Are smartphones and tablets ready for prime time (in the DC)?
Their low price point has some companies considering adopting consumer mobile devices for use in the DC. But it's not clear these devices are quite up to the task yet.
David Maloney has been a journalist for more than 35 years and is currently the group editorial director for DC Velocity and Supply Chain Quarterly magazines. In this role, he is responsible for the editorial content of both brands of Agile Business Media. Dave joined DC Velocity in April of 2004. Prior to that, he was a senior editor for Modern Materials Handling magazine. Dave also has extensive experience as a broadcast journalist. Before writing for supply chain publications, he was a journalist, television producer and director in Pittsburgh. Dave combines a background of reporting on logistics with his video production experience to bring new opportunities to DC Velocity readers, including web videos highlighting top distribution and logistics facilities, webcasts and other cross-media projects. He continues to live and work in the Pittsburgh area.
With the explosion in the use of smartphones and tablets, it was probably only a matter of time before these devices found their way into the distribution center. For workers who have eagerly embraced these technologies in their daily lives, bringing them into the workplace wouldn't seem like much of a stretch. "People are more connected today," says Jim Plas, vice president of Xplore Technologies, a manufacturer of rugged tablet computers. "We have a younger generation of workers who are used to being digitally connected."
But it's not just a matter of familiarity. Cost enters into it as well. While industrial-grade handhelds and tablets have been available for years, they're much more expensive than their mass-market counterparts. So it's not surprising that companies would be tempted to try using off-the-shelf technology—the kind of stuff that can be purchased at the local Best Buy or Walmart—in their distribution operations. But is that a smart strategy?
Well, it depends on how and where they're used.
For example, take a supervisor who works mainly in an office but occasionally carries a tablet out into the warehouse to deal with a problem on the spot. In that case, a consumer tablet would probably fill the bill nicely.
It's a different story for workers whose duties take them outdoors or who spend much of their day on the dock or in the aisles of a DC. If the devices they use will routinely be exposed to heat, cold, rain, vibration, dust, drops, or in the case of cold storage facilities, condensation, companies should steer clear of consumer-grade electronics. They simply won't stand up to the punishment, experts say.
RUGGED FOR A REASON
Consider, for example, the tablet computers used by forklift operators. Although mass-market tablets might be able to provide the necessary computing power and functionality, it's doubtful they could survive the day-to-day rigors of the distribution environment. For one thing, the vibration caused by travel over uneven concrete surfaces—or the jarring that occurs when lift trucks are driven from docks into trailers—would likely damage their delicate electronics. For another, if the trucks encounter wide variations in temperature—say, when moving in and out of coolers or air-conditioned buildings on a hot summer day—the resulting condensation is liable to cause the unit to fog up or stop working entirely.
That's why in applications like these, an industrial unit would be a more suitable choice. There are forklift-mounted "ruggedized" tablet on the market that are designed specifically to work where they'll be exposed to potentially damaging conditions. Most can withstand not just vibration but also drops from at least six feet. They are also sealed against humidity and moisture, eliminating the risk of condensation.
These industrial units have other advantages as well. Many tablets are built to be hot-dockable, meaning that the worker can remove the device from the truck and carry it over to the product for scanning or data entry. The tablet can then be snapped back into place on the lift truck.
Most also feature large touchscreens, which give drivers an easier way to enter data than tapping on a small keyboard, says Xplore's Plas. They're designed to be more readable, too. "The screens are very bright and sunlight viewable, so they are easier on the eyes," he adds.
The screens themselves differ from those found on most consumer tablets. The industrial versions use a resistive screen, meaning they're designed to respond to the pressure of a finger. Consumer products typically use a "capacitive" touchscreen that responds to the heat of the user's finger. The problem with heat-based touch is that it's not very effective in cold work environments, such as a freezer, or in applications where workers wear gloves.
CALL ME MAYBE
So what about smartphones? Like tablet devices, today's smartphones boast a large amount of computing capability. Most consumer smartphones compare in form factor with established handheld warehouse devices like bar-code readers, and they can even be outfitted with add-on scanners. But when it comes to their suitability for use in DCs, it's pretty much the same story as with tablets. That is to say, while these devices have their supporters—mostly for their convenience and low initial cost—many observers dismiss them as being too fragile to handle the vibration, falls, and other impacts that are part and parcel of warehouse operations.
Physical conditions aren't the only factor to come into play. There's also performance. Generally speaking, the scanners that are available as add-ons to smartphones are rudimentary in design and are better suited for the occasional swipe than for high-volume scanning operations. On top of that, most of these add-on scanners have a limited read range, so a user must be positioned right next to a bar code to read it. Consumer devices also have a limited life cycle of support and function, while most industrial devices offer a life of five to 10 years.
