4 Reasons Mobilizing Industrial Barcode Printers Keeps Up with Supply Chain Production and Increases Labeling Efficiency
The supply chain is under increased pressure to deliver products faster than ever before. To meet the need for speed, processes need to tighten up across every application from receiving, picking, labeling, and shipping. While the key to increasing productivity without sacrificing accuracy is adopting a mobile-first mindset, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your operation needs to implement mobile equipment. Stationary equipment like desktop and industrial printers, computers, monitors, scanners and more, can “go mobile” by implementing the right tools to mobilize the process. Here’s how a mobile workstation solution can help your operation add “mobility” to legacy barcode printers, keep up with supply chain production, increase labeling efficiency, and ultimately be more profitable without spending a dime from capital expenses.
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Mobilize Processes (Not Equipment) with Mobile Carts and Workstations
Across industries, receiving tends to be one of the first applications that can gain almost immediate productivity gains from mobilizing processes. Frequently, enterprises equate mobilizing a process with implementing new equipment–particularly a handheld computer and mobile printer. While these devices are excellent for low-volume labeling applications, many warehouses and distribution centers receive a high volume of pallets and products. The capacity of mobile printers is relatively small and often requires associates to stop and replenish labels every two to three pallets.
However, by implementing a mobile cart solution, your operation can leverage industrial barcode printers — printers you already have — to create a “go mobile” workstation that increases throughput, decreases footsteps, and ultimately raises productivity to meet today’s demand.
The right mobile cart solution can power all of the “stationary” equipment required to deliver greater speed and efficiency for high-volume, time-sensitive labeling, and logistics applications.
Additionally, with dozens of possible configurations that accommodate a state-of-the-art power package, devices, and accessories, your operation can efficiently and effectively leverage the power of mobile carts to eliminate bottlenecks in any application without the need of purchasing additional equipment.
Prioritize Worker Safety
Not only does a mobile cart solution helps increase productivity — in some instances by 30% or more depending on the application — but it also helps prioritize worker safety. In the new normal created by the coronavirus pandemic, workers must be kept safe. Warehouses and distribution centers are placing a high priority on maintaining social distance, using personal protective equipment, and implementing additional safety measures to keep employees safe–as well as their operations from shutting down due to an unexpected outbreak.
Mobile carts help isolate employees to complete tasks that would have otherwise required footsteps back and forth between shared equipment.
Decrease Errors; Save Time and Money
DC Velocity Magazine highlights studies that put the cost of mispicks in warehouses at nearly $400,000 annually. A combination of direct and indirect elements create these costs, including:
- Wasted labor: Excessive footsteps walking to shared workstations, as well as inventory management errors, lead to wasted efforts to complete, or redo a task.
- Expensive Reverse Logistics: Disorganized returns processing is a huge culprit of profitability–and often returns are requested due to the incorrect item being picked in the first place.
- Loss of Customer Confidence: Too many mispicks result in aggravated customers who can, at the click of a button, shop elsewhere.
Mobile cart solutions help keep workers focused on the task at hand. The nature of industrial barcode printers–particularly like Honeywell’s PX940–is reduced errors in labeling. In the PX940’s case, it will even verify a barcode using the ANSI/ISO standards-based system to nearly eliminate all chargebacks.
Acquire Upgraded Equipment with No Upfront Cost
While mobilizing processes are vital to keeping up with demand, if your equipment can’t keep up with production, you’ll never get productivity up to where it needs to be. However, many warehouses and distribution centers don’t always have the capital budgets to upgrade unreliable legacy equipment that can no longer keep up.
The good news is that some providers offer barcode labeling as a service programs that take an innovative approach to acquire new equipment without a capital budget. These types of programs leverage your labeling supplies budget — which typically falls under your operational expense budget — to acquire new equipment. This is done by incorporating new printers and other hardware into the labeling spend over a contracted period.
Ready for Next Steps?
Contact DecisionPoint’s supply chain experts to learn how you can leverage the right solutions to help mobilize processes and acquire the state-of-the-art equipment that will keep your operation competitive both today and tomorrow.
About DecisionPoint:
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About Royce Digital:
As a proud DecisionPoint Company, Royce Digital Systems is committed to delivering end-to-end mobile solutions and managed services to healthcare workers and facilities across North America. Our solutions help increase productivity, boost accuracy, and improve patient care.