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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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3 Ways your printer will thank you for using better labels

As your inventory moves down the supply chain, product identification remains crucial to avoid bottlenecks and delays. Enterprise labels have proven indispensable as they remove the probabilities of errors stemming from manual data entry. However, as consumer demands continue to rise for faster and accurate order fulfillment, printers must process many more labels within a short time frame. Reports indicate that U.S.warehouses are shipping nearly 36 million packages per day. If improper consumables are used to print labels for all +30 million parcels, even the most rugged printers may fall prey to early damage and failure, resulting in costly downtime. Fortunately, the right label will not only protect barcode legibility but also printer performance by:

  1. Mitigating printhead scratches – When labels are made from subpar materials, the label’s surface may become porous and sandpaper-like. While this surface-type may not harm a printer initially, continuous use will eventually scratch the printhead, creating faded gaps on the barcode. For high-volume operations, this could hold up entire workflows and leave room for scanning errors since the altering printhead may change the barcode’s legibility.
  2. Reducing debris build-up – In addition to scratching printheads, porous labels may also leave back small paper particles each time they pass through the printer. Moreover, tightly-wound labels may also leave residual adhesive, which combined with paper particles will create bigger build-up jams that impede the printing process.
  3. Eliminating roll slack – Lastly, when liner rolls are not at an optimized orientation, such as inward facing label rolls, they may create additional label slack within the printing mechanism, disrupting the barcode upon printing as the mechanism may tug on the roll. For a real-life demonstration of this issue, see our video.

 

Skip on your next printer jam with Zebra Certified Consumables

It’s widely established that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all labeling solution.Environmental differences and varying compliances may require different sorts of labels to maintain efficiency. Regardless of the requirement, Zebra’s wide portfolio of certified consumables offers multiple and customizable labels that…

  • Undergo rigorous testing for consistent quality
  • Meet ISO and additional compliance requirements
  • Employ pre-tested materials that minimize adhesive and debris build-up

 

Empower your operations through high demands with a labeling solution that supports more uptime and less worker stress. Contact Avalon to learn how you can take the first step towards intelligent modernized printing

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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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How are Warehouses Facilitating Faster Order Picking?

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Research shows e-commerce brought in roughly $768 billion in sales back in 2021, with around half of U.S. consumers reporting to have received at least one delivery per week. That translates to over 110 million orders processed per week nationwide. Since e-commerce shoppers show no signs of relenting purchases, warehouses remain in a continuous struggle to accelerate fulfillment rates without compromising order accuracy. Zebra’s Warehousing Vision Study revealed that 73% of participating warehouses expect partial automation to solve this issue; however, automation may take different forms depending on a warehouse’s order volume.

What Can “Partial Automation” Look Like?

Micro-fulfillment warehouses and cold storage facilities clearly have different challenges and needs compared to traditional distribution centers. As a result, partial automation may look different between facilities. Below are a few adaptable automation solutions currently accelerating order picking within challenging and traditional environments alike:

  • Start with digital data capture to eliminate manual recording.

Digitization is the most basic yet scalable way to prevent costly mistakes from entering the supply chain. At its core, an automated data capture solution is composed of a handheld scanner connected to your WMS and legible barcodes, yet Avalon empowers you to take your system a step farther by deploying pre-tested labels that retain barcode legibility in harsh and/or high-demand environments. For example, Zebra’s Certified Consumables can be tailored to integrate waterproof and scratch resistant surfaces for a longer lifespan within cold storage. By removing manual inventory updates, warehouse teams can get real-time insight to stock levels and location, optimizing picking paths and preventing out-of-stocks through one intelligent solution. 

  • Integrate power carts to minimize worker travel time and bottlenecks.

If your warehouse is already leveraging automated data capture, power carts expand functionality by increasing receiving volume by 63% in less travel time. By mobilizing industrial printers, scanning, and inventory visibility, power carts remove bottlenecks around static centralized label printing stations, allowing workers to stay focused and productive at all times. Zebra’s intelligent industrial printers further accelerate processes with faster printing speeds and easier media loading, ultimately resulting in 75% less overtime when paired with Newcastle’s mobile workstations.  

  • Move inventory with AMRs to alleviate workers.