"Smaller companies may take the risk of using a consumer device, but the cost of a failure can be significant," warns Mark Wheeler, director of industry solutions at Motorola Solutions. "If you have to do scanning on a regular basis, for instance, then it's better to have a device designed for scanning. Performance is really the factor."
GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME
In the meantime, technologies continue to emerge that have the potential to completely alter the equation. Motorola, for instance, has introduced a new ruggedized handheld computer that offers the familiarity of a smartphone. The new device, the MC40 enterprise mobile computer, works on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.
Other companies, such as Honeywell, are trying to bridge the gap between industrial and consumer products. The company is introducing a skid, or protective package, for the iPad that will make up for some of its shortcomings in industrial use. The protective skid will include a case with a built-in bar-code reader.
In addition, Honeywell this summer will introduce a ruggedized smartphone that is waterproof and comes with a built-in scanner. It will be priced lower than industrial tablet devices and is designed to work on a Wi-Fi network, eliminating the need for costly cell service.
And the trend shows no sign of slowing. Doug Brown, vertical marketing manager for warehouse, supply chain, and healthcare at Honeywell, believes that users' familiarity with consumer devices will only push the market to design more similar devices for the industrial workplace. "There is a hunger for these devices at a lower price point in this industry," he says. "We will see more adoption—maybe 20 to 25 percent will be using this class of device within the next five years."
Tablets find a home in receiving
Chemical management company Haas Group is convinced the third time will be the charm, at least where its receiving technology is concerned. The West Chester, Pa.-based company, which specializes in the handling, storage, and delivery of hazardous and other chemicals on a just-in-time basis, has long struggled with the question of how best to collect data on incoming items at its DCs. The various chemicals have different handling and storage requirements, and receiving must "qualify" the products as they come in, making data collection a time-consuming process, explains Stephen Skidmore, business systems manager at Haas.
Over the years, Haas has experimented with different methods of data collection. Initially, workers recorded the necessary information with pen and paper, but that proved cumbersome and slow. Then, the company shifted to PCs on carts, but these got dirty and failed. Now, the company is about to go mobile. Next month, it will begin piloting the use of ruggedized tablet computers for critical receiving tasks.
The new units are enterprise-ready Motorola ET1 tablets that run on a souped-up Android platform. Unlike the PCs, the new tablets do not have a keyboard to get dirty and no carts are required. Their portability is an added plus, according to Skidmore. "Our workers will now be able to take the tablet to the work instead of leaving the work to go to a PC and back," he says.
In the first phase of the project, Hass will deploy 10 tablets to handle the receiving functions in its Boston-area DC. Phase two calls for the rollout of 100 tablets at seven large distribution facilities around the country.
Software is now being written to walk the worker though the receiving process. Basically, an associate will read the incoming item's bar code using the tablet's built-in scanner and then take a photo of the item using the tablet's camera. He or she will then carry out the remaining steps via the tablet's touchscreen.
Skidmore says one of the tablet's main selling points was its large screen and scanning capability. "That made it a winner for us," he says. It also helped that the devices are intuitive and user-friendly, he adds. "It is absolutely necessary for success that our users adopt them," he notes. "We imagine that eventually they'll be knocking down the door with ideas for applications where the tablets can be used to solve problems elsewhere."
Online merchants should consider seven key factors about American consumers in order to optimize their sales and operations this holiday season, according to a report from DHL eCommerce.
First, many of the most powerful sales platforms are marketplaces. With nearly universal appeal, 99% of U.S. shoppers buy from marketplaces, ranked in popularity from Amazon (92%) to Walmart (68%), eBay (47%), Temu (32%), Etsy (28%), and Shein (21%).
Second, they use them often, with 61% of American shoppers buying online at least once a week. Among the most popular items are online clothing and footwear (63%), followed by consumer electronics (33%) and health supplements (30%).
Third, delivery is a crucial aspect of making the sale. Fully 94% of U.S. shoppers say delivery options influence where they shop online, and 45% of consumers abandon their baskets if their preferred delivery option is not offered.
That finding meshes with another report released this week, as a white paper from FedEx Corp. and Morning Consult said that 75% of consumers prioritize free shipping over fast shipping. Over half of those surveyed (57%) prioritize free shipping when making an online purchase, even more than finding the best prices (54%). In fact, 81% of shoppers are willing to increase their spending to meet a retailer’s free shipping threshold, FedEx said.
In additional findings from DHL, the Weston, Florida-based company found:
43% of Americans have an online shopping subscription, with pet food subscriptions being particularly popular (44% compared to 25% globally). Social Media Influence:
61% of shoppers use social media for shopping inspiration, and 26% have made a purchase directly on a social platform.
