1. Point your phone at the sign

2. Go to camera app.

3. Welcome to THE BCD TEST LAB.

Rugged mobile devices made by Zebra and Honeywell have been through a lot of tests but the BCD Test Lab conducts several tests yet to be done.

Watch Zebra’s Rugged L10 Tablet vs a Friendly Game of Paintball, Zebra’s MC9300 Cold Storage vs Ice Sculpture & H2O, Honeywell’s CK65 vs Gravity and many more.  Also Check out Honeywell’s demo of the CK65 Cold Storage and R1o Tablet.

Call a BCD team member at 1-800-343-1750 or schedule a live demo today!

The post The BCD/Bar Code Direct Test Lab appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

The post Converting the storefront to a fulfillment center? Keep these tips in mind. appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

Warehouse workers need to fulfill more orders – faster and more accurately – than ever before. Manufacturers need to produce and ship more products, without sacrificing quality control. Technicians need to complete more error-free repairs in a day. With the rugged HD4000 Enterprise Head-Mounted Display, you can boost task efficiency and accuracy by overlaying the most relevant contextual information over your workers’ real-time field of view. Now, hands and eyes are always free to focus on tasks — instead of interacting with an application on a mobile computer to obtain the same data. Imagine how many additional 100% accurate pick orders warehouse workers can complete every day. Imagine how many more pieces of equipment technicians can repair every day. And imagine how much faster and more accurately assembly workers can build your products, increasing production without expanding your production lines or your workforce. You have just imagined the power of hands-free directed-action workflows, made possible with the HD4000.

The Solution: The HD4000 delivers everything you need in an enterprise-class mobile device accessory.

The HD4000 was developed in collaboration with Six15 Technologies, the leader in innovation in wearable optical displays. The best in class see-through display technology delivers unmatched color, contrast and image clarity. The focal distance minimizes eye fatigue. The drop-proof, dust-proof and waterproof rugged design is built to last for years, despite all-day everyday drops, bumps and spills. The accessory architecture utilizes the battery, processor and WiFi and cellular radios of the host mobile computer, enabling a feather-light 1.06 oz./30 g design that delivers extraordinary all-day comfort. Since the HD4000 mounts to commercial, off-the-shelf safety glasses without tools, you can give each worker their own personal pair of glasses, improving hygiene and helping prevent the spread of germs. The ability to switch the HD4000 from right to left eye in seconds reduces eye strain and ensures all day comfortable viewing. And workers can flip the HD4000 up and out of view in a split second, providing convenience and security.

Since there are no batteries to change, wireless radios to configure or OS updates required, management time and cost is marginal. And with Zebra’s Android HD4000 SDK and two ready-to-use tools — Zebra Warehouse Templates and Zebra Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) — integration into any existing or new application is fast and easy.

Maximize workflow efficiency, workforce productivity and the value of your mobile computers with the HD4000 from Zebra — the only see-through wearable display built for the enterprise.

Schedule a No Cost Virtual Demo at Barcodedirect.com/hd400 or call us at 1.800.343.1750.

The post Less Device Contact=More Efficiency appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

We also recognize that our company has a tremendous responsibility to continue to support our customers and community members who work in the medical, healthcare, pharmaceutical, food and beverage industries and supply chain.

We have equipped our team with the necessary tools to work safely and effectively from both remote and on-premise locations. Your contacts, and their respective phone numbers and email addresses have not changed. We will strive to make sure there are no disruptions in service levels and continue to monitor and communicate some of the longer lead times that are a result of the current crisis.

We are continuously monitoring the situation and are following the guidelines from the experts at the CDC, WHO, local, state and federal governments.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us or call us at 1.800.343.1750

We appreciate your business and hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. The BCD Team

Join Zebra in Supporting the Red Cross.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are presenting significant challenges as the Red Cross works to continue delivering its lifesaving mission,
and will require millionsof dollars in additional investments to support people who count on Red Cross. Learn More how you can help.

The post BCD COVID-19 Response appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

* Rules and restrictions may apply.

The post Warehousing 2020 appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

The post Enterprise Mobile Computers vs Consumer Devices appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

The Rise of the Lean Transportation Trend

The idea of Lean Thinking has long been popular with supply chain companies. But it didn’t start there. Back in the 1980’s in Japan, auto manufacturers were looking for a reliable and efficient way to drive more value to their customers. This meant more than fixing problems when and where they arose– along came Lean Thinking, a process through which an entire logistics process could be made more efficient and less wasteful.

In the 1980s and 1990s, lean transportation management systems— or TMS– were typically purchased by large organizations with multi-million dollar shipping expenses; purchasing a TMS was not a viable option for small and mid-market organizations. Fast forward to today, and access to technological solutions helps supply chain companies maintain lean operations from the manufacturing floor to the warehouse over the road and ultimately to the customer. Presently, the utilization of a TMS is fairly standard, as the benefits are too great to do without.

Why do companies implement TMS?

