Smart and worker-friendly approach to improving team output and accuracy
Empower High Productivity With CSSI’s Wearable Technology Solutions
The modern warehouse must brave through a myriad of challenging demands. From shorter delivery timeframes to real-time order tracking, meet every demand with a modernization solution that adapts to the individual worker for maximized productivity and ergonomics. Wearable technology solutions provide an instant productivity boost for your team… faster scanning, improved ergonomics, less fatigue.
What Is Wearable Technology?
There are a number of wearable tech devices. These would include:
Smart glasses (many people are familiar with wearables such as the Google Glass head mounted display)
VR Headsets – virtual reality and augmented reality may play a growing role in professional environments
Wearable electronics (examples might include the Fitbit smart watch, the Apple watch, or activity tracker devices)
Wearable sensors and smart clothing used for personal safety or individual metrics, for example, in hazardous environments where intrinsically safe technology is required.
Portable label printers
CSSI is focused primarily on wearable technologies which support activities in warehouse, distribution, and manufacturing environments.
Benefits of Wearable Computers
There are many advantages to well-implemented modern wearable technology solutions:
Faster order fulfillment / higher worker productivity
Improved order accuracy due to the scanner’s visual reinforcement
Workers benefit from the improved ergonomics of wearable devices
Team communication improves with push-to-talk capabilities
CSSI can guide you in the selection, configuration, deployment, and support of wearable computers and ring scanners.
Learn More About Wearable Technology Options
Contact CSSI to learn more about the possibilities which wearable tech can unlock for your organization.
Warehouse Operations Leaders Provide Insights on Trends & Future Plans
Zebra Technologies is back with a timely update to its 2019 Warehouse Vision Study ! The new 2027 Zebra Warehouse Vision Study is the result of survey of warehouse operators and decision makers worldwide, who were asked about their investment plans and expectations between 2022 and 2027. We are happy to present the Vision Study as a free download (see below).
2027 Zebra Warehouse Vision Study Key Takeaways
Challenges in the marketplace have created a catalyst for positive change: Covid, supply chain shortages, difficult in attracting staff. These have all created major headaches for business. However, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, and thus these crises have pushed warehouses to adapt and improve… adopting technology, creating more flexible work environments, and rethinking supply chains for more future robustness.
Clarity on the most significant warehouse challenges: Shipping volumes are up (>20%), rising e-commerce activity creates unpredictable customer demand and faster delivery expectations, and returns management and fulfillment are challenging execs. At the same time, it’s harder to hire workers and retain warehouse associates.
Presentation of the 5-year warehouse operations outlook: Eliminating unnecessary tasks is a priority, and there is an intention to improve labor optimization with mobile technology and warehouse automation solutions such as robotics and the autonomous mobile robot. There is a strong trend towards facility automation (over 30% intend to be fully or partially automated in 5 years).
Some of the Zebra Technologies Warehouse Vision Study Revelations
What are the top 3 challenges referenced by respondents due to increased e-commerce?
How are labor constraints impacting warehouses?
What are the common outbound fulfillment challenges?
Where are your warehouse peers planning to invest next?
What are the expectations around automation & robotics?
What is the outlook for the warehouse automation market? What are the adoption timelines for robotics automation and autonomous mobile robot solutions such as those from Fetch Robotics?
Complete the form below to immediately receive your free copy of Zebra’s Warehouse Vision Study, a survey of warehouse trends for 2022-2027
Complete the form below to immediately receive your free copy of Zebra’s Warehouse Vision Study, a survey of warehouse trends for 2022-2027
Get Your Free Download – The Rise of the Connected Factory
As mobile computing devices proliferate throughout your operations, tremendous benefits accrue: improved productivity, inventory accuracy, and employee satisfaction. However, the introduction of technology also allows for the introduction of risks and threats due to:
misconfigurations
poor cybersecurity training
missed manual updates
inadequate data sharing
Cost of Average Cyberattack: $133,000
CSSI can help to keep you secure with the leading edge security of Zebra devices, protected by Zebra’s Lifeguard, mobility extensions, and regular patches.
Further, CSSI can take the burden of mobile device maintenance off your team with our Device Lifecycle Management service – we manage your device fleet, from configuration to deployment to patches and troubleshooting. To learn more, please complete contact us.
View or download the 2027 Warehouse Vision Study below:
Zebra Fetch AMRs Now Available In PA Via CSSI
June 15, 2022, Lewisburg, PA – Pennsylvania-based CSSI Technologies introduces Zebra’s line of Fetch autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to its product offering. Long known for expertise in mobile computing and automated data capture, now CSSI introduces autonomous mobile robots in PA.
