Distributors of high-volume items such as beverages perform a wide variety of tasks throughout the day.  With the correct mobile solution in place your mobile workers can efficiently and effectively manage everything from physical delivery to order management, invoicing and merchandising.  Direct Store Delivery (DSD) mobile solutions are designed to eliminate paper processes and provide more accurate deliveries.  Beverage distributors in particular can benefit from the following features:

• Delivery orders are sent electronically
• Create accurate invoices on-the-spot
• Drivers have real-time visibility into stock and can place new orders or update existing orders
• Capture images of promotional displays to easily monitor customer compliance
• Capture and transmit signatures at the moment of delivery

Real-time connection to mobile applications and advanced data capture capabilities ensure that your mobile workers have all the tools they need to increase customer satisfaction and improve operational efficiency.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about our MobileArc Direct Store Delivery (DSD) solutions.

In the past I’ve provided information about the features and benefits of GPS tracking solutions, but today I’d like to focus on how GPS technology increases safety and reduces liability for large fleets.

According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) that was undertaken jointly by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is a factor in nearly 23% of all at-fault large truck accidents.  With the ability to track driver speed in real-time and receive alerts about drivers that have exceeded posted limits you can significantly reduce the chance of accidents.

The LTCCS also reported that driver confusion or unfamiliarity with roadways was a factor in 21.6% of all at-fault large truck crashes.  GPS technology reduces confusion and provides drivers with mapping applications and turn-by-turn directions, as well as real-time traffic updates.

Because GPS tracking solutions increase safety, they can also reduce insurance costs and improve customer satisfaction by providing a safety record your customers can rely on.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about GPS tracking solutions that improve driver safety.

It is important to consider how the design of a mobile device will impact productivity, performance and employee safety.  An ergonomic design provides a comfortable form-factor that is designed for all-day use and reduces the risk of RSI’s (Repetitive Stress Injuries).  Some key considerations for selecting an ergonomic design include:

• Device weight
• Comfortable shape for scan-intensive applications
• Keypad design that maximizes efficiency
• Easy-to-read display-inside or outside
• Visual/Audio cues after bar code reads

As you can see, there are many factors that should be considered and there are also multiple choices for different environments and applications.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about ergonomic mobile devices and what features are right for your application.

The Last Mile Delivery Forum starts on Sept. 30th and DecisionPoint Systems will be in Booth #18, so we hope you drop by and visit with us.

DecisionPoint’s MobileArc Courier Solutions provide everything needed for success and you’ll definitely want to stop by our booth if:

Your shipper is asking about

• Signature Capture
• Bar Code Scanning
• GPS Location Based Services

Your drivers need a device that

• Is rugged
• Is weather-proof
• Can be read inside and outside
• Operates for a full shift on a single battery
• Is both a phone and a mobile computer

If you’re looking for a partner who

• Is a mobile computer expert
• Works with Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile
• Can provision your device to work out-of-the-box
• Can manage your devices in the field
• Can support your device day after day, year after year

We hope to see you at the show!

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about our MobileArc Courier Solutions.

In our Aug. 6th post I provided more information about DecisionPoint’s range of services and how we help businesses create operational advantages through wireless mobility solutions.  Today I’d like to invite you to learn a little bit more about DecisionPoint Systems and how we can help you make enterprise software applications accessible to the front-line worker anytime, anywhere.

View the DecisionPoint Corporate Video below for more information

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about our range of services, support and the latest wireless, mobility and RFID technologies.

Transforming the shopping experience is a great way to maintain customer loyalty.  Mobile solutions provide the convenience and personalized shopping experience your customers are looking for.  With the correct technology in place, the opportunities to increase customer satisfaction are almost limitless.  There are a variety of mobile applications designed to enhance the shopping experience and we’ve discussed some of these in the past, but today I’d like to look at some specific examples of solutions that transform the shopping experience.

