Mobility for Logistics and Delivery: Maximizing Efficiency and Reducing Errors

by Chelsea Williams | Apr 23, 2017 | Uncategorized

Managing a fleet requires quick thinking and action. Every mile, every package, and every delivery comes at a cost to your business. If you don’t maximize the load and empower your drivers to be efficient and accurate, you’re letting money roll out the door.

Today’s technology provides a solution. Manual systems, like driver manifests, leave too much room for error, as well as taking up the driver’s time to shuffle through papers and find the right information. In order for you to efficiently manage your fleet, you need real-time, accurate data. You can’t wait till after a route is completed, because then it’s damage control, not prevention.

Mobile technology—handheld computers with built-in scanning and enterprise access, and mobile printers—enable your fleet drivers to work from an electronic manifest. It’s easy to find the details on an order or customer history; scan and verify the shipment and delivery; process orders, changes, and returns; capture signatures; and avoid truck shortages. DSD drivers can take photos on their rugged mobile devices to validate their delivery and merchandising. When a delivery is made, your driver doesn’t have to hand over a scribbled mess of an order, but can print a clean copy with barcodes that the customer can scan to enter the shipment directly into inventory. Accuracy and efficiency lead to a satisfied customer.

Your logistics manager can track the trucks and drivers, ensuring safety. Proactively maintain your fleet by keeping a digital record of the maintenance schedule. When you need to prove compliance, this digital footprint provides an easily accessed audit trail, saving hours of manual labor that would otherwise be required to track down details.

Zebra has a long-standing reputation for rugged mobile technology. The equipment is designed specifically for harsh environments. If you’re going to invest in mobility for your fleet, make sure you’re equipping them with reliable devices that won’t leave them stranded.

A mobility solution delivers a strong return on investment, with significant savings in labor, the potential to increase the stops per route, and the reduction in errors and shortages. Contact Informs to learn how a mobility strategy can benefit your transportation and logistics operation.

5 Reasons You Need Managed Services

by Chelsea Williams | Oct 22, 2015 | Uncategorized

For some companies, managed services seem like a luxury. Why let another company be involved in every step of your enterprise technology implementation? The reality is that managed services are the only way to get the most out of your devices. From planning to deployment to ongoing analytics, having a managed services provider on your side boosts the value of the technology systems you’ve worked so hard to create.

1. We Know Tech: Your company thrives in your industry because you bring years of ex­perience and are passionate about your work. That’s how we feel about technology! By using a managed service provider (MSP), companies get to focus on their business while leaving the complexities of technology to companies like Informs who bring experience and passion to your business technology.

2. Good Product Fit: Because we love what we do, it’s natural for us to stay on top of in­dustry trends and product releases. Informs learns about the benefits of certain products over others and how they fit into the technology plans of companies with certain budgets or in certain industries. All of this knowledge is passed on to you, allowing you to save time testing products and solutions that may not be the best fit for your business.

3. Decreased Spending: A recent study by CompTIA showed that 46% of businesses using MSPs have reduced their security budgets by at least 25% or more and 13% of those who reduced their budgets did so by more than 50%, a significant savings! Where does that savings come from? Outsourcing the IT work included in a managed services offering is far less expensive than hiring additional employees. MSPs don’t need bene­fits, vacation time, or training, which adds up to huge savings for you.

4. Stay on Schedule: More than ever, internal IT teams are reporting that they have too many tasks and not enough manpower. Partnering with an MSP is a good way to rem­edy this complaint. MSPs focus their time on monitoring your devices, running analytic reports, and diagnosing issues. This ensures that tasks happen on time and are given the time they need to be done well.

5. Comprehensive Support: If something does go wrong with your devices, we have data and automated analytics to diagnose the issue with speed and precision. The sole goal of an MSP is to keep your device in working condition to reduce downtime and errors at every stage of your device lifecycle. We stay attuned to the status of your de­vices from configuration to deployment, from security to repair, and on to analytics and optimization.

Informs’ managed service programs are highly customized to fit your unique business needs. Visit www.informsinc.com/managedservices to view our 6-step outline and sign up for your integrated technology planning session.

Why Enterprise Class Wi-Fi? Your Home Access Point Just Won’t Cut It

by Chelsea Williams | Oct 22, 2015 | Uncategorized

Most people enjoy access to Wi-Fi in their homes, and they also expect it to also be available when they travel, shop, and work. The standard today is that we should be able to connect almost anywhere; we’ve all taken advantage of networks at restaurants, airports, hotels, etc. As customers, we can enjoy that the advancement of Wi-Fi technology now allows us the luxury of connecting anywhere, but as business owners, we have to acknowledge: wireless connections have become an integrated (and often assumed) part of doing business.

So, as a business owner, you know you need to provide Wi-Fi, but how exactly do you do that? Well, it’s important to note that the Wi-Fi technology used in the home is not suitable for the workplace. Seems plausible, but why? Although most Wi-Fi products generally work the same (this device will connect to this network), there are small, important differences between wireless products designed for enterprise and personal use. Understanding these differences is especially important for small or medium size business (SMB) owners. The price of your home router or AP probably seems like an attractive option, especially if you think your business isn’t “that big,” but chances are, your business needs enterprise class Wi-Fi.

