The hands-free solution improving productivity and accuracy in warehousing

In an online direct-to-consumer world, a fast and accurate supply of goods is essential. Learn how a wearable scanning solution is improving productivity and accuracy in warehouse distribution.
Since the dawn of ecommerce, technology has adapted to fit the changing consumer environment. In warehousing and logistics, printers and barcode scanners replaced the manual task of handwriting shipping labels, helping to improve accuracy and traceability throughout the supply chain.
The rise of online direct-to-consumer distribution has prompted the evolution of warehousing from being a point of storage to becoming a place of distribution in order to meet growing consumer demands for faster supply.
The growing presence of direct-to-consumer business through ecommerce channels means an increasing volume of small or low quantity orders. As a result, a significant proportion of these orders are picked in carton pick environments, where previously they were sent in bulk to brick-and-mortar stores.
The solution most warehousing providers implemented to keep up with this changing consumer landscape was mobility enterprise computers, scanners and printers to reduce time-in-motion and increase efficiency and accuracy. However, in high output carton pick environments handheld mobility devices aren’t necessarily the most efficient scanning option in picking processes.
Wearable scanning technology has become the newest solution to boost productivity and accuracy. The solution incorporates a wearable computer and ring scanner that is physically fixed to the user, leaving both hands free. The results from a time-in-motion study found a 40% time saving in the scan and pick process when moving from handheld scanning devices to wearables in a carton pick environment[1]. This translates to approximately 8 hours saved per week[2]; the equivalent of one full-time working day.
Equivalent to handheld mobile scanning devices, a wearable scanning solution helps improve the accuracy of the pick. With the device attached to the user it can ensure every product picked is being scanned, ensuring 100% accuracy in the pick. A study conducted with Zebra Technology’s wearable scanning solution resulted a 39% reduction in errors[3].
The hands-free nature of the wearable technology also has ergonomic benefits for the user, as it eliminates the need to put down the device while picking up cartons. This contributes towards reducing the number of manual handling incidents from reaching or bending over.
If your devices are still running on a Windows operating system (OS) there’s no better to upgrade to a wearable solution. With Windows ending support for enterprise devices in January 2020, there will be no future software or security updates or support on enterprise devices.
The latest range of wearable solutions operate on an Android OS, and by upgrading your devices you will be future proofing your fleet and protecting backend systems from security threats.
If you would like to find out more about implementing a wearable solution in your warehouse contact insignia’s team today on 1300 467 446 or sales@insignia.com.au.
[1] Signet time-in-motion study, A study of pick time saved through wearable scanning solution
[2] Signet time-in-motion study, A study of pick time saved through wearable scanning solution
[3] https://www.zebra.com/ap/en/about-zebra/newsroom/press-releases/2016/zebras-total-wearable-solutions-deliver-double-digit-productivity-gains.html