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How the ET45 Maximizes Features at the Right Price

If you are considering purchasing consumer-grade tablets, there are hidden costs that you should first understand. While consumer tablets can be enticing due to their low cost, their features, durability, and barcode scanning capabilities could be less than ideal. Reasons like these are making associates prefer rugged enterprise tablets that deliver more and can still be cost-effective. Studies show that nearly two-thirds of associates believe rugged tablets can help them deliver a better customer experience and increase worker satisfaction over consumer tablets. As the global market share of tablets is estimated to grow at 8% to $1,468.4 million by 2027, more supply chain decision-makers are switching to enterprise tablets because they can help improve the efficiency and performance of their workforce.

 

Businesses that don’t adapt to associate needs and supply chain trends could ultimately suffer from outdated operations, which leads to lost customers and diminished productivity. Here are some questions to consider when thinking about purchasing a tablet solution for your enterprise:

  • Can the tablet reduce operational costs and downtime that stem from lost productivity and broken devices?
  • Does the tablet empower your workers to work faster and smarter?
  • Is it equipped to handle heavy data capture needs?

 

Redefine enterprise operations with the right features.

Finding an enterprise tablet that addresses these concerns can help improve operations and reduce errors. Fortunately, enterprise tablets like Zebra’s ET45 help deliver the functionality and versatility your business needs to adapt to trends. The ET45 redefines enterprise operations because it:

 

  1. Delivers dependable durability at a lower price – Built for business environments, the ET45 delivers dependable performance in tough environments. Its design withstands drops, indoor and outdoor environments, and extreme temperatures for improved performance. Additional tablet accessories also enhance portability and durability in more demanding environments. All at a cost that rivals consumer tablets.
  2. Enhances data capture capabilities for scan-intensive environments – Your mission-critical workers should have access to world-class integrated scanning. Zebra’s ET45 tablet delivers split-second, first-time data capture of virtually every barcode, in practically any condition. For dependable, simple scanning or advanced range scanning, the ET45 is equipped to empower your workers to scan in virtually any environment. With the ability to simultaneously capture up to 100 barcodes, even on multiple labels with a single scan, this enterprise tablet helps create higher accuracy.
  3. Empowers workers to work faster and smarter with the right options – Get the fastest wireless connectivity to keep you connected anywhere with WiFi 6e and 5G speeds. Better connectivity gives workers access to the fastest networks which help them collaborate on important tasks when demands are high.
  4. Expand versatility with complimentary tools – Improve every aspect of the device lifecycle with features that deliver a built-in advantage. Features like Mobility Extensions and StageNow offer improved security and staging for easier device management.

 

A rugged enterprise tablet can redefine operations with advanced features that support higher performance. Talk to an expert at Avalon today to evaluate a tablet solution that meets your business needs.

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5 Enterprise Benefits You Won’t Find in Consumer-Grade Tablets

When facing shifting customer expectations and labor shortages, it can be tempting to choose easier technologies that are familiar to incoming workers to accelerate onboarding. Consumer-grade technologies tend to find favor in the supply chain since they break high adoption curves and are easily embraced by new workers. However, studies show that consumer devices cost up to 50% more than rugged devices over five years, so while they diminish upfront costs and training, they end up costing more with long downtime periods and acquisition costs. The IDC estimates that after adding up annual repair costs, out-of-pocket costs, and lost productivity, the average cost associated with a non-rugged tablet is $2,462, while those who purchase rugged tablets give businesses an ROI only after the first year. Purchasing a consumer device can cause unnecessary expenses and a loss in productivity, while choosing rugged enterprise devices can help save time and money to improve operational efficiency, whether it’s in your store, field, manufacturing plant, or warehouse.

 

Empower Your Enterprise with Versatile and Dependable Performance.

