For many years, CSSI Technologies has provided custom programming solutions and mobile app development for a broad variety of customers and applications. We are regularly asked to consult with customers evaluating whether custom software development makes sense. With this in mind, we’ve drafted some thoughts that a company might consider when contemplating a software project.

Identifying Attractive Opportunities for Custom Software Solutions

Every business has unique workflows or a certain critical business process. These might be competitive advantages, or particular challenges to be overcome. Your ability to strengthen and refine these areas can become the source of unique competitive advantage:

• Faster, more efficient performance of key workflows
• Superior accuracy and lack of mistakes
• Better availability of information to those who need it

Does the software which you use to operate your business work for you or against you? Does it make your daily tasks and information flow easier, or is it a continual hurdle to be overcome? Further, are there manual or paper-based processes which consume time and are prone to errors? These are areas where custom application development can be of benefit to you. Out-of-the-box software, by nature, caters to the ‘average’ customer. As a result, it often can often not accommodate the unique aspects of your business.

Things to think about when considering custom software development:

• Find pain points – repetitive work, sources of errors and lost time, poor information
• Define scope – is this a freestanding solution, or will it be integrated with other systems? Is this a modification of existing software, or an entirely new custom solution?
• How will the software be used? PC, tablet, or handheld computer?
• Time frame for implementation

A Broad Variety of Custom Development Solutions

We have done application development for the business need of a wide variety of customers. Just a few of these include:

• WMS – warehouse management system
• Proof of delivery – enabling the shipping and delivery process to work with higher accuracy, and enabling faster billing
• Lab sample tracking software – a custom solution enabling a lab to move faster, with historical record keeping
• Database design and refinement; report migration and modernization
• Native application development or web application development
• Microsoft Access migration and modernization

CSSI Offers Custom Programming Services

CSSI’s team of software developers has extensive experience in a variety of custom programming frameworks and languages – we believe that it is advantageous to our customers for us to be able to select from a number of different languages. The right choice for your project will depend upon your unique situation.

Some of the many custom programming languages and tools which we use include:

• C#, JavaScript, Python, Java
• React, Xamarin Android, HTML, CSS
• Mobile application development tools from several leading mobile hardware vendors
• Databases such as SQL, SQL Express, NoSQL, and Access
• Sharepoint
• Reporting tools such as Power BI, Crystal Reports

Next Steps: Learn How We Can Help With Custom Programming Service

To discuss custom software development services with the CSSI professional services or development team, please contact us . We look forward to speaking with you about a custom software solution or custom programming project.

CSSI Offers Mobile Computers for Public Safety and First Responders

CSSI is pleased to offer the latest rugged tablets for police, fire, and rescue. Zebra Technologies offers a complete line of tough-and-ready tablets, including the new ET80/ET85 enterprise tablet.

Zebra Tablets Are Tough, & Tailored for Public Safety

PA COSTARS

CSSI participates in the Pennsylvania COSTARS program. To discuss a project, please contact us.

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:

• Hand- or finger-mounted barcode scanners and mobile computers (as an example, the Zebra WS50 Android Wearable Device)
• 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

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.

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
• Zebra’s Fetch AMRs can be easily trained for a task, and can be retrained for a new task when your business needs change. (This is a major different of AMRs versus the less flexible AGV, automated guided vehicle).

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.
• Warehousing – inventory management, picking, put-away, receiving, staff communications.
• Manufacturing – plant management, mobile HMI, maintenance repair, quality assurance, communications.
• 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.