As the world goes digital and the use of smartphones increases, mobile data collection is becoming the new normal in most industries. Shipping logistics is no exception. From capturing detailed order and delivery information to tracking shipments and warehouse locations, barcode technology is used every step of the way in the world of transportation logistics. Through smart data capture, transportation and logistics companies can achieve better results. Moreover, this is the need of the times.
The Benefits of Mobile Data Capture for Transportation Logistics
Mobile capture offers several benefits to the world of shipping logistics. Some key ones are listed below.
Cost savings: With mobile data capture devices, you don't need to invest in dozens of specialized devices, such as handheld laser barcode scanners. Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets can perform intelligent data capture to simplify everyday transportation logistics tasks. With advanced mobile data capture solutions, warehouses can even use automated guided vehicles (AGVs), drones or mobile robots for effective inventory management without missing a single barcode!
Better Tracking: No matter how powerful a handheld barcode scanner is, it can't match a smart device when it comes to barcode scanning. Hardware scanners have various limitations, which is why they were replaced by mobile scanners. Mobile data capture helps improve transportation and logistics workflows. Commercial-grade barcode shipping receiving software makes it easy to scan difficult barcodes such as incomplete, crumpled, dense, or angled barcodes when handheld scanners fail. Hence, better tracking without missing scans.
Secure and Worry-Free Scalability: Upgrading legacy scanners can be challenging and costly. In a world where technology changes every moment, change is the only constant and the last resort. Opting for mobile smart devices such as smartphones and tablets is cost-effective as they can be updated according to the needs of your shipping logistics company. Robust security features like data encryption, regular user management and maintenance help you scale with maximum safety and security.
Ease of Integration: Another key reason why mobile data collection is gaining popularity across multiple industries is its ease of integration with existing back-end management systems. For shipping logistics companies, it can be easily integrated with shipping receiving software management systems, inventory management systems or resource planning systems. Plus, it makes data capture faster, easier to manage, and extremely secure.
Application of Mobile Data Collection in Shipping Logistics
Mobile data collection benefits shipping logistics in many ways. Let's look at the key use cases.
Benefits for truck drivers: Mobile data collection makes everyday tasks such as parcel collection, management, and sorting easier for truck drivers. There is no need for manual data entry, which further reduces the chance of error and speeds up the process. Plus, it improves compliance and eliminates the need to invest in expensive hardware.
Easy pickup and delivery: Through mobile data capture, transportation and logistics companies can achieve real-time package tracking at any customer touch point. In this way, logistics companies and their partners can benefit from mobile barcode scanning to sort, search and find goods at every stage.
Last Mile Delivery: Mobile barcode scanning solutions add flexibility to the process, ensuring packages are delivered to the correct location and meeting workflow needs.
Shipping and Receiving: Barcode scanning is critical for shipping and receiving as it helps streamline the workflow by making sure everything is in place. Mobile data collection is easily integrated in parallel with shipment receiving software and allows employees to scan goods in and out of the warehouse.
Mobile Data Collection in Transportation and Logistics: A Common Challenge
While mobile data capture is essential to modern transportation logistics operations, using mediocre solutions won't do you any good. As a result, most organizations fail to take full advantage of its strengths. Below are some common challenges they may face.
Difficult to scan complex codes: Weather conditions such as rain may damage barcodes. Using common data capture solutions with generic barcode scanning capabilities makes it difficult for logistics professionals to scan shipping labels with such barcodes.
Complex integration process: Complex integration usually deters shipping logistics companies from choosing intelligent data collection. While leading solutions are easy to integrate, the same is not the case with most of the available options. Integrating data capture capabilities into mobile devices such as smartphones, wearables, drones and robots is another challenge for mediocre solutions.
Low code scanning efficiency: Not to mention batch barcode scanning, ordinary barcode scanners cannot provide fast barcode scanning functions. Shipping logistics companies have to scan thousands of labels every day, and slow mobile data collection can make things even more difficult.
Not Supporting Important Barcode Types: Not all smart data capture solutions support all standard barcode symbologies, and this is when the problems start. Generally, only one-dimensional barcode symbols and some important two-dimensional barcode types are supported. What if you need to scan USPS Smart Mail Labels or Australian Postal Codes?
How to solve these problems?
Barcode Scanner SDK - Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK is a commercial grade barcode scanner SDK (Software Development Kit) that helps embed barcode scanning functionality into web, desktop or mobile applications with just a few lines of code. It can be easily integrated into receiving software to help logistics companies meet the above challenges.
Ability to scan unusual barcodes: Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK is designed for scanning complex barcodes under the most challenging conditions, making it easy to scan shipping labels or barcodes damaged due to adverse weather conditions or mishandling.
Easy Integration: Add powerful barcode scanning capabilities to mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, drones or robots with minimal code by choosing Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK. It can be quickly integrated into new or existing software, from inventory management systems to last-mile delivery solutions.
Fast and highly accurate: Scan over 500 barcodes in under a minute with Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK. As an added bonus, it reads 34.9% better than the industry's second-best barcode!
Supports all standard barcode symbologies: When you choose Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK, you won't have to go through the hassle of not being able to scan certain barcode types. It supports all major barcode types, from 1D to 2D barcode symbologies, GS1 composite codes, postal codes, patch codes and GS1 DataBar codes.