To equip their enterprise with the right durability and versatility, more decision-makers are implementing enterprise tablets that help expand industry capabilities. Built to support several supply chain industries, Zebra’s new ET40 enterprise  tablets increase staff productivity, reduce total cost of ownership, and simplify management. Unlike consumer tablets, they empower teams with:

 

  1. Rugged durability that secures efficiency – Implementing Zebra’s ET40 tablet empowers business with a rugged design right out of the box and a business class lifestyle with guaranteed device availability for three years. This delivers a strong ROI that makes great business sense and withstands tough environments such as those in warehousing, manufacturing, and field service environments.
  2. Streamlined data capture and accuracy with embedded scanning capabilities – No matter what type of scanning your workers do, there should be a scan engine that’s right for the job. Enterprise tablets like Zebra’s ET40 can provide warehouse workers and retail associates with the specific scanning capabilities they need. From standard range scanning to advanced range scanning, deliver split-second first time capture of virtually every barcode, in practically any condition.
  3. Maximum security – Protecting the devices that ensure productivity and efficiency in your business should be built into your devices. Android’s security in the Zebra ET40 maximizes device availability and can be improved with Mobility Extensions to offer over a hundred features to improve Android security, manageability and more.
  4. Maximize capabilities with Android productivity apps – Equip your workers with an easy-to-carry 8-inch design for easy viewing of information rich apps and the ability to control those apps. This gives your store associates, warehouse workers, and field technicians more control over task management and fulfillment.
  5. Versatile capabilities that expand operations – A wide range of what your devices can do can give your workers the ability to easily complete tasks. Zebra’s ET40 tablet can also turn into a two-way and the multi-slot and desktop charging cradles simplify backroom device management. Additionally, you can create a workstation on demand with the Workstation cradle and create a kiosk and more with the Presentation stand. More versatile manufacturing, warehousing, store operations, or field service allows your business to adapt to demands and maintain consistency.

 

In other words, consumer-grade tablets cannot deliver the performance your business needs to adapt to consumer expectations. In place of fragile devices, consider evaluating your systems with an experienced automation partner to deploy solutions designed for increased productivity and ease of use.

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How to Optimize Label Printing at a Lower Price Point

As warehouses continue to enhance order fulfillment, budgetary constraints remain a top concern alongside ease of integration. Between device procurement, software installation, and employee training, modernization costs can quickly grow out of control. Before integration, research estimates businesses already spend an average of nearly $3.7 billion in a 100-employee warehouse. Current labor shortages and demands have bolstered those expenses, forcing companies to compromise on cost and effectiveness.

 

Affordability Meets Adaptability

Establishing dependable product identification can lower the risks of misplacements, shipping errors, and overstocking. While integrating a label compatible with your facility is a great way to start, experts also recommend integrating an enterprise thermal printer built for continuous use. Zebra’s latest business printer, the ZT230, combines the required features of an industrial-grade device with intuitive functionality so you can:

  • Secure future scalability – Equipped with optional RFID printing and encoding, the ZT230 also allows you to tailor your connectivity preferences, so your teams can count on fast, crisp barcode printing anywhere in the warehouse. Moreover, its easy media loading further simplifies user training.
  • Enable remote troubleshooting – Zebra’s PrintDNA enables a series of productivity enhancers for customizable configurations and backward compatibility to make device management easier for your IT teams.
  • Integrate a printing station in a smaller space – Thanks to its small footprint and bi-fold door, the ZT230 doesn’t take up a lot of space, serving a variety of workspaces that previously relied more on smaller desktop models. Plus, its color-coded cues facilitate faster media loading with an easy-to-follow guide.
  • Protect data – Lastly, printer upgrades must value data security to prevent leaks and breaches. Zebra’s PrintSecure empowers you to tailor user access tiers and push security patches remotely to stop unauthorized user access.

 

Taking Affordability Farther with the GO Zebra Trade-In Program

As a Premier Zebra Solutions partner, Avalon simplifies the modernization journey with the GO Zebra Trade-In Program. Work alongside experienced teams to upgrade legacy printers from any manufacturer and get cash rebates per upgraded device. The entire process involves three simple steps:

  1. Purchase your affordable upgrade
  2. Submit a claim form within 90 days of the invoice date
  3. Trade in legacy devices for cash rebates

 

Before finalizing your choice, consider assessing your labeling solution to ensure your upgraded technology matches your needs. With a careful overview of your workflows and goals, implementation teams can adjust your solution for easier usage and better adaptability, two indispensable benefits that set you ahead of supply chain challenges.

