A dependable printing system is vital when it comes to maintaining frictionless operations. Consequently, many warehouses have chosen to invest in high-volume industrial printers since these devices are able to produce thousands of labels in a day without premature printhead failure. While industrial printers can be incredibly useful to protect unbroken productivity, warehouses are still left to deal with another challenge: the rising number of processed goods.
For the past three years, warehouses have been caught in a struggle to stay ahead of consumer demands without overstocking products and risking financial loss. Just-in-Time material handling has shifted to Just-in-Case models as companies brace themselves for sudden spikes in demand. As challenges and inventory counts increase, printing stations must produce more labels faster. While industrial printers can certainly handle the large influx, teams must account for the time spent -and lost- traveling to centralized printing stations.
Studies conducted within an Amazon warehouse found that the average warehouse employee can travel up to 12 miles per day, spending up to four hours walking between aisles and printing stations. In addition to time spent walking, workers also lose time in line as they wait for label batches. During this process, several operational setbacks may occur such as:
While centralized printing stations are still beneficial for large-scale distribution centers, modernized warehouses are also adopting mobile printers, which have proven essential for businesses facing the following tell-tale struggles:
With the number of stock-keeping-units expected to increase at a rapid rate before 2027 and e-commerce continuing to shorten shipping ETAs, warehouses can no longer rely solely on centralized printing stations to meet customer demands. However, selecting the wrong mobile printer can also slow productivity rates. Therefore, before selecting your mobile printer, make sure to look for the following features.
Warehouses and manufacturing plants can be harsh environments for mobile devices. In the same way, you should evaluate your handheld devices’ durability standards, mobile printers should also withstand drops, tumbles, and exposure to hot and cold temperatures.
In addition to its durability, an ideal mobile printer should also be lightweight to prevent worker strain. Leading technology innovators have gone a step further by including glove-friendly LED screens to maximize ease of use for your busy workforce.
Once again, like your mobile computers, an ideal mobile printing solution should survive an 8-hour shift without compromising printing speed. Modern systems now enable stand-by modes to further preserve battery power when printers aren’t in use.
Cybersecurity will continue to be a non-negotiable in every modern system. As a peripheral device with access to a database system, mobile printers are key targets for cybercrime despite their lack of a visible screen.
Controlled blind tests uncovered a 56% success rate in hijacking enterprise printers within large companies across the world. As you select a new mobile printing solution, be sure to integrate a cybersecurity policy that flags unauthorized users and connections to mitigate hijacking and data leaks.
Lastly, an ideal mobile printing solution requires flexible connectivity to remain functional in challenging spaces with thick walls, high ceilings, metal racks, and/or signal interference. Working alongside networking experts empowers you to evaluate your space and deploy connectivity options that adapt to your facility such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC.
While this may seem dismissible at first, a lack of connectivity options can lead to dropped sessions and downtime within certain parts of your facility, limiting workers from printing anywhere. Moreover, depending on battery capacity, certain connectivity options may drain batteries faster, thus impacting other non-negotiable factors within your printing system.
While these four qualities are indispensable, a modernized printing solution must go beyond the printer itself. To maximize printer performance from anywhere without elevating operational costs, experts recommend pairing your device with enterprise labels containing smooth surfaces and strong adhesives that don’t leak into the printer. Quality printing supplies prevent early printhead scratches while securing barcode legibility after application. Equipped with both durable mobile printers and enterprise labels, your workflow should be able to note an increase in operational visibility from door to dock.
By maintaining unbroken productivity within your facility, mobile printers empower teams to:
Comprehensive modernization cannot be limited to hardware; however, a good grasp on the benefits and functionality of your technology empowers teams to make smarter decisions in terms of scalable modernization. To truly optimize operations with an intelligent printing solution, it is recommended that you assess:
For a full evaluation of your systems, schedule a preliminary meeting with our automation team and harness the benefits of mobile printing in your operations.