A fully connected business world could be upon us
Gartner, the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company, has released its findings supporting the rise of connected ‘things’ throughout 2017, with numbers continuing to vastly increase over the next 3 years. It has forecasted that 8.4 billion sensor-connected items will be used worldwide in 2017 alone, up 31% in comparison to 2016. This year, spending on Internet of Things (IoT) is projected to total an outstanding $2 billion. The majority of these specific items still lies within the consumer industry; however, businesses are starting to invest deeper into connected technology. An estimated 7.5 billion devices will be used in business operations by 2020, with today’s amount totaling just over 2 billion.
The significant rise in IoT will help supply chain professionals improve their processes and create a more connected supply chain. Improvements can already be seen throughout all steps of the process, from quality control to real-time tracking in logistics. However further developments in end-to-end visibility could finally be achieved. As well as transparency, efficiency could be improved and it could lead to greater customer satisfaction.
To read more on the increase in IoT in the business sector click here.
Panasonic aids your wrist
After conducting a study within the UK that highlighted the effects of poorly designed mobile barcode scanners on its workers, Panasonic decided to design a new ergonomic device. The new handheld tablet, named Toughpad FZ-N1, has been introduced for the Australian transport and logistics market. It is reportedly the world’s lightest, fully rugged 3-in-1 tablet. It is said to be protected against drops as well as rapidly changing temperatures and weather conditions. It can support multiple areas within the market including inventory management, shipping and parcel tracking.
Due to an increase in e-commerce, workers are finding themselves scanning over hundreds of packages a day. This has resulted in many suffering from Repetitive Strain Injury and experiencing severe aches and pains in their wrists or arms. Panasonic’s device eases use with an angled barcode reader, which improves the health of workers, and has the potential to increase efficiency and productivity. The company has seen the need for continual innovation in this sector in order to help workers deal with increasing demand while maintaining their health.
Find more information on the benefits of the device here.
FedEx’s new service
On Tuesday, FedEx began offering its new service, FedEx Fulfillment. It is an e-commerce service that supplies small and medium-sized businesses with the chance to fulfill orders from multiple channels. It offers services including warehousing, fulfillment, packaging, transportation and reverse logistics, helping the user create profitable and scalable growth with an end-to-end solution. Powered by an easy-to-use platform, the solution offers an already integrated supply chain.
A deeper partnership will be created between FedEx and the customer through this service. FedEx already has a developed, efficient platform and this service in particular is tailored to suit growing businesses. It gives the business time to concentrate on its own operations, focusing on its products and internal features without worrying about the fulfillment and logistics challenges. It also provides complete visibility into the delivery process, providing an easy alternative for tracking items and analyzing trends, and helping the business improve its understanding of shoppers’ spending behaviors.
Read about FedEx’s new service here.
Have a great weekend!
