Integrating data is critical in today’s manufacturing environment. Traditionally, getting manufacturing data from the warehouse shop floor to top executives was a slow process, subject to human error and interpretation. In today’s word, real-time visibility is key to achieve operational excellence and is one of the biggest benefits manufacturing, logistics or warehousing companies receive from integrating their data.
The most competitive manufacturers, logistics, and warehousing companies operate with a continuous improvement mindset. However, maintaining a focus on future improvements can be difficult, especially as customers require around-the-clock attention and support.
A manufacturing company with an aging manual punch clock needed a new solution that would integrate with their Plex ERP system, enable quick, efficient clock-in procedures, eliminate the opportunity for buddy punching, and store transactional data in the event of power failure.
For manufacturers, distributors and logistics professionals, the word “automation” is often thought of as a four-letter word. Coincidentally, the same train of thought applies to the cumbersome task of gathering and integrating your company’s data – when it’s done manually.
Mobile computing can boost operational performance and increase the competitiveness of manufacturers, warehousing, and logistics companies alike. However, in the past, there have been some concerns as to the security of the operating systems used by many mobile devices—Android in particular.
Companies like Blockbuster, Kodak, Amazon and Ford prove that taking advantage of technological advances can make or break a business. For manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics companies, that means ditching pen and paper and going digital through mobile computing.
While some things get better with age, mobile devices are not one of them. In fact, according to Zebra’s Selecting the Right Mobile Device white paper, old mobile devices or the wrong device “can frustrate users, decrease productivity, increase costs, and potentially introduce safety risks.”
As the fight for efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction rages on, smartphone technology has emerged as a critical “weapon” for manufacturers, distributors, and logistics organizations. Deployed strategically, mobile technology can help organizations spend less and get more done.
Now, the mobile landscape is changing dramatically. Microsoft is ending Windows mobile OS support in 2020, an organizations are moving to migrate their applications and programs to next-generation mobility platforms. This migration is big—and the choices organizations make here will pay dividends (or cause headaches) for years to come.
Microsoft has announced their plan to end service for several of their widely-used mobile operating systems. Here’s the timeline:
What about Windows 10 Mobile, the versatile OS that supports ruggedized mobile devices for many organizations? Since Windows 10 follows the Windows as a Service lifecycle, it depends on the version of your device. That means your devices may end support on 1/9/2018, or may be supported until 12/10/2019.
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Technologies like barcode scanners, RFID tags, and other data collection tools are increasingly deployed in factories and warehouses around the world. As it turns out, taking these technologies outside the four walls of your facility can help your business too.
With more than 7 of every ten field service workers expected to use mobile technology devices by 2018[i], the power of these systems isn’t a secret anymore. More and more organizations are realizing the power of data collection technology to help their field service workflow run smoothly. So can you.
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