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are currently being used in large-scale high-demand warehouses to lessen the pressures of today’s current labor shortage. Previous studies have shown that AMRs and co-bots can triple picking rates by moving entire pallets to the shipping dock, delivering a noticeable ROI within as little as 3 months. With Zebra’s acquisition of Fetch Robotics, Avalon now brings the latest insights into simplifying AMR integration for future warehouse adaptability and faster order picking. 

Simply put, the definitions of “partial automation” are adaptable to your warehouse’s needs and constraints. That’s why it is recommended that warehouses meet with a modernization team to build a customized plan. Successful solutions can empower warehouses to meet current customer demands while preparing them for eventual challenges ahead.

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What is the Barcode Printing Program, and why should you enroll for the new year?

Current supply chain challenges have solidified the consistent need for intelligent automation. However, solution integration can increase operational expenses beyond hardware purchases. Between software integration, employee training, and eventual maintenance and tech support, warehouses expecting to deploy automated solutions expect to pay thousands of dollars in deployment alone. Consequently, there remains a fourth of warehouses uncommitted to enhanced automation for a myriad of reasons including:

  • Lack of time to deploy
  • Lack of affordable options
  • Employee turnover rates being faster than training times
  • Older devices still functioning well 

Nevertheless, automation continues to enable faster picking rates, higher accuracy rates, and greater inventory control. As a result, Avalon’s labeling experts have decided to partner with several enterprise leaders in simplifying scalable barcoding automation through the new Barcode Printing Program. 

One access-point to countless automation opportunities. 

By streamlining the solution design process, warehouses can expect a smoother deployment process to reduce costs and get workers more accustomed to new barcoding systems for faster ROI. This is accomplished with the following components:

  1. Adaptable printing hardware – Drawing from a partnership with several enterprise-ready brands, printers are selected according to your printing volume, projected goals, and budget requirements. Furthermore, adaptable devices such as Zebra’s line of thermal printers secure high printing speeds and resolutions within user-friendly units for simplistic deployment and scalability. 
  2. Intelligent printing software and applications – White hardware is obviously crucial, printing software, operating systems, and applications work hand in hand to expand the printer’s capabilities, protect passing data, and facilitate remote management. For example, PrintDNA applications enable seamless PDF printing from ERP systems, access levels to previously printed data, and remote battery management to prevent battery failure in the middle of a shift. Different applications and software can be added to your existing printing solution, eliminating the need for a complete system upgrade. 
  3. Durable labels that match application environments – Comprising less than 10% of total operational expenses, labels still play a vital role in supply chain efficiency. As a result, it is recommended labels be thoroughly tested to survive application and storage environments. Working with leading label developers, our specialists work with you in tailoring label size, color, surface, adhesive strength, and more to ensure its dependability.

In addition to careful solution design and deployment, the Barcode Printing Program also provides recurrent technical support for any update and repairs that arise. Close relationships with brands also provide insights and first glances at new technologies and solutions, giving you the competitive advantage. 

Take the first step towards scalable efficiency and enroll today into Avalon’s Barcode Printing Program to start exploring technologies that match your operational goals and needs.

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4 Costly Consequences of Subpar Barcode Printing – And how to avoid them

While printing supplies cost less than ten percent of a business’ total expenses, enterprise labels play a key role in securing smooth product movement down the supply chain. Carrying several identification codes, such as shipping address, storage instructions, and SKU number, crisp barcodes are part of your inventory’s first defense against misplacements. Fading, peeling, and smudged barcodes are among the principal causes of preventable setbacks such as:

  1. Product shrinkage – Two years ago, product shrinkage cost retailers over $40 billion due to misplacements, spoilage, and theft. When labels aren’t optimized to withstand extreme temperatures between multiple locations, adhesives may lose strength and peel, thus falling away with the crucial information your teams need to accurately fulfill orders. 
  2. Delivery delays – New studies show that over a fifth of deliveries were late within the first quarter of 2021. That number is expected to rise dramatically by the end of the holiday season for all major parcel delivery services. Worsening the labor shortage crisis, underperforming labels stall productivity as they must be rescanned or even re-labeled, setting distributors at a disadvantage in today’s fast-paced market. 
  3. Missed audits and compliances – Lack of label legibility may require teams to record inventory counts manually, thus enabling manual data entry errors. Missed errors and inaccurate counts provide a skewed view of total operational expenses and storage, resulting in further costs and fees. Moreover, without storage instructions, temperature-sensitive inventory can spoil, further increasing risks of recalls and compliance fees. 
  4. Printer downtime – Lastly, poorly-made labels are often tightly wound, leading to adhesive leaks that damage printer feeders. Sandpaper-like label surfaces also scratch [printheads causing premature failure and downtime. Without functioning printers, warehouses face costly bottlenecks and downtime costing as much as $100,000 per hour. 

