Why your warehouse team need rugged mobile devices that can keep up with them
03 May 2019
Your warehouse
operatives know their working environment better than anyone. It’s their job to
run your warehouse like a well-oiled machine, and that means ensuring that
every item is in the right place at the right time as it moves from goods in to
despatch.
Yet, without the right
tools, your warehouse team can find themselves relying on out-of-date
paper-based data, or worse still, memory – a recipe for errors, long cycle
times and reduced productivity, as well as added work and pressure on your
operatives. Even the most experienced warehouse staff cannot expect to stay
informed of every key detail without a direct link to the digital warehouse
infrastructure.
Rugged mobile devices
on the warehouse floor support your warehouse team, enabling them to fulfil their duties at a
pace that compliments, rather than hampers, their skills. Team members with
equipment that allows them to excel not only work at peak efficiency, but feel
more empowered and satisfied in their roles, as we explore here.
Rugged devices in the three stages of
warehousing
The right mobile
device for warehouse management should cover all three stages of operations,
from inventory management to shipping and receiving, through to picking and
labelling. Warehouse staff benefit from the constant presence of a mobile
computer at each stage, enabling them to move smoothly between tasks, record
progress and stay in contact with each other and company HQ.
Inventory management – Rugged devices give warehouse operatives
visibility of your entire inventory in real-time. Being able to check live
stock levels with just a few taps of a screen means faster access to key
information.
Shipping and receiving – Delivering goods to each stage of their
warehouse journey is made simple when a quick scan reveals its warehouse
destination. Vehicle-mounted rugged mobile devices enable team members to
double-check data from forklifts without having to dismount, increasing safety
and allowing them to move goods with confidence.
Picking and labelling –
A rugged mobile computer can alert your warehouse staff instantly if the wrong
item is picked and allows them to track their workflow as they go about their
shifts. Every action is logged on the central system, giving operatives the
autonomy to record their own progress and deviate from a set picking list in
order to maximise efficiency and stock fulfilment.
Features of rugged handhelds for
warehouse operatives
The features of rugged
mobile devices benefit not only warehouse throughput, they also help operatives
carry out their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. Reliable
wireless connectivity, even in cold chain storage, keeps them connected to your
company’s data hub, ensuring a two-way flow of information and operational
monitoring at all times.
Built to withstand
drops, knocks, extremes of temperature, dust and dirt, and boasting excellent
battery life, warehouse staff can afford to rely on rugged mobile handhelds,
safe in the knowledge they won’t break, malfunction or run out of power halfway
through a shift.
Long-range data
capture, simple functionality, touchscreens that respond even through thick gloves,
and ergonomic design features enable your staff to move swiftly through their duties,
while intuitive software integration gives them access to other business
management systems via a single device. Your warehouse team have the capability
to solve problems, automate tasks and monitor their own progress, all of which
helps them make continuous performance improvements.
Streamlining your warehouse
operations
More efficient staff
means better warehouse productivity, while streamlined processes enhance team
members’ job satisfaction and sense of achievement. Rugged mobile devices add
value at every level of warehouse operations, from speeding up and digitising
daily tasks to feeding secure real-time data back to a warehouse management
system.
For your operatives,
rugged mobile computers and handhelds make life on the warehouse floor more
efficient, more autonomous and more connected, minimising stress and maximising
potential.
To find out more about the organisation-wide benefits that rugged
mobile devices could create within your warehouse division, please get in touch.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - PETER MARSH
Peter joined TouchStar (formally Belgravium) in a sales manager role in 2001. Prior to joining the company, Peter held Partner and National Sales Manager roles within the parcel and logistics industries.
In 2011 Peter was promoted to Sales Director and is now actively involved in promoting the value of TouchStar’s Rugged Mobile Computing solutions to the warehouse, logistics, manufacturing and field service industries. When not involved in the business, Peter is a keen and enthusiastic football and cricket fan.