Posts

When you’re not feeling well, do you go to the doctor and tell him what tests and medications you want? Unless you have medical training, probably not. You seek out a professional when you need advice and an informed “diagnosis”. Problem-solving starts with an assessment. At the fast pace of technology’s advances, you should use the same approach with identifying your business needs.

Quite often, you see offers for a “free consultation” or “free assessment”. Do you ignore them? This is your chance to get valuable insight and to learn about your options. Think of it as a second opinion that either confirms what you suspect (or have been told) or gives you a different viewpoint. Either way, isn’t it a valuable use of your time?

When Avalon Integration offers a free technology assessment, it’s because we know that your business is different than anyone else’s. Your people, processes, and goals are unique to you and your operation. We can’t solve your problem the way we’d address another business’s issues. Sure, we can use our experience and knowledge as a basis for formulating an opinion, but the assessment allows us to dig deeper into how you work, and better understand your challenges and opportunities.

Order-Taker or Problem-Solver

Order Taker and Problem Solver

A (good) doctor wouldn’t necessarily prescribe the exact same treatment to a teenage boy as a mature woman, and the same goes for customizing a solution for a business. The technology that works for your competitor, for example, might be totally wrong for you. They have their own goals, workforce, network, facilities, location, and budget. As a competitor, you work on distinguishing your company from others, and the systems you choose should support that mission.

Consider These Three Scenarios.

Three Scenarios to look out for in your warehouse

You’ve been using Microsoft Windows Mobile for your enterprise operating system, and you know the support is ending, so you reach out to a couple of “technology providers” to figure out what to do.

One tells you that they can provide support for Windows so you don’t have to go through OS migration. They tell you, “We’ve done this for lots of people.” Another company says they can handle the migration and will get you everything you need.

A third one doesn’t offer a solution, but instead starts the conversation with a lot of questions. What are you using for primary apps? What legacy devices do you have and how old are they? Are you paying licensing fees for your software? What functions do you rely on most? Does your wireless network currently support your users, apps, and hardware?

The first company is an order-taker. You tell them what you want and they comply. The second one uses a cookie-cutter approach.

Avalon Integration Is Here to Give You an Assessment

Avalon integration is here to give you a free assessment

The last one—let’s call them “Avalon Integration”—is assessing the situation.

When a business offers you a free assessment, take it. You have no obligation to give them your business. They need to earn it. And the action of letting them show you how they approach problem-solving will provide useful insight into their value as a lasting partner.

So, Avalon Integration is offering a free assessment. We might be able to help you improve your operational efficiency or address your other goals. And we might tell you with all honesty that you’re already in great shape. We’re not going to sell you what you don’t need. When you’re ready for an honest evaluation, contact us to schedule it.

There was a time when the term “rugged mobile computer” meant a heavyweight, cumbersome device. Then Zebra stepped up and changed all that. They created mobile computers that looked like smartphones and tablets but performed way above those limited standards. We’ve become accustomed to a higher grade of performance, durability, and functionality from Zebra, and they’ve continued to meet our expectations. Now, just when you thought you couldn’t get more from your rugged handheld, Zebra launches the MC3300 mobile computer.

The MC3300 Mobile Computer is more versatility.

MC3300 Versatility - Built for Large Warehouse and Small Businesses

The MC3300 Mobile Computer gives you four ways to configure the device: pistol-grip, turret style with rotating head, and both a straight shooter 0º and 45º scan. No matter how you need to grip this device, you can choose the ergonomics to fit. In addition to these choices, you have the option of three scan engines, three keypads, and three levels of functionality.

More data capture.

MC3300 Mobile Computer Scanning in a Warehouse

This new Zebra mobile computer presents the broadest scanning range of any device in its class. Grab barcodes from as close as 3 inches and as far away as 70 feet—even barcodes that are scratched, dirty, damaged, or covered with shrinkwrap.

More app efficiency.

Scanning in a Grocery Store with the help of App Efficiency

The Ivanti Velocity platform is pre-loaded on the MC3300, allowing you to run terminal emulation (TE) apps immediately, with no back-end modification required, and no additional cost, because it’s pre-licensed.

More durability.

MC3300 Mobile Computer is Durable enough to handle anywhere you need to go

The MC3300 has been tested and survived more than 1,000 tumbles from 3.2 feet and drops on concrete from up to 5 feet. The IP54 sealing also protects the handheld from dirt, dust, and spills. The Corning Gorilla Glass provides the touchscreen with unmatched scratch protection.

More communication.

Scanning and Talking using the MC3300 in a Warehouse

Use your mobile computer like a PBX handset or walkie-talkie. Add Zebra’s Wi-Fi-enabled Workforce Connect and push-to-talk on the MC3300 mobile computer to connect with anyone, from anywhere in your facility. The device supports 802.11ac so your connections are fast.

MC3300 Mobile Computer has more productivity.

