Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a unique set of numbers or coding schemes that identifies a specific item in a supply chain.  Unlike bar codes that can only distinguish between two product categories (manufacturer and class of product), EPC can identify a specific item by its unique ID number.   This emerging system uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to automatically identify consumer goods.

As products move through the supply chain, from factories, to distribution, to retail stores, EPC tags offer improved information about specific items.  EPC not only indicates the name of the manufacturer and type of product, but can also include specific product information, such as:

• Manufacture date
• Expiration date
• Flavor/Style
• Recalls
• Location in supply chain

Because EPC has the ability to track products down to the item level, companies can use EPC-based RFID solutions to track inventory, reduce shortages and increase consumer safety.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about RFID solutions and hardware that supports EPC.

Fleet management solutions provide valuable information about your fleet and drivers that can be used to improve operations.  Real-time information about vehicle usage, driver behavior and fuel consumption help you determine where your highest costs are and what areas of your operation can be improved to deliver more benefit to your customers.  With mobile solutions such as GPS tracking, Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and wireless mobile devices you can begin measuring performance in real-time.  Automatic alerts provide you with the hard data you need to begin making improvements.  Common alerts include:

• Excessive engine idle-are your vehicles running for too long, but not headed anywhere?  Educate your drivers on the costs of excessive engine idle to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.
• Mileage reports-help you determine if you need to improve routing so you can complete more jobs per day and reduce fuel usage.  Also provides insight into after-hours vehicle usage.
• Driver alerts-increase the safety of your drivers and reduce insurance costs with alerts that indicate speeding, seatbelt use and more.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about fleet management solutions that improve operations and increase the productivity of your mobile workforce.

DecisionPoint Systems would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!  We hope you have a great holiday and we’ll see you next week!

Returnable Transport Items or RTIs are durable packaging/containers that are used to transport goods from distribution centers and warehouses and are returned and reused.  Many large retailers and the U.S. Department of Defense actually mandate the use of RTIs.  There are many types, but common RTIs include:

• Wooden or plastic pallets
• Bread racks
• Plastic dairy crates
• Dollies

According to RFID monthly, most RTIs range in price from $200-$5,000, so it’s essential to make sure these valuable assets are tracked and returned.  RFID technology meets the challenge of tracking these assets and reduces the risk of shrink.

Affixing RFID tags to each RTI enables the real-time tracking of each asset when it leaves your facility to when it is returned.  The RFID tag carries the data about the type of unit and size, as well as the date it was sent out and other important information to monitor the return.  Information on the tags can be automatically read via fixed RFID readers, vehicle mounted RFID readers or handheld readers to capture the data quickly and accurately.

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

CorporateProfile.com recently interviewed Nic Toms, CEO of DecisionPoint Systems, Inc., he commented on the reverse merger with NASDAQ listed Comamtech, which was announced last month and DecisionPoint’s record Q3 revenues.

Read more about the interview at World Market Media, or view the entire interview at CorporateProfile.com.

You can also read the press release announcing DecisionPoint Systems Reverse Merger Agreement with Comamtech or download the press release for additional information.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the recent reverse merger announcement and investor relations information.

In our November 16th post I provided information about the two typical segments of mobile retail solutions—In-Store Systems and Distribution Systems.  Today I’d like to take a closer look at one type of distribution center solution, Transportation Management Systems.

Transportation Management Systems include mobile computing systems which are used in all functions related to handling the logistics of moving inventory from a distribution center to a store.  Mobile computing and scanning systems used in Transportation Management Systems typically include the following functions:

• Yard Management
• Traffic Management
• Dispatch and Routing
• Vehicle Location-Based Services
• Vehicle and Driver Logs

Transportation Management Systems streamline operations and ensure that your products are positioned in your stores when your customers need them, so you can maximize profits.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about solutions for warehouse and distribution centers.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) Annual Convention and EXPO will be held January 9-12, 2011.  The NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association and their annual convention and EXPO is not to be missed, so register early!  The 2010 show was a great success and attendance was up over 25% from 2009 and the 2011 show promises to be even more exciting because NRF is celebrating 100 years of retail leadership.  DecisionPoint Systems is looking forward to seeing you all there and will be exhibiting during the EXPO January 10-11th.  Be on the lookout for additional information about the solutions and applications we’ll be showing in the coming weeks.

Convention: January 9-12, 2011
EXPO & STUDIO: January 10-11, 2011
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about retail solutions designed to enhance the customer experience and improve employee productivity.

In our October 29th post I announced the release of the Motorola ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant and provided the opportunity to download the ES400 Field Mobility Application Brief in the November 11th post.  Today I’d like to share this great video from Motorola that summarizes all of the features that the ES400 offers to field workers and mobile task workers.  Learn more about how the ES400 empowers your mobile workforce.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about the Motorola ES400 EDA and mobile solutions designed to increase the productivity of your field workers.

In our August 16th post I provided some interesting facts from a  study that compared the failure rates and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of rugged and commercial devices.  A recent study by Venture Development Corporation (VDC) that surveyed mobile device users over the last 12 months offers compelling data that shows that rugged mobile devices require fewer repairs and last longer than commercial-grade devices—lowering total cost of ownership.  Here are some interesting statistics from the VDC study:

• Those using commercial-grade devices experienced failure rates that were almost double of rugged device users
• Over a third (35 percent) of commercial devices have been replaced after only two years, compared to only 2 percent of ruggedized devices
• After 3 years, 80 percent of commercial devices had been replaced
• Courier and expedited freight respondents reported that annual costs for rugged devices were more than 47 percent lower than commercial devices

Mobile devices that are designed for extreme environments are less likely to need repairs and reduce downtime resulting from damaged equipment.  Ensure your mobile device can withstand daily use in demanding environments by choosing rugged mobility.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about rugged mobile devices that provide a lower total cost of ownership.

Typical mobile retail solutions can be categorized in two segments by business function:

• In-Store Systems-Mobile Inventory, Mobile Point of Sale (POS), Customer-Facing Applications and other specialized systems.
• Distribution Systems-Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Transportation Management Systems.

DecisionPoint provides expert solutions in all areas of retail, from store operations to distribution center operations and understands that each system requires a combination of hardware, software, services and support to be successful.  Visit us in the next few days to learn more about our specific in-store and distribution center solutions that utilize mobile computing and scanning systems to handle multiple business functions.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about our mobile solutions designed for retailers.