Warehouse efficiency is greatly enhanced by the adoption of handheld devices, such as barcode scanners, which play a crucial role in managing inventory, orders, and shipments. However, when devices are misplaced, even temporarily, it causes immense disruption to workflows, as staff waste precious time hunting for the missing equipment when they could be more usefully deployed on customer-focused duties.
Fortunately, simple yet effective strategies and tools can help you to manage and track your warehouse devices, ensuring that the efficiency and productivity of your workflows isn’t impacted by the loss of vital equipment.
Investing in device management software can significantly improve your warehouse asset management by providing a centralised platform to monitor and track all mobile devices and IT equipment. With the software you can maintain an up-to-date inventory of devices, schedule maintenance, and even remotely lock or wipe devices in the event of loss or theft. Device management software streamlines the entire asset management process, ensuring that your essential warehouse tools are always accounted for.
Implementing a barcode or QR code system is a cost-effective and reliable way to track your warehouse devices. With each device tagged with a unique barcode or QR code, warehouse staff can quickly check them in and out at the start and end of each shift, creating a clear and indisputable record of who last used each device and when. It’s a system that is easy to set up and offers a quick and reliable method of asset tracking.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags offer a more advanced method of tracking and can further reduce the loss of important warehouse scanning devices. RFID tags can be attached to devices and tracked using special RFID readers which provide real-time location tracking, allowing you to pinpoint the exact location of each device within the warehouse. RFID technology can track multiple items simultaneously, making it highly efficient for large warehouses, and crucially can detect devices even when they are hidden from view.
Establishing a check-in, check-out system is a straightforward but essential way to ensure that devices are accounted for at all times. Staff are required to check out devices at the start of their shift and return them at the end, a simple process that creates a clear chain of custody and helps to prevent devices from being misplaced or forgotten. It also establishes a culture of responsibility in which all employees understand that careless use of their devices will affect productivity and drive down warehouse efficiency.
Last but not least, it is important not to underestimate the value of proper training and clear company policies. Train your staff on the consequences of poor device management and the specific procedures for checking equipment in and out. Establish policies regarding the use, storage, and handling of these assets, as employees who understand the importance of responsible device management are more likely to comply with tracking procedures.
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