3 x Reasons To Use Wearable Computers In Warehousing
With IoT technologies now compatible with voice picking solutions, wearable computers - alongside technologies like RFID portals, integrated security cameras, connected glasses and more - they have become easier to integrate within warehouses, and more valuable to business leaders looking for ways to improve the efficiency and productivity of their pickers and packers.
In this blog, we will consider three ways warehouse operations are benefitting from the adoption of wearable computers.
3) Enable Greater Worker Agility In Fast-Paced Environments
Surging Demand For Wearable Computers
There is a huge variety of wearables computers on the market - from voice headsets connected to wrist, ring, and glove scanners, to head-mounted and smart glasses - all of which have surged in popularity over recent years, as labour shortages have persisted, margins have been squeezed throughout supply chains, and automation solutions have become central to business development plans.
Specifically within food logistics operations, brands are benefitting from pairing wearable computers with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Stefan Nusser, Chief Product Officer at Fetch Robotics, says that "associates [working with autonomous robots can] simply scan the barcode of the workflow he or she wants triggered, and an AMR will pick up the cart and take it to the location specified in the workflow."
This said, AMRs are not on the immediate roadmap for many warehousing operations, so why are so many of them still considering utilizing wearable computers?
1. Reduce Picking Error Rates
Using solutions like Zebra Technology's ring scanner in conjunction with a computer headset, pickers no longer have to use paper orders, and can benefit from hands-free voice-directed electronic pick orders. By digitising workflows and automating inventory updates, pickers can focus more on the physical process of material handling - achieving picking accuracies of 99.9%.
2. Improve Worker Safety
Not only are wearable computers typically more lightweight and agile than regular barcode or RFID scanners, many have built-in sensors to warn workers about dangerous activities and locations. They can sense body temperatures and movement, as well as proximities relating to industrial equipment and locations, helping improve workforce safety as well as day-to-day productivity and efficiency.
3. Enable Greater Workforce Agility In Fast-Paced Environments
For warehousing operations handling the movement of large volumes of smaller goods or operating in picking environments that require greater workforce agility, wearable computers enable workers to be more responsive to their surroundings, and empowered with the right system information, as and when they need it.
MiTEQ: Experts In Mobile Technology Enablement
The MiTEQ team have successfully executed decades' worth of technology rollouts. We currently support the management of thousands of mobile devices, hundreds-of-thousands of mobile workers, and soon-to-be millions of intelligently tagged mobile assets.
We can help you successfully navigate a mobile device upgrade, supplying you with fully provisioned, best-in-class, ready-to-use devices - advising you as to where wearables might supersede your existing devices - and offering managed services, repairs, rentals and refurbishments to support you in your day-to-day business operations.