COVID19 Archives - Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions

The Future of COVID Testing

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 12:57:32 +0000

COVID 19 testing has been a critical component to keeping the pandemic in check throughout the world over the past year. With the emergence of effective vaccines and new variants, there have been questions about the role of COVID testing in the future. The good news is that most tests currently have been efficient at recognizing variants. And as variants continue to be discovered, the science behind the testing will also evolve. But even as more people get fully vaccinated, the need for testing will continue for the foreseeable future, to ensure that possible outbreaks are monitored and contained. At Bar Code Direct our school COVID testing offer also continues to expand. We have successfully helped two major Eastern universities establish and manage self-testing programs with a suite of hardware and software products including touch free mobile printers, scanners and millions of custom labels. Research has proven that one of the easiest ways to keep the virus under control, and at Bar Code Direct we promise to provide innovative solutions to help make testing easier.

Call us at 1.800.343.1750 to right solution for your school or drive through location. Learn more about our COVID-19 School Testing Solutions.

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Converting the storefront to a fulfillment center? Keep these tips in mind.

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 15:29:10 +0000

With over 80% of customers willing to pay more for same-day delivery, businesses have searched for more cost-efficient ways to bring order fulfillment closer to consumers. As a result, many vacant storefronts are being converted into fulfillment centers, and while the ample space makes the decision seamless, there are a few challenges to keep in mind before making the switch.

Unlike traditional warehouse spaces, retail storefronts are generally cheaper and located closer to potential customers enabling faster delivery times and lowered TCO. In doing so, faster delivery can help increase team productivity, enhance competitiveness, strengthen brand identity, and even double year-over-year sales. However, despite these benefits, the challenges of effective order fulfillment persist in the converted storefront. As more and more retailers make the switch, businesses now find themselves in a unique opportunity to mitigate issues before they arise.

How to prevent the top 3 order fulfillment issues from entering the new storefront:

To help businesses make the most of their new storefront space, Bar Code Direct and Zebra Technologies explore the common warehousing issues transitioning into retail.

Maintaining accurate inventory management for incoming shipments – Research has shown that traditional store inventory is about 70% Lack of inventory visibility can lead to product shrinkage, misplacements, and longer pick routes as workers struggle to find products. To resolve this issue, real-time visibility solutions such as Zebra’s RFID locationing devices work alongside your workforce to track in-motion inventory, providing a 99.99% accuracy rate in your inventory management system. Simply tag incoming items as they arrive to the receiving dock and track them via your RFID handheld manage movement, storage, and any incoming updates for less surprises.
Preventing backorders and out-of-stocks – Backorder costs can reach as high as $20 per order, and that doesn’t factor in the incalculable cost of a negative customer experience. To prevent out-of-stocks, stock counts must be readily updated and visible to your team before dropping below a set threshold. Technologies like modern touch computers provide a cost-effective connectivity solution as workers are able to seamlessly update stock counts with streamlined data capture and processing through one device.
Simplifying reverse logistics for seamless returns – Inconvenient returns discourage at over half of shoppers from completing a purchase. In addition to locationing and sustained connectivity, businesses have also turned to wearable and hands-free technologies in order to accelerate processing while preserving scanning accuracy, worker comfort, and affordability. Furthermore, hands-free order processing is relatively easy to use, eliminating worker confusion for faster deployment and optimization. This allows your team to quickly process returns and lower instances of wasted labor as items are stored properly.

For more information on how to tackle the challenges of post-pandemic retail, contact Bar Code Direct for a careful assessment of your current workflows to pinpoint optimization opportunities in your operations.

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COVID-19 Testing School Solutions

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:32:44 +0000

COVID testing will be a reality of public life for the foreseeable future. Hospitals, health care facilities, corporations, schools, colleges, pharmacies, and more will be conducting testing for years to come. At Bar Code Direct we’ve developed comprehensive, end to end, COVID testing kits that include hand held scanners, portable printers, labels, software and 24 hour support. We have successfully implemented these systems at several colleges and universities in the Northeast. And these same kits can be customized to meet the needs of nearly any organization.

Bar Code Direct’s COVID testing systems consist of customizable healthcare-grade printers, scanners and labels. Our line of healthcare portable mobile label printers can print any size label on nearly any substrate. Our labels are durable, weather proof and provide outstanding accuracy. Our printers and scanners are lightweight, durable, healthcare-grade devices that have anti-microbial casings that are made to be disinfected over and over again, plus they are built to run 24/7 in the harshest climates.

To learn how BCD can help get your school’s COVID-19 Testing up and running call us at 1.800.343.1750 or click here.

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Happy Holidays from Bar Code Direct

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:51:16 +0000

This has been a challenging year for all of us. We thank you for your continued support and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your company. This year we have decided to donate on behalf of the company and all our customers to the COVID relief fund at UMASS Memorial Hospital. The Bar Code Direct Family has experienced first-hand the dedication, compassion and professionalism of the front-line healthcare workers at UMASS.

+UMass Memorial Health Care (http://www.umassmemorialhealthcare.org/umass-memorial-medical-center/giving) is the third largest health care system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the only non-profit hospital in the region. They are a leader in the response to the COVID-19 crisis with innovative treatments such as convalescent plasma, extensive testing, and the creation of the first-in-the-state field hospital designed to meet the needs of COVID-19 patients. The field hospital was recently recommissioned to aid in the response to the increasing number of cases this winter.