To support manageable operational costs, underperforming labels should be readily replaced by an enterprise-ready alternative. While there are several labeling options available nowadays, customized printing supplies, like Zebra’s Certified Consumables, continue to stand as one your best options for the following reasons:

  • Compatibility with your exact application requirements – Labels can be tailored to survive extreme temperatures, condensation, humidity, abrasion, and any other unique challenges in your environment. 
  • Built from pre-tested materials for consistent quality – Zebra’s certified labels are only built from materials passing through their 23-point performance test, thus ensuring dependable functionality in a myriad of use cases. 
  • Selected perforation and folding preferences – New label technology has given way to linerless, dissolvable, and even metal-friendly RFID labels, expanding the range of efficient labeling beyond the four walls. 
  • Faster label replenishment – With four label convertor facilities scattered across North America, Zebra labels can be quickly replenished to avoid downtime. 

To learn more about how you can customize your enterprise labels, contact our labeling experts here.

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Here are the 3 key components you need for a modernized labeling solution.

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As long as new technologies continue to be released, modernization will continue to be a redefining trend in the enterprise landscape. However, efficient warehouse modernization doesn’t have to be complex or involve drastic changes to the workflow. Small adjustments in crucial tasks such as product labeling can eliminate inefficient, costly patterns while freeing up the workforce to concentrate on other bigger areas of optimization. Although there are many ways to modernize warehouse labeling, three key components stand out as central to ensuring labeling efficiency:

  1. A printer made for sudden high-volume – Changes in demand can happen unexpectedly. As a result, warehouse printers should be ready at any notice to work longer hours without compromising label legibility or continuous uptime. Furthermore, high-volume seasons may also cause the workforce to grow, which means selected printers should strive to incorporate some form of user-friendliness to their functionality in order to lower adoption rates for new hires.
  2. An intelligent scanner – We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: Manual data entry leaves room for error. On the other hand, intelligent scanners can automatically transmit one or more barcodes to your warehouse management system without paper-based reporting, essentially establishing near-real-time accurate inventory visibility. This allows warehouses to sort, pick, and move inventory based on verified stock counts reported on their inventory management system.
  3. An enterprise-ready label – Standing at the center of your optimized labeling solution, the actual tag itself must be developed with both application and storage requirements in mind. Labels that fail to do so can end up fading before time, peeling around the edges, and unsticking when temperatures change. All of these issues eliminate product identification, leading to missed delivery timeframes, order inaccuracy, product spoilage/depreciation, and overlooked compliance codes.

Where to start?

As a Zebra Premier Solutions Partner, Avalon simplifies optimized labeling by pairing your workflows with enterprise-ready printers, scanners, and labels, creating a future-forward system that…

  • Survives in rough work environments. Whether it be high heat or cold-storage’s freezing temperatures, Zebra’s industrial printers and ultra-rugged scanners are designed with a tough exterior and intelligent productivity applications to safeguard uptime under pressure. Likewise, Zebra’s Certified Consumables can be customized from over 300 pre-tested materials to develop a tailored label that matches application and storage environments.
  • Lessen deployment time. Efficient modernization shouldn’t be disruptive. With this in mind, Zebra’s next-generation printers leverage a touchscreen interface and easy media loading to simplify deployment. Scanners, both handheld and hands-free, streamline deployment with simplistic tap-and-pair and WiFi-Friendly connectivity to get devices productive from day one.
  • Are easily upgradable without overstepping budget constraints. Zebra’s printers and scanners are available with cash back rebates up to $550 per device when upgraded through the GO Zebra Trade-In Program. Simply trade in devices from any manufacturer and submit your reclaim form to qualify. As for labels, Zebra’s Printhead Protection Program helps drive down operational costs by offering free printhead replacements when you make Zebra’s Certified Consumables your exclusive label of choice.

