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How cloud connectivity is transforming traditional warehouse technology

insignia discusses how advancements in technology are transforming traditional hardware to improve productivity and aid in making informed business decisions.

The explosive growth of e-commerce and omnichannel retail is fuelling the demand for a more efficient supply chain. The consumer-driver demand is putting pressure on every component of the supply chain to deliver perfect products faster and more efficiently. 49% of respondents from Zebra’s Warehousing Asia Pacific Vision Study[1] reported that it’s this consumer demand that’s fuelling their plans for growth.

While it’s estimated that 73% of consumers are omnichannel shoppers,[2] only 42% of supply chain respondents are operating at an omnichannel level.[3] To operate at this level and fulfil these orders with 100% accuracy requires both visibility and access to real-time inventory, processing and order fulfilment data. This is exactly what cloud-ready mobile computers, barcode scanners and thermal printers can offer.

The smarter supply chain

Consider Apple’s Cloud, Amazon’s Alexa or Microsoft’s Cortana – they’re smart, cloud-based technologies that have existed for years collecting usage data to provide a better user experience. This begs the question: if the technology has existed for so long, why is it only now being utilised in a supply chain context?

It’s with the development of cloud-ready devices that this technology is becoming more available in warehousing and logistics. Cloud technology in these industries is currently in its infancy but adoption is accelerating and attracting the attention of logistics service providers. 81% of organisations surveyed in Zebra’s study believe technology implementation is the key to competing in our on-demand economy[4].

Cloud-ready devices have matured and outsmarted their original versions, with their capability now greater than the single task they were traditionally designed for – for example, printing freight labels. Connectivity, mobility and integrated systems are providing warehousing, logistics providers and retailers the ability to retain full remote visibility over their devices, giving them accurate and real-time data, also assisting in real-time data-driven decision guidance.

Connecting to the cloud

The enterprise mobility space has been utilising cloud technology for several years now. Having a two-way connection with the cloud allows businesses to not only receive data on how their fleet of devices are being used but roll out software updates at the press of a button, offering improved performance and increased security of both devices and data.

As devices mature and connect to the cloud, they’re expected to be flexible and easily updatable to new connectivity standards and improvements that will emerge over the coming years. This is especially important for devices that tend to have longer lifecycles – for example 5-10 years for a thermal barcode printer. Over this long lifecycle it is very likely that network standards are going to change, and if enterprise devices are widely dispersed over a large geographic area it is even more valuable that they can easily be updated remotely.

Businesses will need to look beyond print speeds and consider inbuilt intelligence for future hardware purchases, and ensure they’re investing in technology that can easily connect to a cloud system when the time comes. The cloud may not necessarily be a part of the IT context of a business today, but almost certainly will over the next decade, making the transition to the cloud a matter of ‘when’, not ‘if’.

To learn more about cloud-ready thermal printing and data capture devices for warehousing and supply chain, contact insignia’s team today on 1300 467 446 or sales@insignia.com.au.

[1] Tech that enhances human capabilities and drives modernisation: Zebra Warehousing Asia Pacific Vision Study

[2] Harvard Business Review, A study of 46,000 shoppers

[3] The future of fulfilment: Zebra Asia Pacific Vision Study

[4] Tech that enhances human capabilities and drives modernisation: Zebra Warehousing Asia Pacific Vision Study

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