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How to Assess if Your Printers are Built for Enterprise

When operating in high-volume workflows, a functional printer becomes the foundation for unbroken productivity. With 82% of warehouses reporting an increase in stock-keeping units, distribution centers expect greater challenges in maintaining speed and accuracy during the order fulfillment process. While adapting to persistent shortages and consumer demands, fulfillment teams have no time for breakdowns. Consequently, it is recommended that business assess their enterprise technology to prevent premature failure and downtime.

Zebra’s most recent Warehouse Vision Study suggests that by 2027, over 90% of warehouses will have implemented enterprise printing in their main workflows. As businesses procure hardware, consider the following questions to guide your search.

 

  1. Is the printhead developed for high-volume printing?

Consumer-grade and desktop printers are not suitable for long workhours and high printing volume. While cheaper upfront, businesses risk spending more on downtime and frequent IT visits since printheads cannot keep up with the workload. An enterprise printhead fit for high-volume warehousing should be able to handle the heat associated with thermal printing while also maintaining barcode legibility at faster speeds.

Moreover, in addition to searching for a suitable printhead, consider also printhead longevity since this will determine the possibility of future downtime. For example, Zebra’s enterprise printers proactively prevent downtime by offering free printheads for previously purchased devices. This empowers warehouses to plan replacements

 

  1. What barcode resolution will I need?

Furthermore, depending on the size of your barcodes, you may need a crisper barcode. For example, a small test-tube label needs a sharper barcode compared to a shelf-rack label which can be seen at a distance. Printheads must match the type of inventory or asset you plan to label to preserve future barcode legibility.

 

  1. Will I need an RFID encoder?

RFID is expected to overtake 8 in 10 warehouses by 2025. As businesses scramble to meet incoming RFID labeling requirements from major retailers, that figure is only expected to rise. Furthermore, RFID is a foundational technology to support numerous visibility solutions such as asset tracking, indoor locationing services, and predictive analytics.

Fortunately, printers like the ZT411 and ZT600 series offer optional RFID encoding alongside standard barcode printing, streamlining costs while securing scalability. Moreover, by spacing inlays closer, Zebra’s ZT600 uses fewer materials, reducing label costs.

 

  1. Are current printing stations creating bottlenecks?

Procuring new hardware creates a great opportunity to re-assess workflows and pinpoint bottlenecks. Printing stations have notoriously been behind bottlenecks and long travel times in the warehouse since workers need to walk and wait in line to print.

If multiple workflows require fast label printing, enterprise mobile printers may be a better solution than simply procuring another large industrial device. The ZQ630 delivers enterprise-grade durability and fast printing speeds to meet labeling requirements for on-the-go workers. On the other hand, if printing stations are still preferred, consider integrating a mobile printing station with power carts to reduce travel times.

 

  1. Can you protect printed data digitally?

In the current digital landscape, no industry can compromise on cybersecurity. Peripheral devices are prime targets for cyberattacks since they are less likely to be protected. Therefore, when searching for a new device, be sure it integrates with your current cybersecurity policies.

Applications like PrintSecure prevent unauthorized users from accessing your device while also protecting stored data from accidental WiFi and Bluetooth connections.

With these responses in mind, businesses can have a better grasp of the kind of device their operations need. For step-by-step assistance in assessing your printing needs, schedule a quick conversation with our automation teams.

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4 Ways to Optimize Your Barcode Printing Solution

For decades, barcode labels have safeguarded product identification and facilitated inventory movement down the supply chain. As warehouses become more dynamic to accommodate customer expectations and new compliance standards, effective barcode scanning remains essential to:

  • Verify the correct shipments are packed onto the correct truck
  • Prevent product spoilage or misplacements
  • Maintain accurate inventory counts to meet demands
  • Meet shipping deadlines on time

Furthermore, 82% of warehouses report an increase in stock-keeping units (SKUs) while studies show a 23% increase in shipping volume. With product quantity and differentiators steadily increasing, the time to optimize barcode printing is now.

Speed up Printing. Expand Printer Longevity. Ensure Successful Scans. Protect Printed Data.

Labels generally account for a small percentage of total operational costs, which means that even small adjustments can impact overall profitability. Below are a few ways warehouses have optimized barcode printing workflows.