The key benefits of a good TMS is to reduce freight spend while ensuring on-time delivery. TMS technology makes it easier for companies to enforce processes and find areas of waste. The TMS will integrate with your ERP and/or your warehouse management system. The result is increased visibility into supply chain operations, and decreased amounts of time spent on data entry and manual processes. This allows a warehouse staff to spend more time on revenue-generating customer-centric work, and eliminates waste pertaining to warehouse processes. ELDs, or Electronic Logging Device, can further integrate with your TMS to make your drivers even more productive while satisfying the Government mandate.

How Can ELDs Help With Route Optimization?

Route optimization is the next piece of the puzzle when deploying a lean transportation model. The implementation of the ELD rule in December 2015 has helped fleets of drivers to focus less on reporting and more on driving. For starters, ELDs generate electronic records which cut down on the amount of physical paperwork that drivers need to fill out. This decreases their risks of getting into an accident, (many drivers complete paperwork while driving in an effort to multitask), and helps them stay focused on their main responsibility– moving freight.

From vehicle inspections to spotting route inefficiencies, ELDs are enabling fleets of drivers to practice lean transportation on a daily basis, which partially explains why it will be mandatory for all fleets to adopt this practice by December 2017. Investing in a disciplined and focused transportation process is the lean way, and will result in cost savings if executed upon properly.

Lean transportation can strengthen a company’s processes by driving productivity, efficiency, and labor & route optimization. Adopting this methodology may seem overwhelming, but the transition does not have to be drawn out. Bar Code Direct is made up of a team of industry experts who can help you implement a lean transportation methodology for your business. If you’re thinking about trimming your “waste line”, request your free barcode systems health check, and contact Bar Code Direct today.

The post How Lean Transportation Can Help You Trim Your “Waste Line” appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

How is this mandate different from what your fleet is currently doing?

Electronically recording drivers’ Record of Status (RODS) is nothing new; in fact, many drivers have been doing it for years. What’s the difference between an ELD and an automatic on-board recording device (AOBRD)? What about an electronic on-board recorder (EOBR)? AOBRDs have been installed in trucks around the country since the 1980s. They capture engine data, such as speed and miles driven. EOBRs have been used for over a decade to electronically record RODS. ELDs collect both engine data and E-Logs, as well as comply with the FMCSA’s new requirements.

Does your fleet have to follow the mandate?

Short answer: yes. But there are some exceptions to the rule. The ELD Mandate is applicable to drivers who must keep records of duty status (RODS) at least 8 out of every 30 days. Excluded drivers are those:

• Who are confined to a 100 or 150 air-mile radius exception.
• Where their commercial truck is the product being shipped.
• Who drive a vehicle from 1999 or earlier.

There may be other exclusions in addition to the ones listed here. This mandate will affect approximately 3 million commercial truck drivers.

When must my fleet be compliant?

Fleets must transition to ELDs by December 2017 unless they are currently using AOBRDs, in which they have until December 2019 to comply. You may be thinking, “What’s the rush?” While those dates may seem far away, they’re approaching faster than you think. Not to mention, there are a lot of cost-saving benefits to making this switch early. You’ll cut fuel costs, reduce the sheer amount of paperwork a driver has to do, and therefore reduce the chances of Hours of Service Fines due to lousy penmanship. Let your drivers focus on the open road instead of bookkeeping.

Electronic logging device features

Curious about the benefits of ELDs? Here are some of our favorite features:

• They are easy to present for inspections.
• Their turn-by-turn navigation system help drivers to avoid construction and heavily congested areas.
• The simple interface allows drivers to easily record HOS as well as duty status.
• They’re secure, so drivers can’t alter or falsify data.
• They connect with the engine to record speed, braking, and idle times.
• You can view real-time data for any driver in the fleet.

How to simplify the transition process

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to complying with the new mandate. In fact, the FMCSA made sure that it would be easy for all carriers to switch over to the new system. Companies can save on electronic logging devices by using their current equipment – smartphones, tablets, and mobile computers. All you need to worry about is making sure the system meets ELD requirements, such as having a hardwired connection with the truck’s engine. Another benefit besides cost savings? Cut down on training time and HOS fines because drivers are already familiar with how to use the technology.

Making the switch is simple. Contact Bar Code Direct today for a free consultation to see how your can outfit your fleet with ELD technology.

The post The ELD Mandate: Coming Soon to A Vehicle Near You appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

Implement barcodes

Barcodes and asset management software allow you to track your products so you can discover bottlenecks or inefficiencies in supply chain. Implementing barcodes allows you to track product movement in real time whether your product is in a warehouse, in transit, or at its final destination. Once you have a barcode system in place, don’t forget to check back in and monitor the data its collecting. While barcodes will make employees more efficient during the day, they won’t make a big impact unless you address the flaws they point out in your supply chain.

Go paperless

Filling out forms and filing them away is a nightmare, especially when you need that data at your fingertips. Investing in management software will give you immediate access to the historical data you need. Are you thinking about implementing a proof of delivery system? Going paperless can actually increase the amount of deliveries your team can make per day.