As companies face labor shortages and rising expenses, even in the face of growing business demands, the maturation of autonomous mobile robots comes at the perfect time for manufacturers, warehouses, and distribution centers. “We are pleased to offer autonomous mobile robots to companies in Pennsylvania and throughout the mid-Atlantic US”, said Joe Tosolt, president of CSSI. “Robotics presents a solution for companies faced with rising volumes and struggling to attract and train staff during a labor shortage. Fetch AMRs eliminate wasted employee travel, boosting the speed and efficiency of your material movements.”
Warehouse robots reduce a company’s reliance on manned forklifts and pallet jacks, and allow the firm to direct those resources to higher value activities. Productivity can surge as valuable human resources spend less time escorting materials around the facility and more time adding value to those materials. AMRs augment and empower human staff, allowing a company’s people to get more done with less effort.
Zebra Technologies Purchase of Fetch Robotics
In August of 2021, Zebra Technologies completed its acquisition of Fetch Robotics , which was notable because Fetch has been a pioneer in mobile robotics technology and on-demand automation, and has developed a wide range of effective and easy-to-implement mobile robots powered by AI. As the industry leader in supply chain technology, Zebra’s purchase of Fetch Robotics enables it to add leading-edge material handling capabilities to its product line. CSSI is a Pennsylvania-based Zebra Premier Solutions Partner, and ready to work with you on implementing autonomous mobile robots in your warehouse and manufacturing facilities.
The Fetch line of autonomous mobile robots from Zebra Technologies
Key Benefits of AMRs
Autonomous mobile robots can be transformative for the productivity of your warehouse, distribution center or manufacturing facility – improving performance for your customers. The benefits of mobile robot technology are far-reaching and include:
Reduce reliance on manned forklifts and pallet jacks
Significantly reduce the amount of time employees spend in transit
Support 2- and 3-shift operations
Reliable and dependable – autonomous mobile robots don’t get sick or take time off, offering 24/7 mobility
Improve safety – Zebra’s Fetch AMRs are designed with safe operation in mind with cameras and sensors, and reduce opportunities for accidents which results from human-driven forklifts
Attractive Workflows to Handle With Autonomous Mobile Robots
As you think about implementing warehouse robots, think from the perspective of specific workflows. What is the definable, repeatable task which can be assigned to your AMR in order to improve overall productivity? You are likely to find the highest ROI by identifying the most well-defined and frequently executed tasks. Businesses differ, but some likely examples might include:
Support for picking operations with movement of eaches, totes, or cases
Transport of pallets within facility
Transport of rolling carts – supporting case picking, replenishment, and raw material delivery
Creation of a virtual conveyor system, moving items from one line to the next
Removal of waste material and recycling
Automated RFID scanning of facility for cycle counting and asset tracking
How To Get Started With Autonomous Mobile Robots in PA
To get started with AMRs in Pennsylvania and the entire mid-Atlantic region, contact CSSI Technologies to discuss your needs. Our warehouse and mobile robot experts will work with you to determine the most attractive way to implement mobile robots in your facility.
Businesses which have been tempted to deploy consumer-grade tablets, and disappointed or frustrated by the results, will be thrilled by the new line of ET40 & ET45 tablets from Zebra Technologies Corporation. The ET40/45 family fills a gap between not-good-enough consumer tablets and more robust tablets such as Zebra’s ET80/ET85 line.
The Zebra ET40 tablet (wi-fi only) and ET45 tablet (wi-fi or cellular) are ready for demanding environments, with rugged features unavailable in consumer products, such as swappable batteries. Powerful Zebra barcode scanner technology and unified communications capabilities create dramatic productivity benefits for your team. Importantly, when you are adopting for a mobile computing rollout, you will appreciate Zebra’s 3-year hardware lifecycle and 6 years of service and support – a product runway dramatically longer than that attained with consumer-grade products.
Why Consumer Grade Tablets Fail In The Workplace
Businesses which don’t require completely rugged tablet solutions for mobile workers, may be tempted by initially less expensive consumer-grade products, but the complete cost of ownership should be considered, as the costs ultimately outweigh the upfront benefits:
Continual device failure after drops, bumps, and mishaps
Need for expensive rugged cases and scanning sleds undermines the perceived ‘cost-savings’
Short consumer lifecycles inevitably results in a workplace cluttered with many different device models, increasing the difficulty of management and training
Service and support is limited
Batteries are not replaceable – when battery dies, you must discard the device
Lack of enterprise features and connectivity options slows down and frustrates your workers
The ET4X Series of Zebra Tablets is Feature-Packed
Instead, choosing the enterprise grade ET4X series provides your team with a professional grade product with features which will save employees time and aggravation, and enterprise software tools which your IT staff will appreciate.
Tough design, yet thin and light styling. Corning Gorilla Glass protects your screen.
