BY BEN AMES, SENIOR EDITOR
HARNESSING MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
strategicinsight
STOP BY YOUR LOCAL BEST BUY OR STAPLES, AND YOU’LL SEE THAT
wearable computers are among the most popular consumer electronics on retail
shelves, from the Fitbit and Apple Watch to a host of other devices that track our
heartbeats, footsteps, and more.
Wearable technology is good for more than just checking texts and shedding
pounds, however. The portable devices can also help warehouse workers boost
their efficiency by 10 to 20 percent.
When DC employees don a voice-command headset, finger-trigger glove,
belt-mounted scanner, or Google Glass goggles, they gain a two-way communication channel with crucial software platforms such as the warehouse management
system (WMS) or labor management system (LMS).
With both hands freed up for picking and a direct line feeding them instructions for the next task, workers with wearable computers can get their work done
faster and more accurately than their colleagues who have to walk back to the lift
truck or the end of the aisle for new instructions after every pick.
E-COMMERCE DRIVES DEMAND FOR WEARABLES
Another factor driving the adoption of wearable computers is the struggle to meet
the demands of fulfilling online orders placed by individual consumers.
“Warehouses are seeing a change in material handling demands as they deal
With the right
adjustments to DC
design and strategy,
wearable computers can
deliver the accuracy and
efficiency needed
to keep up with the
rising demands of
e-commerce fulfillment.
Warehouses make room for
wearable computers
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