4 Ways Rugged Devices Can Help Improve Supply Chain Shortages
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rugged devices for supply chain
A supply chain shortage is a situation in which the demand for a product or service exceeds the current supply available. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including high demand, limited production capacity, delivery delays, stock outs, inefficient supply chain management, and natural disasters. Supply chain shortages can have significant impacts on a company’s operations, including lost sales, decreased customer satisfaction, and reduced profitability. In order to mitigate the effects of supply chain shortages, companies may need to implement strategies such as increasing production, finding alternative suppliers, and improving supply chain management practices.
To this day, supply chain shortages are still happening. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many global supply chains, leading to shortages of certain products and materials. In addition, there are other factors that can contribute to supply chain shortages, such as high demand for certain products, limited production capacity, and delivery delays. If a company’s supply chain is not well-managed, this can also lead to shortages. It is important for companies to have contingency plans in place in order to mitigate the impact of supply chain shortages on their operations.
Reasons Why Supply Chain Shortages Are Happening
There are several reasons why there might be a constant shortage in supply chain operations:
- High demand – If demand for a product or service is consistently high, it can be difficult for the supply chain to keep up with demand, leading to shortages.
- Limited production capacity – If a company is unable to produce enough of a product to meet demand, this can lead to shortages.
- Delivery delays – If there are delays in the delivery of raw materials or finished goods, this can disrupt the supply chain and lead to shortages.
- Stock outs – If a company runs out of a product due to unexpected demand, this can lead to shortages.
- Inefficient supply chain management – If a company’s supply chain is not well-managed, this can lead to shortages due to problems with forecasting, inventory management, and other issues.
- Natural disasters – Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, can disrupt the supply chain and lead to shortages.
Strategies to cope with Supply Chain Shortages
Increase production
Ramping up production, can help to alleviate a shortage. This may involve investing in new equipment or hiring additional staff.
Find alternative suppliers
When a regular supplier is unable to meet demand, finding alternative suppliers who can provide the necessary goods or materials may help cope with shortages.
Improve supply chain management
Improving supply chain management practices in order to better anticipate and prepare for shortages is another key solution. This might involve implementing better forecasting techniques or improving inventory management.
Allocate resources
Prioritising the allocation of limited resources to the most important products or customers in order to mitigate the impact of a shortage can also be a good solution.
Communicate with customers
It is important for companies to communicate with their customers and explain the situation if there is a supply chain shortage. This can help to reduce customer frustration and maintain customer loyalty.
4 Ways Rugged Devices Can Help Mitigate Supply Chain Shortages
Rugged devices can play a role in improving supply chain shortages by helping companies to better manage their operations and logistics. Check out how your Conker device can provide valuable support:
Real-time tracking
Rugged devices can be equipped with GPS tracking, allowing companies to monitor the location and status of their shipments in real-time. This can help to identify potential delays and issues, and allow companies to take corrective action to mitigate their impact.
Real-time tracking is crucial in reducing supply chain shortages because it allows companies to monitor the location and status of their shipments in real-time. This can help them to identify potential delays and issues, and take corrective action to mitigate their impact. For example, if a shipment is delayed due to bad weather, a company can use real-time tracking to identify the delay and take steps to reroute the shipment or find an alternative supplier. This can help to ensure that the supply chain is able to meet demand and avoid shortages.
In addition, real-time tracking can help companies to better anticipate and prepare for potential shortages. For example, if a company sees that a certain product is running low in inventory, it can use real-time tracking to monitor demand and adjust production or sourcing accordingly in order to avoid a shortage.
Overall, real-time tracking can help companies to be more proactive in managing their supply chain and to respond more quickly to changing conditions, which can help to reduce the impact of shortages.
Inventory management
Rugged devices can be used to track and manage inventory in real-time, allowing companies to better anticipate and prepare for shortages.
Inventory management is crucial in reducing supply chain shortages because it allows companies to better anticipate and prepare for changes in demand. By maintaining an accurate and up-to-date inventory, a company can ensure that it has the right products and materials on hand to meet customer demand. This can help to prevent shortages, which can lead to lost sales, decreased customer satisfaction, and reduced profitability.
Effective inventory management can also help companies to avoid overstocking, which can be costly due to the need to store and manage excess inventory. By maintaining an optimal level of inventory, a company can reduce waste and improve its overall efficiency.
In addition, good inventory management can help a company to respond more quickly to changes in demand, such as sudden increases or decreases. This can help to prevent shortages or excesses of certain products, which can disrupt the supply chain.
Overall, effective inventory management is crucial in helping a company to manage its supply chain and avoid shortages.