37% of Americans buy from online retailers in other countries, with 70% doing so at least once a month. Of the 49% of Americans who buy from abroad, most shop from China (64%), followed by the U.K. (29%), France (23%), Canada (15%), and Germany (13%).
While 58% of shoppers say sustainability is important, they are not necessarily willing to pay more for sustainable delivery options.
Schneider says its FreightPower platform now offers owner-operators significantly more access to Schneider’s range of freight options. That can help drivers to generate revenue and strengthen their business through: increased access to freight, high drop and hook rates of over 95% of loads, and a trip planning feature that calculates road miles.
“Collaborating with owner-operators is an important component in the success of our business and the reliable service we can provide customers, which is why the network has grown tremendously in the last 25 years,” Schneider Senior Vice President and General Manager of Truckload and Mexico John Bozec said in a release. "We want to invest in tools that support owner-operators in running and growing their businesses. With Schneider FreightPower, they gain access to better load management, increasing their productivity and revenue potential.”
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Mode Global said it will now assume Jillamy's comprehensive logistics and freight management solutions, while Jillamy's warehousing, packaging and fulfillment services remain unchanged. Under the agreement, Mode Global will gain more than 200 employees and add facilities in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Illinois, South Carolina, Maryland, and Ontario to its existing national footprint.
Chalfont, Pennsylvania-based Jillamy calls itself a 3PL provider with expertise in international freight, intermodal, less than truckload (LTL), consolidation, over the road truckload, partials, expedited, and air freight.
"We are excited to welcome the Jillamy freight team into the Mode Global family," Lance Malesh, Mode’s president and CEO, said in a release. "This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our growth strategy and aligns perfectly with Mode's strategic vision to expand our footprint, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the logistics industry. Joining forces with Jillamy enhances our service portfolio and provides our clients with more comprehensive and efficient logistics solutions."
In addition to its flagship Clorox bleach product, Oakland, California-based Clorox manages a diverse catalog of brands including Hidden Valley Ranch, Glad, Pine-Sol, Burt’s Bees, Kingsford, Scoop Away, Fresh Step, 409, Brita, Liquid Plumr, and Tilex.
British carbon emissions reduction platform provider M2030 is designed to help suppliers measure, manage and reduce carbon emissions. The new partnership aims to advance decarbonization throughout Clorox's value chain through the collection of emissions data, jointly identified and defined actions for reduction and continuous upskilling.
The program, which will record key figures on energy, will be gradually rolled out to several suppliers of the company's strategic raw materials and packaging, which collectively represents more than half of Clorox's scope 3 emissions.
M2030 enables suppliers to regularly track and share their progress with other customers using the M2030 platform. Suppliers will also be able to export relevant compatible data for submission to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a global disclosure system to manage environmental data.
"As part of Clorox's efforts to foster a cleaner world, we have a responsibility to ensure our suppliers are equipped with the capabilities necessary for forging their own sustainability journeys," said Niki King, Chief Sustainability Officer at The Clorox Company. "Climate action is a complex endeavor that requires companies to engage all parts of their supply chain in order to meaningfully reduce their environmental impact."
Supply chain risk analytics company Everstream Analytics has launched a product that can quantify the impact of leading climate indicators and project how identified risk will impact customer supply chains.
Expanding upon the weather and climate intelligence Everstream already provides, the new “Climate Risk Scores” tool enables clients to apply eight climate indicator risk projection scores to their facilities and supplier locations to forecast future climate risk and support business continuity.
The tool leverages data from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to project scores to varying locations using those eight category indicators: tropical cyclone, river flood, sea level rise, heat, fire weather, cold, drought and precipitation.
The Climate Risk Scores capability provides indicator risk projections for key natural disaster and weather risks into 2040, 2050 and 2100, offering several forecast scenarios at each juncture. The proactive planning tool can apply these insights to an organization’s systems via APIs, to directly incorporate climate projections and risk severity levels into your action systems for smarter decisions. Climate Risk scores offer insights into how these new operations may be affected, allowing organizations to make informed decisions and mitigate risks proactively.
“As temperatures and extreme weather events around the world continue to rise, businesses can no longer ignore the impact of climate change on their operations and suppliers,” Jon Davis, Chief Meteorologist at Everstream Analytics, said in a release. “We’ve consulted with the world’s largest brands on the top risk indicators impacting their operations, and we’re thrilled to bring this industry-first capability into Explore to automate access for all our clients. With pathways ranging from low to high impact, this capability further enables organizations to grasp the full spectrum of potential outcomes in real-time, make informed decisions and proactively mitigate risks.”