  1. Match your printer to your throughput levels – Not every enterprise-grade printer is best suited for high-volume printing. Integrating the wrong printer into your space can initially save money, yet frequent printhead replacements and hardware damage create more unnecessary expenses after integration. While industrial printers can handle high-volume workflows and deliver 600dpi barcode resolution, smaller desktop printers like Zebra’s new ZD611 still deliver quality barcodes at faster speeds for smaller workspaces.
  2. Match label composition to your storage environment – Dust particles and extreme temperatures can harm printing performance, draining budgets in the long run. Fortunately, rugged industrial printers are made to withstand harsh environments with all-metal casings and durable printheads. Devices like the ZT600 Series Printers go a step further by combining rugged durability with a user-friendly touchscreen and media loading, accelerating deployment for faster productivity.
  3. Choose labels that protect the printhead – Inferior label quality damages printers over time by leaving behind debris and scratching the printhead. This creates gaps in the barcode that later hinder scanning. To prevent early printhead failure and jams, consider integrating quality labels like Zebra’s Certified Consumables. Labels with smoother surfaces and stronger adhesives are less likely to damage printheads and leave excessive debris in the printer, ultimately improving print quality and safeguarding printer longevity.
  4. Add printers to your cybersecurity initiatives – Lastly, while cybersecurity may seem far removed from barcode printing, peripheral devices are often targeted by cybercriminals since they are less likely to be protected. Data protection applications like PrintSecure block unauthorized users from viewing printed data while encrypting connections and enabling remote management.

Optimizing your barcode printing solution doesn’t have to be complicated. From label redesign to hardware upgrades, work alongside Avalon’s printer specialists to elevate operations and stay ahead of supply chain challenges. Contact us for a free workflow assessment to learn how you can get started.

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This is How One Smart Label Improves Food Safety.

Research from Zebra’s most recent Food Safety Study suggests that only 2 in 10 consumers actually trust food manufacturers and distributors to ensure complete food safety within their operations. Inaccurate track-and-trace systems have played an integral part in major recalls, foodborne illnesses, and crippled brand identities over the years, contributing to the requirements for dependable visibility solutions. Future-forward systems leveraging RFID and wireless data have risen in popularity, spearheading many modernized track-and-trace solutions; however, for growing businesses seeking to place a strategic focus on food safety, these large-scale changes may be more difficult to achieve due to the time and costs involved to implement.

 

While modernized track-and-trace systems benefit businesses of all sizes, there are simpler, supporting solutions to help improve visibility without deploying a completely new system. Developed to react to shifting temperatures, Zebra’s temperature-indicator labels provide at-a-glance insights, so distributors and manufacturers can track temperature exposure and ensure product quality.

 

How They Work

 

Engineered with temperature-sensitive technology, Zebra’s intelligent indicator labels react to the environment and change colors depending on heat or cold exposure. Plus, TransTracker indicators contain strong adhesives to remain applied during cold chain transport, ensuring product integrity once it leaves the facility.

 

Temperature indicator labels are not limited solely to distribution operations. Manufacturers and retailers have also leveraged freshness indicators on perishable items, which can be easily interpreted by shoppers directly at the storefront. Businesses have reported up to 30% more sales when using freshness indicators, which can influence purchase decisions on the spot. Compared to larger systems, freshness indicator labels are relatively inexpensive and easy to use since they are read by both businesses and consumers alike.

 

Is Temperature Sensing Enough?

 

At-a-glance temperature checks empower teams to spot potential spoilage and prevent illnesses, and when it comes to creating a proactive plan, they serve as a great start.  However, a more robust plan may be needed if your facility still experiences…

  • Idle shipments waiting to be refrigerated at the loading dock
  • Wrong shipments sent to your customers
  • Time-consuming audits
  • Complex and/or inaccurate product locationing
  • Recalls that force a complete productivity halt

Because these issues compromise product integrity, they may require a more sophisticated track-and-trace solution that can view and report on all product movement in real-time.

Whether you’re just starting with food traceability or your current product tracking system needs modernization, set up a preliminary evaluation with one of our cold chain specialists.  Learn how you can build or update a food safety solution that grows with your operations without overextending your budget.

