Innovations in mobility have been accelerated in supply chain-related industries. And since most companies have a stake in the performance of their supply chains, that means most of us have plenty to gain from these innovations.
That’s right—it’s getting hot in the Supply Chain Kitchen, and my guest for August is Honeywell’s Mark Desommes, a 25-year veteran in supply chain automation. Mark currently oversees Honeywell’s products for warehouse and distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada.
Mark and I enjoyed a lively conversation about some of the big changes—and challenges—warehouse and DC operators have been navigating for years already, and the technologies helping them achieve their productivity and profitability goals.
One major shift in DCs and warehouses is the evolution of mobility. The future tends to arrive early in supply chain operations, and when it comes to data capture technologies, it’s already here. That’s particularly easy to see in the shift toward wearable technologies that are preferred by younger warehouse workers.
Mark showcased Honeywell's latest wearable computers and scanners designed for comfort, choice, and worker productivity. He explained how their new Mobility Edge platform simplifies deployment across devices. Mark also shared some of his tried-and-true tips for introducing new tech to retain and engage employees.
What’s annoying? Looking for a safe, easy place to put down a handheld device while you pick larger items off the shelf, for one. Wearable computers like Honeywell’s CW45 eliminate the annoying steps of constantly picking up and putting down scanners.
Newer wearable devices were designed from the ground up for comfort, with adjustable armbands and large screens, making it easy for workers to look at instructions, scan locations and products, and handle boxes hands-free. They deliver the best possible user experience, lending speed and convenience to every task.
Honeywell's innovative ring scanners offer the customizable comfort and flexibility workers want, with interchangeable straps and breakaway connections. In fact, Mark noted how wearables helped make him the popular guy at trade shows.
Why? In addition to Mark’s own cool vibe and the fact that wearables are futuristic to look at, customers understand the impact of saving seconds per pick, and they’re excited about the potential to help their workers power up their facilities’ profitability. Because shaving seconds off a single pick doesn’t just add up—it multiplies productivity.
The comfort, convenience, and even fun of working with wearables can change the game when it comes to employee retention, too.
While wearables help attract and retain younger workers, traditional handhelds like Honeywell’s best-selling CK65 also have their enduring fans, and the CT47’s smartphone-style touchscreen in a ruggedized format appeals to younger staff familiar with consumer devices.
That’s why Mark advises giving employees options between form factors. Allowing workers to choose between handhelds and wearables adds a measure of autonomy to their work, and a sense of control over how they interact with their picking assignments. And with lots of ways for the user to physically configure a wearable on their body—with an array of accessories like straps, gloves, lanyards, and bands—workers can set themselves up for optimal efficiency.
Younger generations of pickers might prefer wearable scanners, while a manager or inventory counter might want the traditional handheld option. Offering choices between multiple devices like handhelds, wearables, and vehicle-mounted scanners and computers sounds good, but in practice it can make some managers nervous.
That’s because while deploying different, specialized devices helps make employees happier, the work of configuring, validating, and rolling out multiple device options adds complexity—and that inherently adds cost. Mark cites an industry stat that deploying a single device can cost hundreds of dollars. And, just like the seconds shaved off a warehouse pick, the costs of device deployment can add up fast.
Honeywell understands that. Their Mobility Edge platform lets users simply validate devices once, then deploy everywhere. It provides a common backend platform and software across all device types—so if your facility uses different devices for various workflows or to offer employees more choice and flexibility, Mobility Edge simplifies IT’s device management workload with unified configuration, deployment, licensing, and management.
Finally, it’s easy to give warehouse workers what they want—even when they don’t all want the same thing.
Technology choices are key to attracting and retaining younger warehouse employees today. Mark suggested facilities struggling with retention have big opportunities to engage staff with innovative wearables. Workers get excited about comfortable, cool tech that makes their jobs easier—and for warehouse managers integrating gamification into their operations, wearables bring a futuristic experience to enhance workers’ engagement.
In fact, Mark points out that choice and engagement are key factors in getting employee buy-in and support for new warehouse technologies as you implement them. Whether it’s automation, gamification, or just new form factors that are more comfortable and convenient, bringing workers into the decision-making process is an effective way to spark excitement and engagement with new tech solutions. And a deployment solution like Mobility Edge makes it quicker, easier, and more cost-effective.
Unifying deployment and device management is right in line with Barcoding’s recommendations for managing and securing enterprise devices. Implementing comprehensive policies and best practices can help you speed deployments, strengthen security, and improve employee access to the data they need. Download our whitepaper to learn more!
