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Yet, without the right tools, your warehouse team can find themselves relying on out-of-date paper-based data, or worse still, memory – a recipe for errors, long cycle times and reduced productivity, as well as added work and pressure on your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.


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