Apr 04, 2023

Underlining even the most successful automation solutions, your connectivity infrastructure is vital to unbroken productivity. Whether you are a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, every workflow heavily depends on network connectivity to unify teams and transpose data for accurate visibility. Although specialized industries may use their infrastructure for unique workflows, most supply chains rely on robust infrastructures to...

• Connect peripheral devices
• Run productivity applications
• Update inventory counts
• Track stock location
• Deploy facility-wide alerts
• Manage mobile devices remotely

As decision-makers consider integrating new technologies and interfaces, connectivity infrastructures must be evaluated and tailored to prevent communication breakdowns. A broad assessment of common connectivity issues reveals three recurrent pain points:

1. Dead Zones

This happens when signals completely drop or become unresponsive within specific places in your facility. Large warehouses, cold storage, and hospitals frequently deal with these issues due to their thick walls, which often interfere with connectivity waves.

2. Dropped Signals

Slight glitches can be detrimental to application performance since programs may have to restart their entire workflow after a dropped signal. Recurrent dropped signals directly contribute to downtime, delayed operations, and worker stress as employees are forced to restart their tasks with less time.

3. Slowed Device Performance

Lastly, if networks are not optimized before implementing new devices, your infrastructure may be overloaded and delay performance, slowing down applications to accommodate for the greater influx of data.

Challenges such as the ones mentioned above may hint at greater connectivity issues hiding in your facility. A comprehensive network assessment is beneficial to target the source of these issues; however, there are actions you can take in advance to help evaluate your network’s performance.

4 Areas Commonly Affected by Poor Connectivity

As you measure network performance in your facility, some locations often present clear signs that can be traced back to connectivity breakdowns.

1. High Device Usage Areas

If connectivity isn’t implemented before devices, chances are your facility is operating without a network topology map. For example, picking aisles have a higher chance of needing more connectivity speed since they hold more employees and devices, such as vehicle-mounted computers, printers, and scanners, compared to truck cabins, which may employ one mobile computer and a printer. As more devices run on your network, speed and latency must be adjusted to segment multiple workflows simultaneously without delaying them.

2. Bottlenecks

Look for places commonly known for bottlenecks such as printing stations and quality checks. Though bottlenecks can stem from numerous other causes such as user error and device failure, stalled productivity may also indicate a poor connection with centralized databases, causing recurrent bottlenecks.

3. Troubleshooting Stations

Communication with your troubleshooting and tech support teams may reveal patterns in device failure, exposing overwhelmed networks after a closer look. When checking in with your tech support team, you can also evaluate current control systems and audit past connectivity issues to identify common factors such as location and time of day. Most successful connectivity optimizations start with a careful assessment of your current system.

4. Gaps in Cybersecurity

Proper networking should consist of software updates, malware protection, and ongoing OS support. Failure to include these often results in the consequences previously discussed. Moreover, gaps in cybersecurity also risk welcoming unauthorized access, thus compromising your data and enabling data breaches.

An Optimized Network Can Boost Productivity by 10%. Here’s How:

From door to dock, your connectivity system supports real-time data communication and updates, eliminating communication breakdowns and providing agility to adapt when changes suddenly strike. Although there are many ways you can leverage a connectivity specialist, look for the following services from your provider for optimized network performance:

• Site Surveys and Assessments

Space constraints can impact your network’s performance. Therefore, before making any changes, specialists recommend noting possible obstacles and coverage requirements. This service will also help link you to top tech providers by matching your constraints with switches and routers designed for the challenge at hand.

• Network Design

After recording physical challenges, your solution provider should define current and projected goals for your infrastructure. For example, retailers and distributors should proactively build a system that welcomes an increase in data transactions for peak seasons. Furthermore, working with a single point of contact reduces stress for your IT team.

• Hardware Procurement and Installation

Equipped with your coverage needs and goals, your solution provider can work with OEMs to procure and install routers, cabling, and switches. In addition to tailoring bandwidth, your team can also simplify rollouts by configuring devices to run on the newly-built infrastructure.

• Network Monitoring and Security

As it is with any solution, cybersecurity cannot be overlooked. When operating systems and applications need to be updated, your solution provider should be able to pinpoint needs and deploy alerts before security is compromised. Open communication with administrative teams empowers businesses to anticipate outages and protect wireless systems from unauthorized access.

• Real-Time Network Diagnostics

When accidents and/or updates are needed, your connectivity team can run diagnostics and restore systems based on previous backups. This protects business continuity while extending the longevity of your digital solutions.

• Network Validation

For businesses working within sensitive industries such as healthcare and public service, network validation serves as a dependable layer of security and personnel safety. As your operations grow, consider verifying network performance in new spaces and systems to validate preset requirements and goals.

• Ongoing Maintenance

Lastly, as supply chains navigate new changes in demand and compliance, your connectivity partner must be able to scale and tailor the infrastructure to accommodate change. For example, distributors seeking compliance with new RFID requirements may need to reevaluate their space and alter networks to diminish new points of interference that may have been permissible in current systems.

Looking to start optimizing your WiFi? Check out our podcast for key insights to facilitate your journey.

Dependable Connectivity is Crucial for Leading modernization Strategies

Companies seeking to accelerate productivity and overcome challenges cannot afford to overlook connectivity infrastructures. Today’s top technology solutions are built with dependable connectivity in mind. In other words, if a facility is unable to sustain unbroken connectivity, leading technology solutions will not work properly, ultimately increasing operational costs and headaches. Optimal network performance is crucial for:

• RFID Connectivity – Real-time visibility has become the norm for most warehouses and manufacturing centers. RFID solutions provide in-motion tracking and locationing for stock and incoming materials, thus preventing stockouts and shortages. However, since RFID waves struggle with metal surroundings, businesses must strategically place antennas and readers in key spaces to preserve real-time visibility.
• Reliable Voice Solutions – Voice-based systems are known for maximizing employee safety while accelerating workflows without errors. Nevertheless, voice devices and wearable technologies require unbroken connectivity to communicate with central databases and the user.
• Future-Forward Robotics – Presenting an innovative solution to labor shortages, enterprise robotics empower your human workforce by executing difficult tasks, so they have more time to focus on other more important matters. Nonetheless, AMRs require some sort of connectivity to map out their surroundings and avoid collisions.

Final Remarks

Enterprise connectivity is at the center of successful automation. Therefore, specialists recommend taking time to optimize your network’s performance before deploying multiple new devices all at once. The first step is meeting with an experienced connectivity provider to start assessing your current systems and space challenges. After outlining goals and constraints, your team can get on the right track to scalable modernization.