Scanning and Talking in a SuperMarket

Keep your workers focused on work, not play. Zebra’s Mobility DNA makes it easy to choose which apps and features can be accessed on the device.

MC3300 Mobile Computer has more enterprise power.

Scanning to the Max Power in a Super Market

Zebra’s Mobility Extensions (Mx) elevate Android to an enterprise-grade operating system. That means your MC3300 mobile computer comes pre-loaded and ready to run—with greater security, data capture, connectivity, and device management. In addition, Zebra future-proofs with LifeGuard for Android, a guarantee that the OS will be supported with security updates for 10 years from the release date. You can migrate to Android with confidence.

The MC3300 is the next generation up from the MC3200, and it is compatible with most of the MC3200’s accessories, giving you more ease in the transition to the new rugged handheld.

Are you ready to elevate your mobile computing power to gain the efficiencies of the Zebra MC3300 mobile computer? Talk to us at Avalon Integration to reap the rewards in operational efficiency and ROI.

 

The loading dock is the gateway to your warehouse. Establishing a high level of operational efficiency here can reduce errors throughout the facility. Mobilizing the loading dock gains critical efficiency and accuracy that delivers strong ROI.learned”? Mobility is a must to expedite tasks like cross-docking without compromising accuracy. A trailer that’s sitting in a holding pattern is a waste of time and money. To get the right products on the right trailer in the right order, your workers need a real-time view of the activity. In this busy and demanding environment, rugged enterprise technology enables quick decision-making without interruptions like device or battery failure. Shipping and receiving also rely on moving inbound and outbound shipments with a steady flow through the loading dock. Bottlenecks create delays as well as downtime, cutting deeply into your operational efficiency.

Enterprise computing: Smart + Rugged
ET50 in Tough Environment Efficiency

An enterprise-class tablet delivers a high level of computing power with the durability you need to survive the tough environment of a loading dock and yard. The expanded real estate of a tablet enhances the visibility and ease for the user. An enterprise tablet, like the Zebra ET50, incorporates a higher level of data capture, longer battery life, and more robust connectivity, along with the processing power to drive complex applications.

The TC8000 all-touch mobile computer revolutionized enterprise computing when Zebra launched it last year. The lightweight design features a single-plane user interface that eliminates the tilt-and-verify action, which saves time and reduces wrist strain. This high-powered mobile computer comes pre-loaded with Mobility Extensions (Mx), an enterprise-class Android operating system, meaning it’s a significant upgrade for security, connectivity, data capture, and device management—ideal for business use.

The mobile workforce efficiency
VC80 3600 ZT600 QLN Efficiency

Material handling vehicles, like forklifts, should be equipped with an onboard mobile computer that has fast connectivity to keep up with the activity. The Zebra VC80 mounts can grab Internet connections quickly and has the processing power to deliver real-time updates—even in extreme temperatures. You can also add a heated keyboard if you need one.

For any and all verification tasks at the loading dock, you need barcode scanners that keep up with the steady movement of large containers. Workers also benefit from devices that handle long-range scanning in any weather conditions. Zebra’s 3600 Series Ultra-Rugged Scanners are designed specifically to handle this tough task. No other scanners can stand up to the snow, ice, water, dirt, dust, and heat like the aptly-named Ultra-Rugged devices. Scan up to 70,000 barcodes on a single charge. With the long-range option, capture barcodes up to 70 feet away.

You can also increase efficiency at the loading dock by generating barcode labels on demand. Track the shipments with more accuracy and add information as needed. Zebra’s rugged mobile printers, like the QLn series, are lightweight but deliver heavy-duty performance. For printing volume barcode labels and shipping labels at the loading dock, an industrial printer, like the ZT600 Series, is encased in metal and engineered to deliver 24/7 performance with ease. Add RFID capability to encode and print passive and active RFID tags that enable even greater efficiency, a distinct advantage for verifying and tracking large containers.

Avalon Integration focuses on meeting the technology needs of today’s warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Contact us to learn how you can gain efficiency and accuracy at your loading dock with customized solutions that handle your specific challenges.

 

There’s no doubt we rely on smartphones for a variety of computing tasks. The phone is likely one of the lesser used functions. As smartphones became more convenient and functional, they drifted into the workplace. Then came tablets, and workers appreciated the increased landscape of the larger screen, without the unwieldy size of a laptop. With enterprise-grade tablets, workers could access enterprise systems for updates and communicate across the network with more ease than ever before.

Yet, in demanding conditions, like a warehouse or manufacturing facility, consumer devices just don’t last. Drop that tablet on the concrete floor and it’s either headed for repair or replacement—which means downtime and cost. You might also be compromising your data security by using a consumer-grade tablet or limiting the computing power.