Large 8″ or 10″ screen superior to smaller mobile computer screen sizes
Fast wireless – 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Battery power for multiple shifts
Zebra’s industry-best barcode scanner performance and barcode software
Complete family of accessories is available
Multi-year lifecycle
Voice solutions such as Workforce Connect are available to improve team communication
Zebra’s mobility DNA packs in value-add features which contribute to device management and ease of use
Applications for the ET40/ET45 Rugged Tablet
There are many use cases for the Zebra ET40 / ET45 Tablet family:
Transportation and Logistics – use for routing or dispatch, proof of delivery, invoicing, inventory management, staff communication.
Field Service and Utilities – routing/dispatch, inventory management, personnel tracking, mobile work order management, safety inspection, meter reading.
Retail and Hospitality – great for assisted selling, price checks, line busting, point of sale, inventory management.
Learn More About the Zebra ET40/ET45
To learn more about the ET40 & ET45 tablet, please contact CSSI Technologies. Our team of Zebra product experts can review your needs and help you select the optimal product for your business.
Your warehouse faces multiple pressures to meet customer expectations. Surpass them all with an all-in-one mobility solution – designed with Zebra Technologies.
Same-day shipping. Real-time order tracking. 100% order accuracy. Flexible return policies.
Your warehouse teams must navigate through a myriad of challenges while battling high turnover rates and shortages at the same time. Empower them to conquer challenges with streamlined efficiency delivered through…
Learn More From CSSI
Contact CSSI to learn more about how you can consolidate the mobile devices in use in your facilities — adopting instead a multi-functional enterprise Android rugged handheld from Zebra Technologies.
Zebra Workforce Connect Unifies Your Teams
In a world of inevitable change, team communication in and out of the four walls is vital for business continuity. That’s why businesses are encouraged to unify teams with intelligent, push-to-talk systems like Zebra’s Workforce Connect. Your team’s rugged handhelds aren’t just for scanning and accessing key applications — they also function as extremely useful communication devices!
2-Way Radios Enable Real-Time Communication
Group calls
Automatic emergency alerts
Seamless task assignment
Secured text messaging
No need to burden your team with multiple devices — they can take advantage of the Zebra mobile computers and scanners they are already carrying! Zebra’s Workforce Connect is a 2-way radio function which lets you reach your team, and your team members to reach one another regardless of where they are.
Contact CSSI To Utilize 2-Way Radios For Your Team
To learn more about using Zebra Workforce Connect, please contact CSSI.
Walmart Requires More Suppliers to Utilize RFID Tags
The retail world is buzzing, as once again, Walmart has imposed an RFID tagging mandate on a broad swath of suppliers. In order to better control and maintain visibility of inventory, Walmart is requiring many of its customers to ship products which are RFID-tagged. (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/feb/12/walmart-expands-rfid-tag-system/).
Why the mandate? Walmart is eyeing the 25% improvement in inventory accuracy and 10-15% reduction in labor hours required for counting items (per McKinsey). In this age of labor shortages and rising wages, those reductions will surely benefit Walmart’s operation.
Impact for Manufacturers Sold Through Retail Chains
Obviously, affected Walmart suppliers who have not already begun their RFID journey, will need to climb on board. And some who have a toe in the water may have to accelerate their pace. CSSI can help you with RFID consulting and guidance.
How RFID Tagging Can Be a Win-Win For Manufacturers
Here’s the best news: as an affected Walmart supplier or manufacturer, you should not look at this RFID mandate as a new expense or burden. Instead, you should see it as an opportunity to improve the efficiency of your own operations, and reduce your costs.
Some of the RFID benefits for the supplier or manufacturer include:
Improved visibility on the movement and location of inventory — near-real-time data can help you to reduce or eliminate costly stock outages.
Tagging product at the source provides you with valuable data for the product’s entire lifecycle, and when suitable, can provide track-and-trace data.
Eliminate or dramatically reduce expensive manual inventory counts, freeing resources for more productive pursuits.
CSSI Can Help with Your RFID Implementation
CSSI can support you with the complete solution you’ll need to meet these requirements:
From the surge of ecommerce to the new wave of safety compliance codes, today’s warehouses and distribution centers are facing pressures from all sides to adopt flexible modernization solutions that maximize productivity.
Increasing Warehouse Challenges
And yet, over 60% of businesses see IT and technology implementation as the top operational challenge in the digital age. Without an adaptable strategy, operations may suffer under challenges such as:
the ever persisting labor shortage
an increasing occurrence of cyber attacks
and material shortages disrupting every industry in the globalized world.
Seamless Warehouse Modernization
But what if you could overcome these challenges with a seamless modernization strategy tailored to grow with your operations? From accurate data capture to consolidated MDM services, join CSSI and Zebra Technologies in uncovering what seamless modernization will look like in your operations.
Undisrupted communication, real time inventory visibility, dependable data security see it all come together in your operations when you contact CSSI to learn more.
Contact CSSI For Help
To get started on your warehouse modernization acceleration path, please contact CSSI by completing the form at right.
