The rapid growth of e-commerce and digital sales channels has redefined the way that businesses manage their inventory and organise order fulfilment and shipping. With customers expecting faster delivery times, it is vital that warehouse operations are more efficient and responsive, to ensure that products are picked and packed as quickly and as accurately as possible. Many businesses are also optimising storage by utilising vertical space to reduce the warehouse footprint and achieve better value for money, which poses practical challenges in accessing stock.
Technology is at the heart of warehouse innovation. In this article, we’ll explore the advantages of barcode scanners to manage your inventory.
It’s Easier To Manage Inventory
Keeping track of inventory manually is time-consuming and prone to errors. Paperwork may be mislaid, and information incorrectly recorded, leading to delays in fulfilling and shipping orders. If large volumes of inventory are not effectively managed, it is more likely that products will be lost or quantities miscalculated, leading to stockouts or excesses.
Inventory barcode scanners improve the management of stock by allowing quantities to be accurately tracked on inventory management software, so that real-time information about product availability is available to you and your customers at any given time.
Stock Picking Is More Accurate
When warehouse workers are under pressure to fulfil orders quickly, it is inevitable that mistakes will be made if they rely on outdated manual picking processes, particularly if you stock multiple variations of products that can be easily confused, such as different colours or sizes. Incorrect shipments cause customer dissatisfaction and increase costs, such as return shipping fees, credits, and compensation.
Handheld barcode scanners enable warehouse workers to instantly identify the correct products when picking stock, eliminating the risk of selecting the wrong items and reducing the time your customer service team spends resolving complaints from unhappy customers.
A More Efficient Warehouse
Barcode scanners have been proven to speed up routine tasks in warehouses, thereby improving efficiency and productivity. Whether warehouse staff are working on foot or from forklifts, they can quickly identify products at the press of a button, without having to painstakingly enter numerical codes into a database and cross-referencing the product information against the details on the box or packaging.
Where stock is stored in vertical spaces, extended-range barcode scanners eliminate the need for staff to use ladders or platforms. A more efficient warehouse will result in stock being picked more quickly, so customers’ orders can be fulfilled and shipped on time.
Contact Us For More Information
At Maxim Computer Services, we supply the best barcode scanners for warehouses, including standard, wearable, fixed, and extended-range models. To find out more, or request a free, no-obligation quotation, please get in touch by phone, email, or live chat.