Do you have an iPhone? A Blackberry? Read these comments from the editor of Integrated Solutions Magazine:

Armed with just about any new smartphone, personal users employ technologies that would make many small service companies jealous. Accessing a personal Word or PDF document is no different from accessing a customer contract, invoice, or product data.

Scanning bar codes (1-D and 2-D) for retail savings or loyalty programs is no different from scanning bar codes on field inventory or installed parts. Watching a video snippet of a television show on YouTube is no different from watching a short instruction video or training tip. Receiving turn-by-turn directions to the mall is no different from using GPS technology to better route your field employees to customer sites.

The parallels could go on (e.g. text messaging, scheduling, appointment reminders, payment transactions), but the message seems pretty clear: We find the resources to put personal technologies in place, but we don’t always find the resources to put enterprise technologies in place. Well, if you’re a small to midsize company with field employees, the time to deploy enterprise mobility solutions is clear. It’s now.

Contact ADC for more information on Mobile applications.

The “undiscovered country” for most companies are mobile workers. The percentage of companies using bar code data collection (hand held scanners, wireless networking, WMS or other software) is fairly high. But workers outside “the four walls” of the DC have fewer mobile tools.

Indeed the entire industry that includes store delivery, service dispatching, proof-of-delivery are mostly in the planning stages of adding mobile apps.

This article goes into some detail about how to plan for mobile applications. And you can always contact ADC for a no-obligation review of your mobile application needs.

A Mobile Computing application is designed to make data collection a real time event. No longer is it necessary – or even desirable – to write something down and enter it into a computer at a later date.

New technologies from companies like Motorola, Intermec, and Psion Teklogix make being online at all times easier to do. This article details how airlines use mobile computers to track mail and luggage.

Data terminals can now scan bar codes, take pictures, register location via GPS, run complex applications, capture signatures and run for 8 hours without a recharge.

ADC specializes in Mobile applications for route sales and accounting, delivery verification, GPS tracking, and integration to your existing applications. Contact us for a no-obligation review of your mobile computing needs.

The use of RFID technology continues to grow even with the original hype by companies like WalMart and Target fading. This article in the Wall Street Journal gives brief case studies of how RFID is being used to reduce cost and increase productivity.

One growing use of RFID is Real Time Location Systems or RTLS. Using special RFID locator tags, individual items can be identified and located in real time. RTLS is used for tracking high value items or pieces of equipment or even critical file folders or patient records.

Zebra Enterprise Solutions provides these sophisticated tracking systems. Download this data sheet for additional detail on how RTLS works. Contact ADC Integrated Systems for additional information on Real Time Location Systems.

Systems Integrations is defined as making diverse components work together. Every operation is different even if you implemented an ‘off the shelf’ software package or WMS or ERP system. Making data collection work in your unique circumstances is our specialty. The ADC staff has worked in manufacturing, distribution, retail, healthcare – and we specialize in custom programs that meet your specific requirements.
We can assist you with every aspect of data collection integration; everything from systems planning, to implementation, site surveys, installation, and providing service after the system is in place.
If you have a home-grown, AS-400 based system or have implemented Red Prairie, JD Edwards, Manhattan, SAP – ADC has the experience to successfully add bar code scanning and printing, wireless networking, RFID implementations, and mobile computing to your system.
We happily provide a no obligation review of your system with specific recommendations on how to successfully implement automated data collection into your system.