Don’t neglect quality

Efficiency without effectiveness will make all of your hard work go to waste. Invest in the right tools to get the job done. If you hire an inexpensive carrier just to save a buck, remember that you can be signing yourself up for extra costs because of product damage and missed shipments.

Organization is key

Whether you know your top-selling items off the top of your head or you rely on your software to tell you, be sure that you always have these products on hand. You don’t want to deal with a shortage, which results in extra costs, employee frustration, and angry customers. Once you have a sufficient stock of your popular items, keep them organized near the loading dock so they’re ready to go out the door.

Consider cross-docking

Inventory is expensive, and you only want to keep as much on hand as absolutely necessary. Increase the efficiency of your supply chain by incorporating a cross-docking strategy. An effective cross-docking strategy will reduce handling time and cost of inventory by delivering products directly from an inbound truck to the outbound truck. Is this the right method for you? It’s perfect for temperature-sensitive items and combining smaller shipments into one truck.

Ask for help

Outsourcing parts of your supply chain management has a bad wrap because you can lose control over quality. But deciding to outsource some of your processes to another company can create lucrative opportunities. Remember that trying to do everything internally can create inefficiencies, especially if your vendor is more efficient than you. Save time, stress, and money be exploring options outside of your company.

Always be Improving

There are a lot of buzz words floating around the supply chain industry. “LEAN”, “kaizen”, “six sigma” and other popular phrases are thrown around like confetti. These aren’t trendy words to stuff into a presentation; they’re proven methods for making a more efficient supply chain. Your company’s goal should be to incorporate these beliefs into your process to increase efficiency. For example:

• LEAN: Discover the fat in your supply chain system and eliminate it. If something is not adding value to your supply chain, eliminate it.
• Kaizen: Continuous improvement is key when it comes to making change in your company. Your supply chain won’t change overnight, even with massive overhauls. All you need is a little tweaking here and there. Start within the four walls of your company before expanding this process to the rest of your supply chain.
• Six Sigma: Are you striving for a perfect supply chain? You can easily integrate the same quality management practices you use for manufacturing to your supply chain.

The road to efficiency is different for every company. But you don’t have to make that journey alone. Contact Bar Code Direct to learn about our customized, not canned, solutions to your supply chain needs.

The post How to Create a More Efficient Supply Chain appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.

Increases Shelf Life

Approximately a third of the food produced goes to waste before it even arrives in your kitchen. In fact, 40% of all American groceries purchased go to waste. So when you think your grocery bills are out of control, remember that the annual cost of food waste is $2.6 trillion.

So, why is food waste so expensive? The majority of food spoilage is due to lack of proper refrigeration. A report released by the University of Nottingham found that a perishable food product stored at 25 degrees Celsius for one hour would yield the same amount of spoilage if the same product was stored at 1 degree Celsius for one week. Introducing refrigeration to different areas of the supply chain allows food products to arrive safely to their final destination.

Protecting the environment

When grocery shopping in the dead of winter, did you ever think it was strange that the shelves were lined with blueberries and watermelons? Surely produce that is not in season cannot survive the cold climate of New England. Where did they come from? The answer is a farm, hundreds of thousands of miles away from your local grocer. We understand the concept of transporting food such a far distance has a huge environmental impact, but remember your good friends, Supply and Demand. When there is demand for tropical fruit mid-February, someone is willing to supply it. For now, forget about the massive carbon footprint it takes to get a food product from Point A to Point B, think about what happens when the trip is unsuccessful.

Imagine that a cooler breaks down or no refrigeration was used at all during the journey. When you throw away food, it doesn’t simply just “go away”. It rots in landfills. Food waste emits 3.3 billion metric tones of carbon dioxide, which is slightly behind the greenhouse gases China and the U.S. emmit. Global warming isn’t the only issue that’s the straight result of not using cold chain logistics. Think of all the resources that were used to raise the crops (water, labors, etc.)

Encourages economic growth

Agriculture is a stepping stone towards a modern economy. Developing countries depend so heavily on agriculture so that they may eventually become industrial and post-industrial nations. Imagine how cold chain logistics can help them expand by allowing them to ship their products internationally. For example, India grows 28% of the world’s bananas but ships less than 1% of their supply due to improper infrastructure. Food either rots in the field before farmers can harvest it or while it’s waiting to be sold at an outdoor market. Introducing refrigeration while in transit can help expand the shelf life of these products.

Improve health

More often than not, food that requires refrigeration contains a lot of important vitamins and minerals. Many people across the planet don’t have access to these vital nutrients. Imagine a much healthier world where food can reach people who need it. If executed properly, cold chains allow perishable food to travel thousands of miles without sacrificing quality. Improper refrigeration allows for the growth of dangerous bacteria, such as Salmonella. Proper handling of food throughout the supply chain will save lives, reduce healthcare expenses, and prevent law suits.

Are you wondering how cold chain logistics would fit in your business? Contact Bar Code Direct to schedule a free consultation.

The post Why The Food Industry Needs Cold Chain Logistics appeared first on Bar Code Direct - Barcode Solutions.