long-range

With the capabilities of technology continually increasing, along with escalating levels of consumer demand, warehouses are undergoing a period of unprecedented change.

It’s a fact, people want access to their goods faster. That will never change. Warehouses want to meet that demand and facilitate the provision of an efficient service. Businesses are restructuring and incorporating more cost effective and efficient technology to accelerate and expand operations.

Research

From research conducted regarding the state of the warehousing industry, one of warehouse’s top investment priorities was equipping staff with sophisticated technology. Sophisticated technology might mean mobile devices, barcode scanning devices and interconnected solutions (Internet of Things).

However, as consumer demand increases, warehouses require more than just proficient technology to streamline workflows and provide greater item visibility. Warehouses also need more stock, which in turn, takes up more space. To alleviate this problem, many warehouses are now being restructured to utilize vertical space. Vertical space increases inventory capacity and reducing the overall cost of space.

The Problem

But this also presents a problem in itself. Higher inventory shelves makes data acquisition difficult for standard, short-range barcode scanners. When operators need to conduct regular stock counts or pick specific items from these high inventory shelves, it is of the utmost necessity that they are equipped with a sophisticated, long-range barcode scanner solution capable of acquiring the required information. A long-range barcode scanning solution provides warehouse operators with the ability to acquire product information at any point with minimal effort. The proper barcode solution reduces time taken, which in turn, reduces the overall cost of operations.

In essence, long-range scanning technology provides various benefits over traditional short-range scanners.

Speed

Long-range barcode technology enables forklift drivers to scan quickly and safely from the cab, speeding up the data acquisition process. Naturally, this increases productivity and efficiency overall. Generally, long-range barcode scanners are capable of accurately discerning barcodes up to as much as 50 feet away, under numerous layers of shrink-wrap, making them vital for large-scale operations where time is sensitive.

Continuous performance

Irrespective of the operating environment, long-range barcode scanning technology will continually perform. Even in dimly lit working environments, their accuracy and precision are not reduced in the slightest. In addition, long-range scanners scan sequentially. This meaning that the operator can hold down the trigger to identify multiple items.

Resilience

No matter what the conditions, from regular to irregular temperatures, barcode scanners in general will continue to operate. Furthermore, most modern barcode scanners consider the possibility of being dropped. This is why scanners have an extreme level of shock tolerance and will function normally after repeated drops to concrete.

Error reduction and intuitive operation

Barcode scanning devices in general will reduce data acquisition errors significantly. However, in a vertically structured warehouse, short-range barcode scanners may encounter some problems due to their range. Long-range scanners however, generally utilize omnidirectional scanning technology. Omnidirectional scanning means that lining up the scanner and the barcode is unnecessary, reducing time taken to acquire information. Combining the omnidirectional support with their long-range capability means the operator no longer has to pace up and down the warehouse floor continuously to scan goods.

Short range and long range

A misconception would be to believe that long-range scanning technology is only applicable at range. This is far from the truth. In reality, long-range scanners offer excellent capability at short range as well. They can be used effectively across a range of distances, from an item centimeter away, to one on the highest shelf in the warehouse. Sophisticated long-range scanners provide operational capacity at both short and long-range, eliminating the need to buy multiple devices and improving return on investment.

Warehouse Onus

Consumer demand pressure will only increase with time. The onus is on warehouse operations to become ever more sophisticated and innovative in effective and efficient use of space.

The integration of simple, yet sophisticated, long-range scanning technology, will reduce costs, increase profits and streamline operational procedures. As long-range scanners can operate at various ranges, their inclusion in the data acquisition process will eliminate the need for additional products, and provide operators with the capabilities they need on the ground to quickly identify items.