Will Mobile Printing Pay Off? Four Questions to Ask
By Paula Heikell, Logistyx
Though a significant amount of the paperwork involved in the manufacturing, shipping and logistics processes has been replaced by more efficient digital systems and electronic forms, the need for printed materials — especially labels and barcodes — remains strong in the warehouse.
Some companies continue to meet that need with industrial printers fixed in place at various locations within their warehouse, distribution center and other industrial operations.
But a growing number of businesses are investing significantly in mobile printers, wearable devices, cordless barcode scanners and other digital technologies to enable their workers to take their technology with them as they move from one task to the next.
All of which begs the question: What’s the payoff of mobile printers?
As reported in Modern Materials Handling, it can be significant: “Using mobile printers to eliminate the distance that workers travel to pick up labels can boost productivity, often providing a full return on investment (ROI) in less than a year when used in warehouse, distribution center, and other industrial environments. The ROI is especially strong for facilities with existing wireless LANs, because a relatively small incremental investment in mobile printers creates new ways to increase efficiency, reduce operator errors, and leverage the wireless infrastructure investment.”
Yet even with the lucrative ROI that mobile printing promises, fixed industrial printers can — and often do — help make a significant contribution to the bottom line.
Make The Right Choice For Your Business
To help determine whether industrial printers, mobile printers or a combination of both types are the best choice for your business to help maximize your efficiency and achieve ROI, consider four key questions:
1. How does your warehouse environment impact your printing needs? If the bulk of your printing involves producing volumes of barcode labels, fixed industrial printers will deliver the faster print speeds you require. Industrial-grade printers also have the durability to perform in demanding environments of extreme temperatures and hazardous conditions.
2. Are RFID labels a key component of your operations? To print RFID labels or tags, fixed printers are the only viable option right now on the market. Mobile RFID printing may one day become practical, but the technology that exists today is mostly experimental.
3. How would mobile printers improve your operations? Mobile printers allow workers to perform critical labeling tasks throughout a warehouse, distribution center or other industrial facility — as well as outside the four walls — on the spot, wherever they’re needed. If your workers already use handheld, wearable or cart-mounted computers, mobile printers are an ideal complement. Many companies find them ideal in certain areas of receiving, inventory, packing or shipping. Mobile printers are also effective for field sales or service staff when printing receipts, small-scale invoices and proofs of delivery.
4. How would you need your mobile printers to perform? Though virtually all of them offer portable, print-on-demand convenience, mobile printers can vary in terms of durability, price and performance. If you need mobile printers that will withstand extremely tough wear and tear, then rugged, military-grade mobile printers are your best bet. Lightweight and drop-resistant mobile printers can withstand everyday use and abuse in both indoor and outdoor working environments, while also providing fast quality printing that ensures your barcodes and receipts are seamlessly readable and scannable. If you only require on-the-go receipt, invoice or ticket printing, then compact and lightweight models will easily handle those needs.
To answer these questions, you need not go it alone. Consider seeking the advice of trusted peers or partners with experience identifying and solving these types of printing challenges.
Paula Heikell is Vice President of Product Marketing at Logistyx, a leader in transportation execution systems (TES). She has spent the past 25 years working with technology companies in the transportation software industry. Heikell can be reached at paula.heikell@logistyx.com.