Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Barcode Scanners: A Combination for Success

Handheld barcode scanners continue to serve as the backbone of supply chains. Without these devices, we’d still rely on paper-based, manual processes to track inventory, calculate purchase amounts, and see a product’s next destination.

But just purchasing random scanners off the shelf and throwing them into your warehouse won’t suffice. Maximizing operational efficiency while avoiding deployment pitfalls demands a robust mobile strategy — one that considers your unique functionality, performance, security, user experience, integration, and software needs as one objective.  

Here’s how tailored enterprise mobility solutions can get you more from your barcode scanners.

Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Barcode Scanners

Handheld Barcode Scanners: Streamlining the Supply Chain With a Pull of the Trigger

The supply chain value of barcode scanners is abundantly clear. With just one scan…

  • Manufacturers can monitor and tag newly produced inventory, quickly sign off on quality assurance, and get products out the door.
  • Transportation companies can provide delivery status updates and see where a shipment is heading next.
  • Warehouses can process sales orders and get information on their stored inventory.  
  • Retailers can catalog incoming merchandise, monitor stock levels, and check out customers at the point of sale (POS).

The list goes on and on. However, these are the simple functions achieved through mobile device management (MDM). What about security features to keep mobile data safe and prevent breaches? Or device tracking so you can find lost scanners to avoid replacement costs? And setting up mobile applications, integrations, and the user interface so your workforce gets the most from their scanners?

The goal, after all, is ensuring teams have the tools to stay productive without compromising user experience or data security. And comprehensive enterprise mobility solutions take this into account. They use a broader, tailored enterprise mobile management (EMM) approach so you can boost operational efficiency while reaping other benefits from your barcode scanners. 

Enterprise Mobility Solutions Get You More From Your Scanners

Deploying enterprise mobility solutions goes beyond selecting barcode scanners and putting them in employees’ hands. It’s the entire MDM process, plus systems for managing:

  • Software applications that go with your scanners
  • Integrations to connect scanning data and workflows into a unified system
  • User interface design to create seamless scanning experiences for employees
  • Security controls and identity and authentication management (IAM) systems (certificates, SSO, app code signatures, etc.) to track user activity and keep company data out of the wrong hands
  • Information systems that ensure scanning data readily (but securely) available to users onsite and from remote locations  
  • Expenses and total cost of ownership (TCO) of your barcode scanners and EMM program

Applying these practices ensures more than just robust security. It provides an optimal experience for employees — happy to use their scanners because they’re seamless and keep them productive. Similarly, incorporating relevant apps and integrations into these devices provides teams better access to supply chain data. And by constantly tracking your mobile devices, you never need to worry about losing a barcode scanner again. 

When you combine enterprise mobility solutions with your scanners, you empower employees to do more with less. Its operational efficiency at its finest.

Unleash Your Enterprise Mobility Potential with SMG3

Enterprise mobility solutions are foundational to supporting your mobile ecosystem. And scanners, in particular, are huge time-savers that can process items and provide information on-the-go with just a click. But if you want to generate even more efficiency through mobility, not all MDM providers will cut it.

Luckily, SMG3 supports comprehensive EMM. Powered by SMG3 EDGE, we can deliver, implement, and manage handheld barcode scanners throughout their lifecycle. With our expertise, you’ll always have reliable, secure scanning devices at your employees’ fingertips, relevant software and integrations that support your data flows, and a long-term strategy that maximizes enterprise mobility.

Schedule a Needs Assessment today to learn how SMG3 can support your enterprise mobility goals!  
And because you scan barcodes with mobile devices, our guide on building an Android strategy can help you. Download it today for insights on building a comprehensive Android strategy!

Keep Your Freight Moving with SMG3

If you scan barcodes with mobile devices, you'll love SMG3 EDGE.

Schedule a Needs Assessment Consultation today to learn how SMG3 EDGE and our additional, expert professional service offerings give transportation businesses more from their mobile technology while enhancing connectivity, information-sharing, and supply chain visibility.