Background
In a world where all business processes become digitalized day by day, automation has always been a hot issue in the transportation and logistics industry. From inventory management to order fulfillment, asset tracking, and shipping/receiving, the logistics ecosystem requires real-time data collection and communication from the production lines and warehouse floors to keep it running smoothly. Forklift truck drivers and warehouse workforce equipped with the right automated technology that enhances mobility will help minimize errors, streamline ordering and inventory management, and improve operational efficiencies. A world-leading forklift and truck lift manufacturer in the United States came to Winmate for a forklift-mountable rugged tablet solution that comes with the high enterprise mobility and robust protection it needs for inventory management without having to compromise on any other computing capabilities.
Challenge
Needed a solution with high mobility in a compact rugged tablet form factor that is mountable on forklifts or other warehouse vehicles for inventory operations both indoor and outdoor. Being capable of functioning during extreme vibration is a must. Further, the device had to feature high processing power, reliable data capture capability, and stable wired and wireless connectivity for the workforce to access real-time data and perform efficient material handling.
Solution
Winmate provided the 7-inch rugged tablet, M700DM8, with high performance Arm® Cortex®-A53 Octa-core processor for handling a broad spectrum of activities ranging from individual process steps to complex material flows. The compact 7-inch form factor allows the vehicle operators to maintain unobstructed line-of-sight during operations so as to increase efficiencies and minimize errors. Its P-Cap multitouch screen ensures users to take full advantage of its Android operating environment.
The ruggedness is proven with the rugged tablet’s full IP65 rating and MIL-STD-810G certification, meaning it is water and dust proof and resistant to shock, vibration and dropping (5 feet drop certified). The M700DM features wireless connectivity support for BT, GPS and 4G LTE to enable the workers to instantly access the ERP system or any central information server from anywhere. To meet every need when it comes to the ultimate mobility, the M700DM8 includes various dock options and accessories such as hand strap. The vehicle dock allows users to securely mount the device to the forklift or other industrial and field vehicles, and meanwhile, delivers always-charging functionality.
Forklift driver receives the latest information to carry out accurate material handling
Result
Around 100 units have been deployed. Users enjoy handling the device as a result of its user-friendly features and the stable mount on the forklifts. The inventory management runs smoothly thanks to the implementation of the M700DM8, making forklift drivers always receive the most up-to-date information, register stock with 100% accuracy and can trace their actions. Within just one year, the inventory traceability times in the factory have dropped by more than 50% while stock replenishment efficiency increased by more than 45%. The manufacturer is now looking for more opportunities to work with Winmate to drive the business forward.
The warehouse floor is a complex ecosystem that requires high-efficiency technology to keep it running smoothly
The Internet of Things in Warehousing
The concept of Internet of Things (IoT) has been implemented in almost every aspect of warehouse management. The IoT interconnects all the moving parts and ties your logistics together, bringing countless benefits: the movement of inventory is trackable and traceable; the data collected can be leveraged for manufacturer or operators to make precise decisions; the operational downtimes can be prevented, etc. A world-leading forklift and truck lift manufacturer in the United States was looking for a vehicle-mountable rugged tablet solution to enhance its inventory management. Their needs included a rugged tablet with excellent mobility and high computing performance for tracking and handling complex material flows.
The Enterprise Mobility Solution that Winmate Provided
The corporation came to Winmate with their product requirements: they needed a high mobility solution in a compact rugged tablet form factor that fits seamlessly into forkliftsor other warehouse vehicles. Besides, the device had to feature high processing power, reliable data capture capability, and stable wired and wireless connectivity for the workforce to access real-time data and perform efficient material handling. As a company producing heavy-duty vehicles, they required a device that resists shock, vibration, drop, water and dust, and can function well even under challenging conditions.
Winmate provided the 7-inch rugged tablet, M700DM8, with high performance Arm® Cortex®-A53 Octa-core processor. The compact size allows the vehicle operators to maintain unobstructed line-of-sight during operations. The M700DM8 is full IP65 rated and MIL-STD-810G certified, meaning it is water and dust proof and resistant to shock, vibration and dropping (5 feet drop). As the wireless connectivity is essential for maximized mobility, hence the device was designed to support BT, GPS and 4G LTE. The vehicle dock coming with the device allows users to securely mount the device to the forklift.
About 100 units have been deployed. The implementation of the M700DM8 has helped forklift drivers register stock with 100% accuracy, made the inventory traceability times in the factory drop by more than 50% and stock replenishment efficiency increased by more than 45%. The manufacturer is now looking for more opportunities to work with Winmate to drive the business forward.