Data collection and analysis
Rugged devices can be used to collect and analyse data on various aspects of the supply chain, such as shipping times, delivery times, and inventory levels. This can help companies to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in their supply chain and take steps to improve them.
Data collection can help to improve shortages in the supply chain by providing companies with valuable insights into their operations. By collecting and analysing data on various aspects of the supply chain, such as shipping times, delivery times, and inventory levels, a company can identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in its operations. This can help the company to take steps to improve these areas and reduce the likelihood of shortages.
For example, if a company collects data on delivery times and discovers that it is consistently taking longer than expected to deliver products to certain customers, it can analyse the data to identify the root cause of the problem. This might involve looking at issues with the transportation network, warehouse operations, or other aspects of the supply chain. Once the problem has been identified, the company can take steps to address it, which can help to reduce the likelihood of shortages.
In addition, data collection can help a company to better anticipate and prepare for potential shortages. For example, if a company sees that demand for a certain product is consistently increasing, it can use data to forecast future demand and adjust production or sourcing accordingly in order to avoid a shortage.
Overall, data collection and analysis can be an important tool for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and reducing the risk of shortages.
Improved communication
Rugged devices can be used to improve communication between different members of the supply chain, such as drivers, warehouse workers, and customers. This can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that any issues are quickly identified and addressed.
Start improving your supply chain management today, with Conker Rugged Devices.
The Role of Rugged Devices for Logistics and Supply Chain Industries
The logistics and supply chain industries have been at the forefront of the e-commerce boom, which has only accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the rapidly increasing demand, businesses have had to make strategic changes to their operations, with 93% of supply chain companies intending to make their processes more agile, flexible, and resilient, according to a 2020 survey by Mckinsey.
One of the key tools that logistics and supply chain companies have turned to in this endeavor is rugged devices. Rugged devices are mobile devices designed for use in harsh environments, such as extreme temperatures or dusty conditions. They are designed to withstand drops and impacts, and to provide extra protection against damage that standard mobile devices may not be able to withstand.
Rugged devices come in various forms, including rugged smartphones, tablets, and handheld mobile computers. They often use the Android operating system, which is popular for its flexibility and compatibility with a wide range of applications.
In this article, we will explore the importance of rugged devices in logistics and supply chain industries, including their durability, data collection and communication capabilities, and resistance to environmental factors. We will also discuss the types of rugged devices commonly used in these industries, as well as the challenges and considerations that businesses must take into account when implementing them. Finally, we will examine some case studies and examples of companies successfully using rugged devices, as well as the future of rugged devices in logistics and supply chain industries.
Problems that the logistics and supply chain industries are facing
According to an article by Clarus in 2021, 49% of companies agree that their current technology is outdated. Outdated technology leads to loss in profits, productivity, and overall efficiency in their processes. Moreover, it also heavily affects last-mile delivery, which logistics and supply chain industries are heavily involved in.
Moreover, in a survey conducted by Compuware, 52% (more than half!) of their respondents state that technology is a critical factor in supply chain and logistics processes. Thus, companies and businesses need to keep up with the best of today’s technology.
However, regular consumer devices struggle to keep up with the environmental demands of these industries. That is where rugged devices come in.
What is a rugged device?
A rugged device is not your regular, run-of-the-mill device. Rugged devices are made to support and enhance the work of your entire workforce. In addition, a rugged device can help streamline operations in demanding environments such as logistics and supply chain industries. It promises mobility while also being resilient against different conditions, be it dust, moisture, extreme temperature, or falls.
A rugged device offers various features that are not available in regular consumer devices. These sleek but fully protected durable hardware can stand harsh conditions. These are drop tested to ensure that your team stays productive all day.
Interested? Click here to read more about Conker’s rugged devices, specifications. Conker offers an excellent rugged range from tablets to wearables. Now that those are covered, what are the benefits of implementing rugged devices in logistics and supply chain industries?
Types of Rugged Devices That Are Perfect For The Logistics And Supply Chain Industry
Logistics and supply chain industries rely heavily on mobile devices to stay productive and keep their customers satisfied. However, standard mobile devices may not be suitable for use in the harshest environments. This is where rugged devices come in.
Rugged devices come in various types, including handheld mobile computers, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted terminals, tablets and laptops, and scanners and barcode readers. Let's take a closer look at each type:
- Handheld mobile computers - These are compact devices that can withstand extreme temperatures, dust resistance, and harsh environments. They are designed for field use and feature ingress protection to protect against water and other environmental factors. Testing methods such as drop tests and MIL-STD ensure rugged design that can withstand tough conditions. Make sure to check out the Conker NS6 here.