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There’s a New Tablet merging the boundaries between “consumer-grade” and “enterprise-ready”. Here’s What We Know:

When facing the stringent conditions of today’s modern warehouses, most operators agree that consumer-grade devices will only set back productivity. Prone to breakdowns and digitally rigid, personal devices cannot keep up with the kind of high-volume data processing common in today’s distribution centers. However, consumer-grade devices have retained user favor in supply chains due to their ease-of-use. Studies conducted by leading tech innovators have shown that 69% of IT decision makers see bring-your-own-device policies as a beneficial strategy to their operations. With labor turnover rates surpassing 40% in American distribution centers, familiar technologies prove beneficial by reducing training expenses and ensuring faster productivity. However, a lack of proper durability can increase costs by instigating…

  • Recurrent replacement and repair costs
  • Complex software and app integration processes
  • Compromised security parameters that endanger data safety

Modern-day technologies strive to combine familiar usability with robust functionalities, reducing operational costs. A prime example of this is Zebra’s newest Enterprise Tablet, the ET40/45. Like its predecessors, the new tablet streamlines push-to-talk capabilities, intense scanning, and real-time visibility within an Android interface. Upon a closer inspection, it’s easier to see the effects of today’s challenges on technological advancements.

Not like other tablets

Zebra’s previous tablets have always been crafted with durability and adaptability in mind to deliver versatile usage in different environments like distribution centers, cold storage units, and busy transportation teams. However, today’s push for faster productivity within dwindling labor pools have led tech players to leverage features such as:

  • 5G Connectivity and WiFi 6 – Dropped signals and dead zones halt productivity while isolating workers from receiving timely stock updates. To prevent communication gaps across the facility, newer, stronger connectivity options are now included in the new tablet.
  • Mobile POS options – As tablets now find their ways into the storefront in addition to inventory rooms and loading docks, the ET40/45 includes a mobile POS system to enable line busting through the same device used for inventory tracking and stock counting. This breaks down high adoption rates by streamlining crucial workflows through one standard device.
  • Multi-shift batteries – With the promise of same-day delivery comes longer work hours which demand longer lifecycles from your devices. As a result, Zebra’s new tablet incorporates hot-swappable batteries in its sleek design to deliver constant power across multiple shifts. Moreover, with the help of PowerPrecision, workers can spot failing and unhealthy batteries and remove them before they affect workflows.

Take a closer look into the ET40/45’s new highlights here.

As shortages continue to challenge the supply chain, automation solutions must fine the fine line between user-friendly and enterprise-ready. Compromise on either of these factors can lead to missed sales, damaged consumer trust, rising operations costs, or stressed workers. Consequently, experts still recommend assessing your current workflows with an automation specialist to verify your employees’ level of comfortability alongside current warehouse demands. In doing so, operations can best accommodate future demands with flexible solutions for continuous enterprise success.

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4 Realistic Expectations to Have from Today’s Modern Supply Chains

The last two years have drastically altered supply chain efficiency. The effects of nationwide lockdowns, global shortages, and international tensions have deepened a shared reliance on automated systems to stay ahead of mounting consumer demands and fulfillment challenges. However, amid recurrent and new obstacles, many businesses have shared positive workplace changes such as:

  • Improved worker conditions – Automated systems and enterprise robotics alleviate the stress placed on human workers while also requiring less muscle effort to meet demands.
  • Implemented easy technology – To truly be considered successful, a modernization solution should value user-friendliness to diminish training expenses.
  • Increased wages and bonuses – Around 45% of workers noted an increase in wages as warehouses and distribution centers sought to retain long-term employees.

Changes such as these can help foster more seamless workflows and satisfied employees. As new technologies are developed and integrated into the fast-moving supply chain, it is imperative to maintain realistic yet optimistic goals in the warehouse to correctly track KPIs overtime. Zebra’s newest 2027 Warehouse Vision Study showcases four of the most common goals today’s warehouse managers:

  1. Improving individual worker productivity – It has been estimated that nearly a quarter of warehouse operations were managed through paper-based systems. This means that workers had to spend a bulk of time updating reports, verifying stock counts, and imputing updates manually at the risk of entering the wrong data.
  2. Streamlining workflows in a standardized fashion – As fulfillment tasks became more complex with same-day shipping, higher return rates, and direct-to-customer transactions, businesses needed a way to ensure workflows were accurately tracked from door to dock. Consequently, 41% of companies began to optimize mobility in 2022 to ensure new and permanent workers stay organized through one trackable workflow managed through their handheld device.
  3. Maximizing asset visibility – From mobile devices to centralized printing stations, your warehouse assets play an intricate role in sustaining productivity across the warehouse. Consequently, maintaining device availability through real-time asset tracking systems has become a goal of nearly 70% of warehouses worldwide. Clear operational visibility further empowers warehouses to prepare for challenging demands since decision-makers have a better picture of the resources available to them at a moment’s notice.
  4. Collecting and leveraging data via intelligent automation – The prevalence of sudden changes has created a need for multiple data capturing systems to ensure nothing is ever missed. Therefore, systems featuring technologies like autonomous robots, fixed industrial scanners, and even RFID portals have proven beneficial to drive automated decision making based on real-time insights. This means warehouses can ensure the correct orders and reaching the correct customers, stock quantities are current, and workers receive the assistance they need when and where they need it.

How to make sure these goals are met

E-commerce transactions continues to be one of the largest forces behind modernization, impacting nine out of 10 warehouses by increasing shipping volume. To meet expectations within a dynamic omnichannel ecosystem, experts recommend…

  • Assessing warehouse space to target challenges in the RFID implementation process such as high ceilings, dense walls, etc.
  • Supporting migration plans to adaptable operating systems like Android to make sure new updates and patches are accommodated into current workflows
  • Consolidating workflows into wearable devices to alleviate weight and pressures from your workers while cutting back on management plans for multiple devices.

Navigating through several modernization challenges becomes simpler with a team at your side. To get a closer look into how supply challenges are continuing to affect modernizing warehouses, reach out to our modernization specialists and approach optimization with a confident yet adaptable strategy.

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Before Investing in AMRs Evaluate Your Operations with these 5 Questions

Automation currently leads most modernization efforts, coming in the form of Android handheld devices, versatile rugged tablets, tap-and-pair mobile printers. In conjunction with these efforts, automated mobile robots (AMRs) have seized public interest. Current labor shortages and spikes in demand for faster and more accurate service have further fueled the need for flexible automation and digitization. Recent studies have shown that more than half of warehouses have cited hiring and retaining long-term workers among one of the biggest obstacles faced today, with 85% currently prioritizing labor optimization. Replacing the need for extraneous labor efforts, AMRs are able to empower workers by automating pallet movement, diminish travel time by 60%, and eliminate repetitive tasks without burdening the human workforce.

 

As decision-makers move towards integrating AMRs into their operations, experts recommend considering the following questions:

     1. How will you measure ROI?

Most specialists estimate AMRs should yield measurable results within 2 years at max, with order fulfillment speed being the first change to be recorded. While there are many ways to calculate ROI, a few indicators to look for include…

  • Increasing fulfillment speed – Since travel time is diminished, there should be less replenishment delays and bottlenecks impacting throughput rates.
  • Improved worker safety – AMRs are made to carry heavier loads and may sport a sensitive motion scanner to prevent collisions. This spares workers from straining themselves or running into machinery.
  • Lowered operating costs – As delivery timeframes are met and stock is quickly moved to the appropriate space, there should be less costs associated with inaccurate orders, mis-shipments, and sudden out-of-stocks.

      2. Do you have sufficient space?

While AMRs may not require a complete warehouse redesign, some solutions may require dedicated space within your operations for…

  • Navigation – Tight spaces and sharp corners can limit the AMRs’ ability to move freely around the warehouse.
  • Battery charging – Appropriate space may be required for charging different fleets when they’re not in use.
  • Maintenance – While enterprise devices are designed to withstand harsh environments, AMRs still need to be updated and serviced.

      3. Are other methods of automation already in place?

In addition to AMRs, support systems such as automated data capture and mobile computing further eliminate errors and speed up processes by enabling workers to accomplish more in less time. Before implementing robotics, set a digitized foundation with:

  • Android’s enterprise OS – Familiar and adaptable, Android enables you to add your preferred applications within its open ecosystem for easy adaptability. Its recurrent OS updates and security patches also further protect your operations from cyberattacks.
  • Real-time stock updates – By streamlining data capture and computing through one handheld terminal like Zebra’s handheld computers, your workers can update counts and communicate with each other digitally.
  • Push-to-talk capabilities – Speaking of communication, team communication goes a long way in keeping the workforce updated of any changes and emergencies across the facility.

