4 Ways to Enhance Track and Trace Efficiency with Fixed Industrial Scanners

4 Ways to Enhance Track and Trace Efficiency with Fixed Industrial Scanners

Maintaining a consistent distribution process that efficiently tracks and traces assets helps meet rising customer expectations. To accurately track and trace assets, warehouses need trusted decoding performance that can automatically and flawlessly track items from production through distribution. That’s why businesses are turning to industrial scanners that are proven to enhance visibility and asset tracking. According to new studies, nine out of 10 decision-makers will seek outside resources to help identify and execute warehouse automation solutions within five years, and over 90% will equip workers with mobile devices. Studies also suggest that nine in 10 warehouse decision-makers expect to use more sensor-based technologies like fixed industrial scanners. Therefore, to keep up with these rising trends and customer demands, distributors should choose to implement fixed industrial scanning solutions that can track and trace assets through the distribution process. Without sufficient levels of asset tracking in your business, operations could suffer from inaccurate inventories, slower shipments, and ultimately reduced customer satisfaction.

Equip your distribution process with end-to-end tracking solutions from IST.

As a Zebra Select Industrial Automation Partner, IST helps provide businesses with effective track and trace solutions that boost the distribution process and improve inventory management. Zebra’s Fixed Industrial Scanners help warehouses achieve real-time visibility and next-level performance with:

  1. Groundbreaking simplicity – Slow deployment can diminish productivity and make it harder for workers to operate hardware. Zebra’s Fixed Industrial Scanners are equipped with an intuitive, modern interface that is simple to use for beginners, while experienced users get one-click access to practically every tool. Just one tool means fewer software apps to manage, with less training and ramp up time to optimize any process. 
  2. More accurate and reliable data capture capabilities – Choosing Zebra for manufacturing and logistics automation solutions equips your business with superior scanning technology that drives automation solutions in virtually every industry for decades. Zebra’s Fixed Industrial Scanners come equipped with PRZM Intelligent Imaging that delivers first-time every time dependable scanning. Optimize scanning performance with the ability to capture 1D and 2D barcodes that are damaged, dirty, or on a fast moving conveyor belt. This improves accuracy to achieve a more consistent and productive level of track and trace operations.
  3. Advanced flexibility and upgradeability – Your asset tracking needs may change down the road. Innovative and flexible scanning solutions help you get the features you need to extend the life cycle of the device as needs and demands evolve. IST and Zebra’s scanning solutions allow you to add new features anytime. This maximizes ROI to control costs and create smoother workflows in your distribution process.
  4. Enhanced reliability and operational simplicity – Achieving a new level of automation comes from improving dependability. Zebra-only features like ImagePerfect+ dependably create the high-quality images required to enable high read rates and eliminate exceptions. If a barcode read fails, Golden Image Compare will compare the failed image to a golden “perfect” image created at setup and automatically diagnose the issue, which helps immediately resolve issues. 

IST simplifies upgrades through the GO Zebra Trade-In Program, so you get the latest edge of enterprise hardware plus cash rebates towards your new scanners. Learn more about how you can modernize your warehouse with Zebra’s Fixed Industrial Scanners to optimize track and trace operations when you contact IST here.

Zebra Helps Manufactures Increase Visibility Across Distribution Centers

Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a global leader in providing solutions and services that give enterprises real-time visibility into their operations, is helping companies increase mobile device visibility in their operations. Zebra and its partner, Industrial Service Technology (IST) has helped Whirlpool Corporation improve mobile device management with the data, analytics and visibility to optimize their critical assets at 20 U.S. distribution centers through the use of  Zebra’s Operational Visibility Service™ (OVS) platform. This cloud-based, mobile device management and asset visibility platform helps manage mobile and vehicle-mounted computers so enterprises can make smarter business decisions with the data, analytics and visibility they need to ensure they are optimizing their critical assets.
KEY FACTS

  • OVS gives enterprises the ability to sense if there is a problem with a mobile device or printer, analyze what the problem is and act on a solution in real-time, giving managers the data they need to make the right decision at the right time.
  • With OVS, IST can proactively manage the mix of mobile devices at distribution centers and understand the needs of the device pool at each of their sites.
  • OVS data includes battery performance, device utilization, device location, configuration, device inventory, and more.
  • Companies can track utilization by device which can be mapped to an associate to help create best practices across its distribution center network.
  • With the OVS implementation, distribution center rollouts were done remotely, resulting in a return on investment within two months.
  • To learn more about Whirlpool Corporation’s results, read the case study or watch the case study video.


SUPPORTING QUOTES

Alison Jones, Senior Director of NAR Logistics, Whirlpool Corporation
“We are able to understand where our devices are and how they are being used, and we don’t need to buy equipment unnecessarily.  I emphasize with my logistics team to educate with data. That means we can provide good information to all of our leadership teams so we can make timely decisions that control costs and make sure our performance is up to par. With the combination of Whirlpool Corporation working with Zebra and IST, the technology future is unlimited.”

Ryan Julian, General Manager, Industrial Service Technology
“Zebra’s Operational Visibility Service has helped us save time and money through remote deployment. Now we can track how long the mobile devices are online, how many scans, battery life and other metrics that companies like Whirlpool are looking for to help increase productivity.”

Bobbie Ramsey, Senior Product Manager, Zebra Technologies
“OVS is designed to add visibility to the customer’s mobile environment. It pulls data that allows management in a central location to see what’s happening across multiple distribution centers.  That visibility allows them to make better business decisions based on real data.”