Zebra ET50 and ET55 Enterprise-Grade Tablets
Zebra ET50 and ET55 Enterprise-Grade Tablets

Avalon Integration is focused on serving the technology needs of today’s warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturers. We recognized that consumer devices just don’t deliver value in a tough, enterprise environment. So, we looked toward Zebra, a leader in this space, and found the answer.

The Zebra ET50 and ET55 enterprise tablets are purpose-built for the workplace. These enterprise-grade tablets make the grade—with a higher level of security, data capture, connectivity, and durability. Use these powerful mobile computing devices to:

  • Access real-time reports
  • Transmit work orders
  • Check equipment status
  • Track orders
  • Review and adjust workflows
  • Trigger replenishment
  • Place supply orders
  • Locate people and inventory
  • Capture and send high-quality photos or videos
  • View schematics
  • Record inspections with the date and time stamps
  • Use voice and messaging functions to communicate with the workforce

The Zebra ET50/ET55 enterprise tablet is designed to handle all of these functions with ease and reliability. With the sleek design of a consumer tablet, the ET50/ET55 is unquestionably rugged. Drop the tablet from three feet without worry. Add the rugged frame and the device will handle a drop from more than six feet. The ET50/ET55 will also withstand rain, snow, and dust. The IP65 sealing protects it from even a heavy spray from a hose.

This high-powered, intuitive, and rugged tablet also comes pre-installed with Zebra’s Mobility Extensions (Mx), a suite of features that elevate your operating system to enterprise-class Android. The result is more streamlined and effective device management, security, Wi-Fi performance, and application access. You can do more, better.

Zebra ET50 and ET55 Tablets Are Built to Work for You
Zebra ET50 and ET55 Tablets Are Built to Work for You

Data capture is also enhanced with the enterprise-level ET50/ET55 tablet. Scan 1D and 2D barcodes easily and quickly from a printed paper or electronic screen. Even damaged barcodes can be read. The tablet is also equipped with an integrated 8MP rear camera for image capture and a 2MP front camera for video conferencing.

You can add a hot-swappable battery to keep working without missing a beat. Or keep your ET50/ET55 powered up on the mobile-powered cart.

The ET50 is configured for robust connectivity within your facility’s existing WLAN infrastructure. If you need an enterprise tablet that hits the road with you, the ET55 supports 4G LTE.

Avalon Integration proudly partners with Zebra to provide our customers with the most advanced technology solutions for their business. Ask us about the ET50/ET55 enterprise tablets and other enterprise-grade mobile devices that increase operational efficiency.

The demand for maximum efficiency and accuracy in your warehouse forces businesses to look closely at every task. Excess motion, inventory, production, and downtime can reduce an already-squeezed profit margin. If you haven’t already examined your operation, it’s time to find and plug the profitability leaks in your warehouse.

Unnecessary motion presents a huge yet overlooked waste in the warehouse and affects Profitability

Man Lifting box in Warehouse wearing Zebra Scanners

This space a vast area to cover. Requiring workers to wander back and forth to workstations—to fetch orders, check inventory location, and gather shipping labels—is time that could be better spent doing revenue-generating tasks. Keep them in the aisles, or wherever they need to be, by equipping the workforce with enterprise-grade mobile devices. A handheld computer or enterprise tablet with a built-in scanner and voice communication and a mobile printer gives them the ability to access orders, locate inventory, communicate with other workers as needed, and stay focused on their work—not distractions and delays. Use a mobile-powered workstation with a built-in battery to keep the devices ready to go.

Manual processes contribute to slow and error-ridden results. 

Manual Profitability - Avalon Integration

Shuffling paper forms and orders, searching for items (inventory, equipment, tools), and conducting cycle counts by hand present a gaping hole in your profitability. Every manual count, notation, and task allows an opportunity for errors and delays. The wrong item or quantity is picked. An order is misplaced. Inventory is miscounted. Products are misplaced. A barcode system shrinks the time-consuming tasks and eliminates human error. Your workforce spends more time with productive results than fixing mistakes.

Downtime is another preventable profitability leak.

Downtime Profitability - Avalon Integration

With more visibility over the state of your equipment and workforce schedules, you can make changes to positively impact your bottom line. Downtime caused by equipment failures, which can be avoided through preventive maintenance. Downtime that results from waiting for someone or something (e.g., replenishment) is a glitch in the process. Improve communication with mobile devices, like a handheld computer that allows for multitasking, like voice and messaging. Work proactively and plug this profitability leak as well.

Excess inventory results from inaccurate information and projections.

Excess Inventory Profitability - Avalon Integration

Your inventory numbers should be automatically updated as products are received, returned, and shipped. At any time, management would have clear visibility of inventory counts. Using automated data collection systems (barcode scanning, RFID) enables every transaction to be recorded in real-time.


Talk to Avalon Integration about your operational efficiency—or inefficiency. We specialize in warehouses and manufacturing, so we can guide you to the solutions that deliver the best results.

Contact us today to learn more.