      4. What fleet control system will you use?

Selecting hardware is only half the battle when it comes to modernization. To maintain complete efficiency, your fleet management system should be able to connect to your WMS system to receive directions and real-time inventory updates.

      5. Is your solution scalable?

The propensity for change in the supply chain is the only constant warehouses can continue to expect in the years to come. As material shortages challenge efficiency alongside labor shortages, it’s crucial to maintain integration and update simplicity to facilitate solution growth. If AMRs are unable to connect with the rest of your mobile devices, they may not be the most suitable option for your business.

 

Once these questions are answered, businesses can create a more realistic and proactive solution plan to minimize implementation hurdles. This can also help narrow down which kinds of AMRs to integrate. To explore your options or for more assistance on how to evaluate your warehouse, talk to one of our modernization experts and explore a broad portfolio of technologies to create customized and scalable solutions.

 

 

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The Answers are In: Here is Today’s Top Warehouse Challenge and What Warehouses are Doing to Fix It.

For about nine years straight, industry researchers have cited labor retention as the top struggle in the modern warehouses. Between demands for same-day shipping and cyclical peak seasons, distribution centers have shared the struggle to transition seasonal workers into permanent positions. However, according to the 2022 MHI Annual Industry Report, this challenge has been overtaken by a new struggle: supply chain shortages and disruptions.

 

From batteries, to raw materials, to microchips, to skilled labor, shortages have impacted 57% of surveyed warehouses, increasing the prevalence of out-of-stocks, shipping delays, inaccurate forecasting, and overworked employees. As a result, businesses are attempting to enhance order fulfillment speed by reducing manual tasks and overstocking. For example, carrier giant, UPS, has recently stated it plans to deploy RFID tracking in at least 100 facilities by the end of 2022. The move is followed by many distributors seeking to stay a step ahead of shortages before they impact customer satisfaction.

 

As warehouses brace for even more shortages and inflation costs, many have taken the following pathways:

 

  1. Partner with vendors to understand software and application options – Supply chain shortages have impacted fulfillment expectations for modernizing warehouses since they can’t always get the technologies they need as fast as they need them. Consequently, businesses are also searching for vendors able to conduct software and application updates to expand the functionality of their current devices. This is where Android once again takes the centerstage as one of the most suitable operating systems for enterprise since it facilitates app integration through its open yet secured ecosystem. Moreover, productivity apps like Zebra’s Mobility DNA apps can also enhance handheld functionality through various features such as simultaneous scanning of multiple barcodes, remote battery management, device tracking, and easy troubleshooting.
  2. Increase investment plans for innovative technologies – A variety of repondants cites lack of clear justifiable reason as the number one obstacle preventing modernization. However, next-generation technologies have been crafted with current challenges in mind, providing decision-makers with a more concrete estimate of expected results that relate to their challenges. For example, mobile devices with embedded push-to-talk capabilities serve as a cost-effective replacement to bulky two-way radios, thus increasing worker ergonomics while diminishing MDM costs.
  3. Pilot new technologies that automate repetitive tasks –  While cloud computing and storage continues to lead adoption rates in the modern warehouse, newer technologies like automatic identification and sensors have also risen to popularity as a way to both reduce labor efforts while preventing the wrong products from leaving the warehouse. Integrated RFID portals combine these two efforts by capturing tags and tracking inventory movement through wall-mounted and transitional RFID portals, linking real-time data to your WMS. Providing teams with greater inventory control and automatic updates, solutions like integrated RFID portals are expected to play vital roles in tomorrow’s warehouses, with adoption rates well exceeding 80% in the next five years.

 

The 2020 health crisis has forever altered supply chains, and experts agree that there is no turning back. Customers expect fast, error-free, cost-effective service in a world full of shortages, communication breakdowns, and skyrocketing prices. Whether via a handheld reader or an intelligent inventory software, automation is sent to be the leading solution to today -and tomorrow’s- supply chain challenges. To continue exploring more responses to supply chain shortages, reach out to our modernization teams.

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