The term “enterprise class” carries with it some important features and options every business should consider:

• Support for mobility: Think about your business. There are probably employees who spend most of the day at their desks, but there are probably many others who roam between different parts of the building as part of their work tasks and communication. The average home access point (AP) provides Wi-Fi coverage to about 6500 square feet. So, if your business has multiple floors, outdoor areas, or simply spans larger than those 6500 square feet, you would need multiple APs. Unfortunately, when users roam from AP to AP, their wireless connection is often dropped or delayed, which causes apps to pause, stop working, refresh, etc, ultimately causing delays for your workforce.
• Security: It’s common knowledge that Wi-Fi networks should be secured to prevent information from being stolen and uninvited guests from using your wireless connection. At home, your AP offers encryption options and perhaps user authentication as well. Do you think this is enough for your business?  A couple well known national home improvement and retail chains would join us in saying “No!” They’ve been victims of hackers, who find their way into networks through holes in security. Enterprise class Wi-Fi eliminates these holes by supporting different security options for the variety of client devices using your network and by offering intrusion detection, which proves you with information when unauthorized users do attempt to compromise your data.
• Guest Access: Wi-Fi is crucial for your employees and business processes, but it’s also come to be expected by your customers. Sharing some of your bandwidth is one of the greatest ways to increase the amount of time a customer spends in your store and a sure way to improve the customer experience. Enterprise class Wi-Fi not only supports the added users, but it also separates guest traffic from business traffic, keeping speeds up and security threats down.

These are just a few examples of the difference in Enterprise Class Wi-Fi. And although most SMB owners can agree they are important, the decision to choose an enterprise solution often comes down to price. Informs partners with Zebra Technologies to offer an option specifically for this concern. WiNG Express is a new solution that provides the same enterprise-level technology at a price and scale made for SMB owners.

Does WiNG sound like it might be what your business needs? Did you know about all the benefits that enterprise class Wi-Fi provides? What other concerns do you as a SMB (or not so SMB) owner have about implementing a wireless solution?

Before You Choose BYOD: 3 Questions To Ask

by Chelsea Williams | Aug 12, 2015 | Uncategorized

Does your company allow you to bring-your-own-device (BYOD) for use in work activities? Almost half of all companies have a BYOD policy, and more are making the switch every day.  These policies allow employees to use their personal devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) for their work responsibilities. Many companies find this to be a win-win situation: not only do they enjoy the reduced costs of not purchasing devices for each employee, but many find that it allows them to increase the mobility of their workforce. Plus, employee satisfaction rises as a result of individuals using devices they have chosen for themselves.

These benefits should not be overlooked, but there are also some notable trade-offs that companies should discuss before implementing a BYOD policy.

1. Is your IT department equipped to handle BYOD? With each individual employee bringing in their own device, your IT department will need to be prepared to properly configure the applications and software used by each employee.  With a wide variety of devices and operating systems to accommodate, IT needs to determine not only which users get access to corporate information, but also how to provide access for employees both local and remote. They also need to be able to provide troubleshooting assistance for these different devices. This can take more time and create more work for your IT department than it would to issue employees standard devices.

2. Are the devices equipped with the proper security? Employees will need to access the company network, applications, and data, which probably contain confidential information. It’s important that this information is kept safe when employees leave the office. There may also be security measured dictated by your company’s compliance requirements. For example, under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), devices might need the ability to delete data remotely if disconnected from the network.

3. Are the devices suitable for the workplace? In certain environments, like warehouses, field service, and even hospitals, there’s a good chance a consumer-grade device just won’t survive. If there is a chance the device will be dropped, taken out in the rain, or run over by some large piece of equipment, it’s best to choose a rugged device for use in the workplace. This will save employees and employers the hassle of replacing devices that fail in improper environments.

Of course, even if you aren’t sure about the questions above, there are still ways to implement BYOD. Does your IT department just not have the extra time to handle BYOD? Look into a managed services offering. Don’t have the security you need? Check out what wireless LAN can do. Not sure about rugged devices? Ultimately, every company will need to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision when it comes to BYOD.

Our best advice is to take the time to research your options (Informs is a great resource) before purchasing or implementing any company wide policies. This will save you time, money, and ensure you are getting the most out of whatever devices you choose.

What IS the Internet of Things?

by Chelsea Williams | Jul 21, 2015 | Uncategorized

How much do you know about the Internet of Things? This buzzword has been floating around for the past few years, but what does it actually mean? Here’s a quick summary:

Today, many physical products (or “things”) have their own software, sensor, or IP Address, which allows them to connect to other “things.” These connections allow communication between products and their manufacturers, products and their owners, and between products themselves. They allow the for automation and quick data analytics that

As consumers, we’ve seen how this technology transforms everyday life. Nobody carries a Walkman and cassettes anymore; instead, we stream music with our smartphones. But how can your business benefit from the Internet of Things (IoT)? Here are three major benefits to adopting this technology that every company should consider.

• Deep Visibility – IoT-enabled devices are great at providing “right now” visibility into supply chains, distribution centers, and production lines. IoT can help identify, locate, or measure the condition of assets, people, or transactions within a facility. For example, RFID and RTLS tags allow organizations to quickly track and locate high value items such as tools, large assemblies, and vehicles. Another example is the benefit for traceability; knowing where your assets are at all times allows you to have control in the event of a recall.

• Analytics – Businesses can use this deep visibility to eliminate inefficiencies in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, energy, and retail. Data allows businesses to optimize processes, reduce shrinkage, and provide better security and safety throughout the workplace. Deep visibility into mission critical operations provides the measureable metrics enabling the enterprise to make better-informed decisions and inspire innovation.

• Device Management – When a device stops working, your business is faced with delays and questions. It takes time to determine what went wrong, how it can be repaired, and how long that will take. You may need to send the device in for repair, or you may need to wait for someone to come to you. Thankfully, the Internet of Things allows for mobile device management, allowing your supplier to diagnose issues with your device as they happen. They’ll know whether to send a replacement device and can even repair your device remotely.

By now you can probably think of a few ways that Iot devices could be used in your business. Informs knows the importance of efficiency in your work processes, and we help businesses reach their technology goals every day.