Multiple statistics show a bright future for online sales and e-commerce activity, with significant growth to a value of $7.9tn predicted in sales worldwide by 2027. In every area of the retail and the supply chain, efficient working practices will remain the cornerstone of the ability to cope with the increased demand.
Pressures like labour shortages and the cost of real estate mean that warehouse operators and retailers have to find new ways to make better use of available resources, and the increasing value placed on customer experience means a lower tolerance for errors and a demand for faster order processing and stocking.
Deploying the latest in technology in warehousing, storage and distribution is one of the most practical ways that companies can respond to these pressures on their operations. While investment in large-scale roboticisation and automation continues to change the supply chain, there are many areas of operations in which modern technology can create desired efficiencies without the high cost.
Individual warehouse and retail staff will remain core components of the vast majority of businesses for the foreseeable future, and it’s here, with relatively trivial spend, that considerable efficiency improvements can be made.
Source: Zebra Technologies
Worker Focus
The challenge is to adapt technology for the worker’s environment that makes their daily tasks easier, less complex and safer. By digitising as much as possible of an inherently manual workflow, each activity can be optimised for simplicity and efficiency. And by digitising work practices on the shop floor and behind the scenes, the facility as a whole can create a more complete informational picture of the business in multiple areas.
But before we can envisage a fully digital, interconnected flow from the moment of purchase to final delivery, or from the warehouse to the physical retail site, we must consider that foundational element of operations—the digitally-equipped human worker. It’s with them that the digital journey must begin.
Most facilities process goods from dozens, if not thousands, of sources and dispatch to multiple destinations. Fixed, hardware-based systems scanning goods in and out can lack the ability to be adaptable, so staff have to resort to some degree of manual processing. This is where mistakes get made, and overall efficiency levels fall.
Wearable Answers
Today’s wearable technology designed for warehouse operators and retail staff combines the latest hardware scanners with up-to-date, upgradeable software. The latter element gives each device significant longevity and the business the ability to adapt quickly. As new tracking technology is introduced anywhere in the factory-to-customer journey, upgrading software is trivial and does not impact operations.
Naturally, it’s not given that an off-the-shelf wearable device is suitable for the working environment. However, a new generation of wearable technology created for the specific demands of warehouse operations and retail exists, designed for the floor worker’s daily activities and as an integral part of larger digitisation strategies. It provides the necessary ruggedisation to protect it from heavy physical use, and to operate in direct sunlight, cold environments, or areas that are naturally dusty.
The Zebra Technologies wearable range means staff can work more effectively, picking, checking and restocking more easily and quickly, identifying and moving inventory without endangering themselves, customers or colleagues. The range is ruggedised, water- and dust-proof, and low profile, so it can be used in confined spaces.
Source: Zebra Technologies
The RS2100 Bluetooth Wearable Scanner is small, light and slim yet rugged at an economic price point. The RS2100 has an open hand design, is worn on the back of the hand, and the PRZM Intelligent Imaging Technology gives operators high-performance scanning capability, producing coherent reads of scuffed, partially-obscured or dirty 1D and 2D barcodes. The device connects to other Zebra mobile devices or, with a Bluetooth adapter, to any PC.
The company also offers a range of service tiers that cover unexpected repair costs and ensure that software is kept up-to-date and, therefore, secure. To address the common issue of lost or missing scanners, each RS2100 Wearable Scanner has a built-in tracker so misplaced units can be found quickly.
The WT5400 and WT6400 Wearable Computers bring a futuristic level of technology into the practical realities of warehouse operatives and retail staff. The devices are highly resistant to mishandling and operate in temperatures to MIL-STD [military standard] 810H levels. Both models are waterproof to IP65 and dustproof to IP67.
Staff equipped with the wearables typically use the wrist mount (there are three sizes of wrist strap), often in conjunction with the RS2100 Wearable Scanner described above or Zebra Technologies’ RS5100 or RS6100 scanners. The NFC in both the wearable computers and scanners pairs devices quickly and reliably, plus there’s wireless 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for more options.
Both wearable computers have a deliberately engineered bright, 4.7″ touchscreen display designed to work optimally in bright environments. For maximum productivity gains in very challenging environments, the more heavily-ruggedized WT6400 offers a wider operating temperature range, greater connectivity, and is responsive to touch control through thicker hand protectors.
Conclusions
Digitisation of warehouse facilities and retail environments starts with workers’ activities at the coalface, but the choices on how to equip staff come down to reliability, usability and longevity. Basing operations on data-driven workflows becomes problematic if the devices and software used in core, daily operations are unusable, cumbersome, or unreliable. It only takes one significant failure during a peak period for staff to want to quickly abandon the technology they’ve been given and revert to slower, less efficient systems that are at least reliable.
Choosing technology that’s designed for purpose, with hardware and software backing from a specialist maker, gives companies the basis for more efficient, faster and safer work practices. Embedding digital systems in distribution hubs, storage facilities, retail outlets, and warehousing of all types and sizes helps companies approach the increasing demand for their services, capable and prepared.
Contact a representative today to learn more about wearable technology from Zebra Technologies and the company’s suite of systems and services for the sectors.
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