solutions eliminate complications while accelerating data entry with less touchpoints and room for error.
  3. It’s expandable for the whole warehouse and future employees as operations grow. Since demands are only expected to continue increasing, technologies should welcome the possibilities of high demand, longer shifts, and tougher work environments. Rugged hardware such as Zebra’s handheld MC9300 exemplifies this well by pairing its ultra-rugged design with a user-friendly Android interface for easy deployment. The result is a scalable mobility solution fit for indoor and outdoor use year-round.

Based on these three goals, there are many next-generation technologies that can form an intelligent automation solution. With the help of an experienced solution design team, you can start building a modernization plan that best suits your warehouse. Contact us for more information.

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Avalon cold storage RFID technology image

Seize Your Edge: This is what modernized real-time tracking is like without RFID.

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RFID technology has long been at the forefront of modernized locationing systems given its ability to track in-motion products and assets. However, while still adaptable to most applications, RFID tags are not always the best option for every environment, particularly cold storage, where a combination of metal, ice, and condensation, can impact label and reader performance. With cold chain operations expected to grow by 7.24% in the coming year, supply chains must find a way to combine durability and adaptability in their tracking system. Today’s ideal cold storage tracking system should integrate:

  • Minimized touchpoints – To mitigate germ spread and accelerate throughput, warehouses should minimize points of contact either through long-range scanning or wireless connectivity.
  • Scalable growth opportunities – Resource shortages such as the current microchip shortage can increase demands, thus putting more strain on your devices. Consequently, deployment should be easy to accommodate changing numbers of inventory and personnel as needed.
  • Durability that extends beyond the freezer – Because field teams now travel much farther than before, tracking technologies should be packed with long-lasting batteries or flexible charging options to keep workers connected during longer routes.

Zebra’s electric temperature sensors deliver it all.

Seamless temperature tracking is only half the battle. To create a competitive tracking system, sensors should be paired with enterprise-grade and freezer-ready mobile devices that withstand constant temperature swings and long-distance shipping routes. In combining mobile computers and electric sensors, modern tracking systems can:

  • Certify the correct products are packed correctly for timely shipping
  • Prevent early spoilage after products leave the loading dock
  • Scan frozen barcodes at a distance without label repositioning
  • Update receiving stores on ETAs, delays, and product condition in real time
  • Facilitate audits since traceability records are all digitally available

To see how Zebra’s electric sensors interact seamlessly with your device of choice, download our fact sheet.

Whether through Bluetooth locationing or RFID technology, clear workflow visibility has become indispensable for the modern-day warehouse. Reach out to our modernization experts today to see how you can start amplifying operational visibility in your facility with technology that grows alongside your goals.

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