We are giving to their COVID-19 Response fund to support these efforts and to recognize those healthcare workers on the front lines. We wish you all a healthy and happy holiday season, and we look forward to working with you again in 2021.

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Proven Solutions for Drive-Thru Testing

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:51:05 +0000

Not sure what solutions are right for your facility? Schedule a free Virtual Demo with a BCD consultant today. Click here for detailed information or call 1.800.343.1750 to chat with an efficiency expert about setting up your site ASAP.

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Innovative Curbside Pickup Solutions

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 12:20:10 +0000

Today’s retail environment has drastically changed in the past six months. Brick and mortar stores have had to innovate at light speed to keep up with their huge online digital competitors. But consumers continue to desire the control and convenience of local retail locations. The ability to interact with a local business and live associates is still very appealing. At Bar Code Direct we can offer an end to end solution that can help any business manage orders, inventory, and curbside pickup.

For the initial customer order, we can offer a variety of mobile and contactless scanning technologies to locate, pick, scan and track the order, as well as mobile printing solutions to generate invoices, shipping labels and more.

Once the order is on-site, we have scanning and two-way communication systems to get the product from your inventory and into the customers hands. Mobile and hands-free scanners can locate product, and two-way radios can alert associates the order is ready. Our software engineers can also create a custom solution that works with your current programs seamlessly.

Once the customer is on-site, our mobile printing and scanning systems can ensure the order is ready quickly.Two-way radios can connect the front of the store to the back of the story to make the final delivery as efficient as possible. Our brand-new wearable body camera technology can also help associates record each consumer interaction so that you have an actionable video record in case you need it in the future.

At Bar Code Direct our mission is the help you make each transaction as safe and efficient as possible. We know you care about both your associates and your customers, and we have several affordable and innovative ways to help you accomplish your goals – and grow your business in the process.

Learn More at Barcodedirect.com or call us at 1.800.343.1750.

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Motorola’s Body Worn Camera for Retail Operations

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 13:33:10 +0000

At retail locations all over the world, front line workers and associates have been asked to take on new, challenging roles. Mask enforcer, capacity monitor, conflict resolver, security and more. In many cases, these employees are faced with the difficult task of denying entry or service to people who refuse to follow the new rules and standards set in place to keep everyone safe. These encounters also have potential legal ramifications for the individuals and companies involved.

That’s where Worn Body Camera Technology can help. WiFi-enabled cameras can be worn by associates, and activated only when needed. An associate can simply press record and document any interaction with a customer so that there is a clear record of the incident. Installation and operation are simple and straightforward. The data which is recorded is not only valuable after the fact, but it also could help de-escalate a tense situation and avoid conflict. If customers are aware they are being recorded, they may choose to adhere to the rules, or leave peacefully. The videos can be accessed through a centralized system — and if needed — the system can trigger an alert through a security office.

The success of brick and mortar retail locations depends on the staff being able to concentrate on their most important task — servicing customers efficiently and in a manner that encourages repeat business. This new technology allows associates to put their energy toward customer satisfaction, and it helps alleviate the added stress that many are feeling these days.

Learn morn about Motorola’s VT100 Body-Worn camera and how you can help keep retail associates safe.

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A Better Way to Monitor Customer Capacity

admin — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:32:15 +0000

Capacity limits on retail establishments seem all over the map, depending on geography and type of store. Some grocery stores self-limit to 40% of occupancy, some states are dictating 50% of occupancy, other states dictate a number of people per square feet. Regardless, if you are a larger store, you need to comply with local guidelines, and to-date it looks like that means placing a store employee at the door and manually managing the situation – once you reach capacity, it’s one shopper allowed in for every shopper leaving. But how long will this continue, and will you, the retailer, continue to pay upwards of $150 per day to manage it? The limited capacity is already a strain on sales, let alone the shoppers who – like me – see the long line and u-turn back home or worse, visit a less popular store up the street.

Complying with your capacity limit can best be met using IoT. LNL Systems’ Capacity Alert will count shoppers in-and-out, sending alerts based on pre-set limits. Alerts can go to store associates two-way radios, android or iOS devices, PA systems, IP speakers, etc. and can also turn an entry light red or green for shopper notification. Integrate to your web site and now shoppers can visit you online to gauge if now is a good time to visit, or if its better to wait for capacity to reach a lower limit.

The consensus is that, while we are moving in a positive direction, capacity at public gatherings will need to be limited for the foreseeable future. For large format retailers, this is best managed via an automated, value-added IoT solution, vs. having a masked store associate standing outside all day.

The National Retail Federation has created a state-by-state map that outlines coronavirus-related laws, executive orders, regulations and guidance governing store reopening for retailers and it’s accessible to non-members for a limited time.

This resource is a part of Operation Open Doors – Path to Reopen Retail. The initiative, led by NRF and Seyfarth LLP, is providing guidance and tools that NRF members can use as they navigate opening stores after this international health crisis.

For more information about Capacity Alert call 1.800.343.1750 or visit Barcodedirect.com

By Pete Grimes
VP of Sales & Marketing
Bar Code Direct

Pete has 25+ years of experience providing retail and supply chain enterprise mobile computing solutions.

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