• In-store ordering via Micro Kiosks-provide your customers with the convenience of ordering items from side departments (such as the deli) at the beginning of their shopping trip.  This eliminates the need for customers to wait in line to place their order and then wait again for the order to be completed.  Everything is taken care of while the customer is shopping and can be picked up when they’re ready to checkout.
• Dressing room assistance-provide your customers with a mobile application that ensures immediate response from an employee to help them locate the correct item in the correct size.
• Online order pickup via Micro Kiosks-provide your customers with a quick and easy way to complete online orders.  A store associate is immediately notified once the bar code is scanned and the order is delivered to the customer at the checkout.  This enables a speedy checkout and eliminates the frustration of waiting in multiple lines to receive an online order.

Lets’ Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about mobile solutions that transform the shopping experience.

It’s time again to take a closer look at a bar code symbology!  Today I’ll be providing information about Code 39.  Code 39 is also known as code 3 of 9 and 3 of 9 bar code.  Code 39 is primarily used in industrial applications and internal applications and can be used to create various labels such as name badges and inventory labels.

Code 39 is capable of encoding uppercase letters A-Z, digits 0-9 and special characters such as SPACE, – (minus), . (period), $ (dollar sign), % (percent), / (slash), + (plus).  An Extended Code 39 can also encode additional characters not normally supported by the code, such as lowercase letters.  This is a low density symbol that requires more space to encode data than the similar bar codes, such as Code 128.  Code 39 doesn’t require a check digit because it was designed with character self-checking.  However, Code 39 does have a checksum character for standards that may require it, such as LOGMARS (Logistics Applications of Automated Marking and Reading Symbols) and HIBC (Health Industry Barcode)

Each Code 39 character is made up of 9 elements, 3 wide and 6 narrow.  Therefore, a single character consists of 5 black bars and 4 white spaces.  Each symbol includes:

1. Quiet zone the width of at least 10 narrow bars
2. Start character
3. Encoded data
4. Stop character
5. Quiet zone the width of at least 10 narrow bars

Code 39 can be read by nearly every bar code scanner on the market today and is quite popular because of its simplicity and reliable reading results.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about bar code software that supports Code 39 and applications that this symbology is best suited for.

In our Sept. 20th post we provided some basic information about perpetual inventory.  Today I’d like to provide more information about how mobile applications and perpetual inventory can increase field-based workforce productivity and improve customer satisfaction.

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, perpetual inventory is a great tool for field technicians that require inventory in their vehicles for repairs.  With a perpetual inventory system your field technicians will increase efficiency because they will know the exact inventory they have in their vehicle without verifying each item themselves.  Technicians can automatically access inventory lists specific to their vehicle to ensure they have what they need for each service call.

The ability to access perpetual inventory via a mobile device also improves customer satisfaction.  Access to perpetual inventory ensures:

• Technicians won’t arrive for a service call without the proper replacement parts
• If an additional part is needed and isn’t on-hand, technicians can access the perpetual inventory system to locate the closest technician that does have the part for quick pick-up or delivery

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the benefits of combining perpetual inventory systems with your field services applications.

Perpetual inventory, also known as continuous inventory, is a system in which inventory quantity and availability is updated on a continuous basis.  This provides up-to-date records that accurately reflect the level of goods on hand.  Perpetual inventory systems can interface with existing warehouse systems to ensure that an accurate running balance of inventory is reported even when materials are moved.

Field repair technicians must have an accurate accounting of the inventory in their vehicles so that they have the replacement parts needed for repairs.  Perpetual inventory systems track all inventory moved from the warehouse to vehicles and enables technicians to confirm they have the required parts for their service calls.

Be sure to visit us again tomorrow to learn more about how mobile applications can help you use perpetual inventory to increase technician productivity and improve customer service.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about mobile applications and perpetual inventory.

With nearly 600 visitors a month, our readership has been continually growing and now I’d like to hear from you!  This is your chance to let me know exactly what you’re interested in.  Is there a specific mobile application you’d like to learn more about that hasn’t been covered?  Are there any mobile solutions you would like me to expand on?  Now is your chance to be heard.  Please leave a comment on this post with any requests.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about our broad range of mobile solutions and services.