Reach out to our labeling experts for a free preliminary assessment of your workflow to target optimization opportunities in your current operations.

 

 

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This is the real cost of using inferior enterprise labels

In the modernized supply chain, value should outweigh cost. Although cheaper modernization routes can initially diminish expenses, inadequate solutions usually end up being more costly than their expensive counterparts. In no place is this more accurate than inventory labeling. Cheaper enterprise labels can save operations a great deal of money at face value, yet they also impact:

  • Scan speed – If operators take more than 5 seconds per order, they can spend over 3 hours per day scanning barcodes. Fading and peeling labels increase scan time since employees must rescan, increasing wait time and risks of delays.
  • Printing speed – Quality labels with smooth surfaces tend to leave less build-up on the printhead, mitigating future jams and slow printing speeds. On the flipside, poorly made labels often sport a sandpaper-like surface and tightly wound rolls that slow down printing speeds with more leftover debris.
  • Printer performance – Not only do sandpaper-like printers slow production, they can also directly contribute to premature printhead failure, resulting in downtime averaging $10,000 lost per hour.
  • Media loading time – Labels rolled outwardly create slack, which impacts printer performance if not installed correctly. As labels require more time to be properly installed, they take away from assembly time, further contributing to inefficient workflows.
  • Order accuracy – Incorrect shipments are the second most cited reason customers return products, adding to the increasing return costs that already surpass $350 billion since 2017 in the U.S. alone.
  • Inventory tracking – When inventory isn’t accurately accounted for, warehouses risk out-of-stocks, which drive customers to seek services elsewhere. Inaccurate inventory counts also lead to overstocking, which has led many retailers to markdown over 70% of their products.

Whether in the warehouse or in the storefront, inferior printing supplies dramatically impact productivity and profitability. To prevent these issues and more, Avalon recommends feeding your printer quality consumables such as Zebra’s Certified Printing Supplies.

How Zebra’s Certified Supplies Eliminate the Costs of Inferior Enterprise Labels

Developed to secure maximum uptime, Zebra’s certified consumables are subjected to a stringent 23-point inspection to certify dependable performance in a myriad of application and storage environments. As a result, every label is built to…

  • Secure printhead performance with smooth surface that prevents printhead scratches and adhesive build-up.
  • Survive in extreme environments such as high heat, condensation, and cold storage without peeling or fading, ultimately reducing the need for rescans.
  • Easily fit into your printer with loading complications for minimized wait times.
  • Meet compliance requirements to ensure your inventory moves smoothly from the warehouse to the retail shelf to the checkout lane.

Contact Avalon’s labeling experts today to discover a Zebra label that best matches your application and storage requirements to see how you can integrate the best value into your operations for the best return of investment.

 

 

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10 Qualities You Should Be Looking for in Your Enterprise Labels

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It’s a fact that not every label is suitable for your operations. Even the most stringently tested consumables may not be developed to address unique application requirements such as cold storage or high heat. As stated before, cheap inferior labels do more harm than good since they can…

  • Scratch your printhead and cause premature printhead failure
  • Leave behind debris pileup that leads to a jam and costly downtime
  • Lose adhesive strength in rough conditions
  • Fade overtime, compromising inventory and asset identification

Over time, these implications will slow down productivity, increasing operational costs and diminishing customer loyalty. In other words, while labels account for a small portion of your business, they greatly affect profitability. Therefore, businesses are encouraged to search for the following ten qualities in their labeling solution in order to certify maximum productivity from their operations.

