FHS-FEB24-PG42+43_Layout 1 08/02/2024 11:55 Page 42
ORDER PICKING
TRANSFORMING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY WITH MOBILE LABEL PRINTING
Jay Kim, managing director of BIXOLON Europe explains the important role of using linerless mobile printers to print labels that can be used to organise warehouse operations, support with last mile delivery, and communicate with consumers.
P
eak season is a chaotic and profitable time for the majority of retailers and wider value chain. Websites and ecommerce engines need to be fully functioning, able to accept orders and fulfil
deliveries – and warehouses and fulfilment centres need to be ready to meet customers’ delivery needs fast. Alongside this, last mile delivery operators need to ensure they have the right processes and systems in place to ship goods on time. In contrast, instore retail must make sure that its warehouses are operationally capable of picking, packing and sending goods to stores in time for shoppers to buy their products over the festive season. Therefore, for many retailers, third-party
logistics operators, warehouses and last mile shipment providers, organising logistics operations effectively with packaging labelling forms a crucial part of their success through and beyond the peak season. Its value, as part of the process, is understated.
HOW MOBILITY IS REFINING WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS Within many warehouse and fulfilment centres there are often stations placed around the distribution centre where printing takes place. This is because many sites and their operational processes have been designed for stationary label printers. While traditionally effective at printing labels, it means processes were designed around the location of printers – meaning that warehouses and staff duties were created with this in mind. It is not uncommon, for example, to see printing stations that have parcels taken to them by warehouse staff, to have labels printed and stuck onto goods. In many instances, labels printed come with liners too. This is problematic because when the liner is removed from the label – often a backing – it needs to be disposed of correctly in additional bins. These bins take up a lot of space and liners
can end up on the floor by accident, causing health and safety slip hazards. This becomes
important to review across the supply chain too. When you consider some ecommerce retailers are shipping hundreds or thousands of goods daily, and many last mile delivery and shipping operators - like DHL, UPS and the Fedex- are responsible for managing and delivering even higher volumes of goods than that. Another scenario within warehouses and fulfilment centres that is ripe for improvement is shelf labelling. Often, labels on shelves need to be changed quickly within warehouses. Through peak or any important seasonal period this might happen more frequently as products move around the warehouse or label codes or pricing changes. Traditionally, staff would have printed labels at a stationary printing station and then would walk to each appropriate shelf and change the label – a time consuming process. They would have to first print the labels, then change them and then dispose of the liners. Again, more waste containers are needed and liners often end up on the floor accidently, causing a slip hazard.
42 FEBRUARY 2024 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54
