If you’re implementing scanning into your warehouse, you’re probably researching and deciding what hardware will best fit your needs. The market is saturated with cool gadgets to keep track of your inventory. For example, ring scanners (also known as ‘wearables’) and tablets seem to be on-trend in warehouses today, and we get many inquiries surrounding the use cases for this new technology.
While hands-free or mountable barcode devices may seem like an obvious choice, it's helpful to know when they are and are not practical. To start, let’s examine the different types of scanning devices and determine which might be the best fit to automate scanning and data collection in your warehouse:
Wearables (like the Zebra TC52) can help workers to complete tasks more efficiently and ergonomically. They are especially useful for workers that need to be hands-free and are often light-weight as they are intended to be worn by the user. Wearable devices eliminate thousands of movements created by holstering and un-holstering a device each day and alleviates the concern of misplacing scanners because it is worn at all times. However, cost can be a factor when considering wearables because you will need to purchase the touchscreen devices and the ring scanner separately.
|
|
Tablets |
Handhelds |
Wearables |
|
Ideal Application |
Ideal for managers with light scanning applications
|
Ideal for anyone; Traditional mobile scanning solution |
Ideal for hands-free scanning and standard range |
|
Long Range Scanning |
Can be paired with a Bluetooth scanning device to accommodate long range scanning |
Can accommodate
|
Cannot accommodate long range scanning. The ring scanner for a wearable will be for standard range scanning only (2in to 6ft) |
|
Rugged |
Ranges in ruggedness (light industrial to ultra-rugged)
|
Ranges in ruggedness (light industrial to ultra-rugged)
|
Rugged; however, they are not available in an ultra-rugged version, as users are not worried about dropping |
|
Hands-Free |
Vehicle Mount (Mounting accessories available to absorb vehicle shock and vibration) |
Different carrying accessory options available (such as holsters) |
Ideal for applications where users need their hands |
|
Keypad Options |
Physical key pad/virtual |
Physical key pad/virtual keypad option |
Only touchscreen |
|
Connectivity |
WAN & LAN capabilities |
WAN & LAN capabilities |
WAN & LAN capabilities |
No matter what device trends you decide to follow, talking with a hardware adviser is always our recommended first step when implementing new hardware into your warehouse. At RF-SMART, our dedicated hardware team works hard to certify the devices that we sell, guaranteeing that no matter which device you choose, you’ll have a great fit for your warehouse.