What to Expect…

  1. Smooth surface – Rough surfaces made from inferior materials can damage printheads over time as they leave behind label debris with every print job.
  2. Heat-resistant adhesive – Effective thermal printing hinges on heat to produce crisp long-lasting barcodes. If labels aren’t able to handle to heat, barcodes will fade before their time, impacting product identification, stock counts, and inventory management.
  3. Environment resistance – In addition to high heat, labels can face numerous environment challenges such as freezing cold, dust, chemicals, condensation, and abrasion.
  4. Tested material – To ensure environment resistance, label material should be as stringently as the label itself.
  5. Consistent quality – If your labels begin to underperform overtime, it may be because label materials have been changed during production. To secure consistent print quality, you must secure consistent label composition.
  6. Fast replenishment – When labels themselves are out of stock, your inventory runs the risk of being misidentified, improperly stored, and wrongly shipped. Fast replenishment through programs such Zebra’s ZipShip eliminate these dangers by restocking labels in less than 24 hours from one of Zebra’s four label converting facilities.
  7. Environmentally conscious – Discarded labels directly contribute to paper waste along with used ribbons and liners. Eco-friendly consumables such as Zebra’s Linerless Label or 8000D Dissolvable Labels reduce paper waste while continuing to provide crisp barcodes and accelerating order processing.
  8. Label configuration – Labels should be wound outwardly in order to fit your industrial printer without causing slack.
  9. Required certifications – Whether it’s an FDA seal or RoHS compliance, labels can be tailored and customized to meet specialized requirements, eliminating the risks of your products being recalled.
  10. Committed to lower costs – In addition to preserving customer loyalty and inventory identification, Zebra’s certified labels can further lower costs through the . By exclusively purchasing Zebra’s Certified Consumables, your operations qualify for free printhead replacements, virtually eliminating costly downtime from poor print quality and damaged printheads.

Compare Zebra’s Certified Consumables with traditional non-tested labels to see the benefits in our video:

As part of our push for seamless and cost-effective modernization, Avalon is committed to assisting businesses in optimizing workflows with solutions that surpass expectations. Contact us today for a free labeling assessment to find the consumable solution that best fits your needs.

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How are companies rebuilding consumer trust? The Answer is Traceability

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One of the biggest challenges set to impact supply chains in the years to come is reestablishing customer trust. The coronavirus pandemic simply enhanced previous concerns many customers already had surrounding product fabrication, compliance, order accuracy, etc. From retail goods to manufacturing parts, studies show consumers are more and more skeptical of supply chains, increasing the demand for transparent traceability to soothe worries such as: 

  • Brand’s ability to ensure safety – Only 35% of consumers actually believe the food industry is technologically capable of ensuring proper safety guidelines.
  • Delayed order tracking – Since 2017, it’s been estimated that over 90% of customers expect to be able to track their orders from start to finish, preferably in real-time.

  • Seamless returns in the event of inaccurate orders – At least 96% of customers admit to returning to a business that offers easy returns, which means complicated reverse logistics can deter over half of prospective clients.

Whether you run a business-to-business or a business-to-customer operation, no company is immune to disruptions, and these disruptions -whether via a cyberattack or a sudden spike in demand- can either weaken or strengthen your brand’s identity. While disruptions can happen at any given moment, traceability solutions offer preventive measures to protect consumer trust and minimize damage. Below are 5 ways companies are re-establishing trust in the New Normal: 

  1. Verified contact tracing and social distancing – Needless to say, health concerns are far from gone and will most likely be around for a while. That’s why contact tracing solutions have remained crucial to prevent mass germ spread while targeting potential infections without completely halting productivity. Efficient systems like Zebra’s MotionWorks Proximity have recorded a 75% reduction in proximity events within one week of deployment all while providing an easy-to-follow traceability system between events for scheduled alerts.

  2. Real-time notifications – Time is now more than money. It is also safety and possibly your first defense against sudden changes. Real-time visibility, whether through RFID technology or high-speed WiFi connectivity, equips your workforce with valuable updates as they happen, allowing your teams to respond proactively to change. 

  3. Dependable data security – To mitigate cyberthreats, businesses continue to migrate to supported operating systems such as Android. Zebra’s fortified Android goes a step further by embedding automatic OS updates, government-grade encryption, two-factor authentication, and customizable security parameters along with recurrent security patches. 

  4. Long-range networking to connect customers and field teams – To enable tracking for field teams, long-range and flexible networking systems must survive in difficult environments at all times. Not only does this allow customers to track orders, but it also connects field teams to any real-time updates and changes in the warehouse. 

  5. More safety stock – Depending on inventory type, increasing safety stock may be helpful to prevent stockouts during spikes in demand. To efficiently increase stock quantity without losing track of in-house inventory, we recommend adding automated data capture technology that connects to your inventory management system, along with easy-to-ready durable labels.

To see how you can adapt any of these methods into your business, reach out to our modernization specialists and see how you can set your operations on a firm footing to face 2021’s new and recurrent challenges. 

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