- Wearable devices - These devices can be worn by employees and are hands-free, allowing workers to stay productive while keeping their hands free. They are designed to withstand extreme conditions and are tested to meet military-grade standards, including IP ratings for dust and water resistance.
- Vehicle-mounted terminals - These devices are designed for use in transportation vehicles and are mounted directly onto the vehicle. They feature rugged design and are tested to withstand extreme conditions.
- Tablets and laptops - Rugged tablets and laptops are designed for use in harsh environments and feature ingress protection and MIL-STD testing designed to ensure ruggedness. They are built to withstand drops, dust, and other environmental factors, while providing access to company hardware and software.
- Scanners and barcode - readers These devices are used for data collection and are designed to withstand harsh environments. They feature rugged design, with IP ratings for dust and water resistance and MIL-STD testing to ensure that they can withstand drops and impacts. Need a long range wearable barcode scanner? Check out the Conker BG2L today.
The use of rugged devices in logistics and supply chain industries is critical for maintaining productivity and protecting against damage from harsh environments. Handheld mobile computers, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted terminals, tablets and laptops, and scanners and barcode readers are all types of rugged devices that businesses can use to stay productive and protect their hardware, software, and data.
Three Benefits of Rugged Devices in the Logistics and Supply Chain Industries
Technology is growing faster than ever, but what can supply chain and logistics businesses earn from implementing rugged device systems into their systems?
Here, we list three benefits of adopting the modern technology of rugged devices into your business:
Rugged devices for logistics and supply chain bring mobility and flexibility
When it comes to logistics and supply chain industries, it is important for workers to be as mobile as they can. Unfortunately, many businesses today still rely on scanning in one place, then uploading their data to the workstation, which is in another place. This system becomes inefficient, as employees waste time and energy doing such a task.
Furthermore, this can lead to employees’ daily tasks to pile up one on top of another. Employees can feel overwhelmed and choked, leading to distractions and a slower process of finishing essential tasks. When this happens, it can lead to disrupted workflows for the whole organisation. Moreover, the entire workplace suffers from delays and profit loss.
However, with the use of rugged devices, this won’t be a problem. The use of rugged devices brings flexibility into the workplace. Employees won’t have to bring their own devices to keep up with communication or struggle to stay updated with information. Instead, they can do everything with just a simple tap or pressing the device.
It is Easier to Communicate and Connect with the Team
All workplaces rely heavily on communication and collaboration to hand out tasks and smoothen out the transition of going from one task to another. As said in the previous points, rugged devices allow employees to do everything they need to do at the tip of their fingers.
Furthermore, it is easier for managers to keep track of employees equipped with rugged devices. Since rugged devices for logistics and supply chain are equipped with good WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS systems, keeping track of individuals in the workplace is no longer a problem. Therefore, rugged devices allow managers to have an easier time properly assigning tasks to employees. This leads to a workplace having a smooth and efficient workflow.
Moreover, it will also be easier to track and keep up with orders and deliveries that a team is working on. Therefore, rugged devices also bring transparency into the workplace.
Better Inventory Management
Inventory management can be the most menial and time-consuming for many logistics and supply chain businesses. Moreover, inventory management tends to be one of the most prone to human error and one of the biggest challenges most organisations face. When it comes to inventory management, it is a difficult task.
Rugged devices ensure that inventory turnover is faster but also accurate. Moreover, rugged devices like wearables make such processes easier for employees to do. This is because rugged devices, especially wearables, allow employees to become more aware of their surroundings. Unlike regular devices, there is little to no room for mistakes to happen during their tasks.
Rugged Devices are Secure and Strong
In many businesses, device failure is a widespread challenge that they face. This is no exception for logistics and supply chain businesses. Of course, this happens especially to businesses that still invest in regular devices. According to the same study by Compuware, over 48% of companies agree that technology failures affect their workforce’s performance.
This can be a very difficult problem to face when it comes to device failure in the warehouse. It can bring setbacks to the workforce. Every day, devices are subjected to different temperatures, can suffer drops from high places, and even drops into tiny puddles are possible. This can lead to device failures, and companies experience high costs of repairing and replacing these devices.
Totally replacing a technological system can be difficult and costly when taken at face value. However, the common challenge of device failure affects a company’s Total Cost of Ownership– which you can read more about here.
Rugged devices for logistics and supply chain can help tremendously. While regular devices can end up as distractions and too heavy to lug around, rugged devices can support and endure. It is crucial to choose and equip your workforce with the right technology. Conker’s devices are not only durable, but they are also easy to learn and get used to in the workplace.