It’s been awhile since we provided a post about a bar code symbology, so today we’re going to take a look at GS1 DataBar.  The GS1 DataBar family of symbols was formerly known as RSS symbols or Reduced Space Symbols because of their ability to carry more information and identify small hard-to-mark products.  In addition to promising more data in less space, GS1 DataBar has some unique features that support product authentication and traceability.

GS1 DataBar enables Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) identification and supports Application Identifiers (AI).  This enables the symbol to hold additional information such as expiration date, lot numbers and serial numbers.  The primary focus for GS1 DataBar is to provide a solution that supports traceability and authentication to improve the quality of fresh products scanned at POS.  GS1 has set a target date of 2014 for this family of symbols to be available for use in an open environment.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about GS1 DataBar.

Motorola recently announced the introduction of extended-range (ER) scanning technology to their line of MC9090-G handheld RFID readers.  The MC9090-G RFID ER has all of the first-class features of the existing MC9090-G, but enables extended-range bar code scanning for increased flexibility.  In addition to reading 2D bar codes, RFID tags and capturing images, you’ll have the ability to capture 1D bar codes as close as 4 inches to as far as 40 feet away.  The MC9090-G RFID ER is so flexible it can be used across your entire enterprise to boost productivity.  And the MC9090-G RFID ER has the same rugged design as the entire MC9090-G family, making it perfect for extreme environments like the warehouse and loading dock.  You can check out this MC9090-G Crash Test Video from a previous post to see exactly what I mean.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for more information about the new MC9090-G Extended Range Handheld RFID Reader.

According to Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA):

• There are discrepancies on 10.5% of DSD invoices issued to small-format retailers, and 15.4% to supermarkets and other large-format stores
• The average out-of-stock rate for DSD items is 7.4%, but jumps to 13.1% for promotional items
• Out-of-stocks result in $6 billion in lost sales annually

Automating Direct Store Delivery (DSD) provides the solution to these problems by reducing out-of-stock merchandise, eliminating paperwork and data-entry errors and improving the tracking of promotional items.  DecisionPoint’s MobileArc™ Direct Store Delivery Solutions help businesses increase productivity and profitability by optimizing customer deliveries and enable:

• Bar code scanning
• Route optimization
• Location-Based Services (LBS)
• Turn-by-turn directions
• Signature capture
• Mobile printing

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for more information about mobile solutions designed for Direct Store Delivery.

In our Apr. 22nd post we provided information about mobile solutions designed for restaurants and resorts that enable tableside ordering from a mobile device.  Mobile tableside ordering solutions are simple to use, speed up service, increase accuracy and improve customer satisfaction−just check it out for yourself!  This demo video from our select software partner Global Bay demonstrates this type of application on a Motorola MC75 device.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for more information about mobility solutions.

How do mobile solutions improve field service productivity?  First consider the following questions from a Zebra Technologies White Paper on the subject:

• How much time do field service technicians spend filling out work order records and preparing invoices?
• How much money does your organization spend annually on preprinted forms?
• Are service parts inventory records accurate? Do inaccuracies cause problems in the field? What happens in the office when handwritten work orders and invoices are not legible?
• How much time do employees spend on data entry, both in the field and in the office?
• How often do customers call about billing disputes?
• How long does it typically take to resolve these questions? Which departments are involved?
• Can workers easily change dispatching and job priorities throughout the day?
• How would operations benefit if technicians could complete more calls per day?
• How do customers rate the organization’s service?

With a mobile solution you’ll save time, improve accuracy, reduce operating expenses and increase customer satisfaction.  Download the entire Zebra White Paper “Improve Field Service Productivity and Cost-Effectiveness with Mobility Technology” to learn more.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for more information about MobileArc™ Field Services Solutions.

Equipping your wait staff with mobile computers eliminates paper orders and immediately sends an electronic order to the kitchen to be prepared.  This increases accuracy and provides your customers with faster service.  No more running back and forth to and from the kitchen.  With a mobile solution you’ll increase efficiency in 3 simple steps:

1. Wait staff enters order information into a handheld device
2. Order is wirelessly sent back to the kitchen
3. Wait staff uses handheld device to swipe credit/debit card for payment

When combined with a mobile printer you can provide customers with paper receipts and process the entire order right at the table.  This type of mobile solution is also ideal for large resorts that offer poolside and beach front service.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for more information about mobile solutions designed for restaurants and resorts.

In our Apr. 19th post we provided information about mobile identification solutions and the typical applications that utilize biometric data.  Motorola offers a biometric attachment for their MC75 mobile device that supports these applications and is as rugged as the device itself.  The attachment has two options−fingerprint sensor only or fingerprint sensor with a contact and contactless card reader.  The FIPS 201 certified fingerprint sensor provides high-quality images and the contact and contactless smart card readers are ISO compliant.  When combined with the MC75’s standard 2 megapixel auto- focus color camera, the Motorola biometric attachment provides everything you need in a device for a mobile identification solution.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the MC75 or the biometric attachment.

In our Sept 16th post we provided information about the features of the Motorola MC9500-K mobile device.  The following video highlights some of these fetaures in various applications, including:

• Direct Store Delivery
• Field Services
• Transportation & Logistics
• Emergency Services

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the Motorola MC9500-K.

Besides being tedious and time consuming, provisioning mobile devices yourself increases the risk of error.  Relying on mobility experts to provide device provisioning saves you time and eliminates errors and frustration.  By relying on DecisionPoint for your mobile device provisioning you can avoid these typical problems:

• The frustration of going through long install instructions−some install instructions are 8 pages long!
• Skipped steps
• If you send out units to be repaired they’ll be returned completely wiped, meaning you have to go through it all again
• If you purchase new units you need to complete device provisioning for each mobile device−the more units you deploy the more time this process will take
• If you don’t know about a firmware or operating system update you won’t know to apply it

End the frustration and realize the benefits of mobility more quickly by relying on DecisionPoint’s MobileCare™ Device Provisioning service.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about Mobile Device Provisioning solutions.

Mobile identification solutions utilize biometric technology to enable mobile workers to capture fingerprints and high-quality facial images to accurately identify individuals while on-the-go.  Mobile identification increases security by providing local or remote identification and verification all from a rugged handheld device.  Typical applications include:

• Enterprise Security-security personnel can use handheld devices to scan smart cards or RFID badges, capture fingerprints and verify the data against the ID badge.
• Event Security-personnel can capture and transmit biometric data in real-time to remote databases to safeguard secure areas.
• Health Care-hospital workers can identify patients, issued prescriptions and dosage levels.
• Law Enforcement-patrolling officers can perform quick identification of individuals and connect to their records and also enables on-site fingerprinting for records.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for more information about Mobile Identification Solutions.