Findel Gives Top Marks For TouchStar’s Hands Free Data Capture!
14 June 2022
UK-based
manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, TouchStar Technologies, is pleased to
announce that educational resource specialists, Findel Education, has selected
TouchStar to support a new “hands free” technology upgrade to their warehouse
picking operation.
About Findel
Findel is an eCommerce educational
resources supplier, supporting the needs of both schools and nurseries within
the UK and international marketplace. Findel brands and websites offer more than 32,000 products to
customers, covering everything from art and
design materials, stationary, sports and science equipment through to IT
hardware, furniture, and facilities.
Challenges
Headquartered
in Hyde, Cheshire, Findel’s distribution centre and offices in Nottingham
employ 300 people. Speed and efficiency are key objectives for the operation, from
ensuring an easy and simple ordering process for their customers, through to efficient
and accurate fulfilment within their distribution centre.
Investment
in their IT infrastructure is therefore critical to Findel’s operation. Rugged
mobile computers play a fundamental role in supporting key warehouse processes.
Ensuring the business has access to reliable, futureproof and user-friendly RF technology is key. With the existing wearable devices
within their picking function nearing end of life, Findel knew that they had to
look at upgrading their existing rugged hardware estate to maintain efficient operations.
Solution
To manage
the upgrade, Findel selected UK based rugged mobile computer and scanning
specialists, TouchStar, to manage the process from specification through to
testing, go live and ongoing support.
Anthony
Peach, Production Manager explains “We are now moving towards our third generation of
TouchStar devices within our operation. Touchstar devices had proved themselves
inherently reliable within our operating environment over a significant number of years,
so it made sense to talk to them about how we would look to upgrade. We use a
“pick from conveyor” system to pick a large number of small items for goods out.
Given the large number of orders requiring fulfilment in our operation, we knew
we needed to look at another hands-free solution for our operators that was
both lightweight and reliable. We also required a high-resolution screen to
provide clear picking instruction”.
Working
together with TouchStar to select the best solution for the operation, Findel selected
Zebra’s TC21 wrist mounted solution. With its large 5-inch high definition touchscreen and lightweight compact design, the device offered
a best fit solution and a logical upgrade path to Findel’s current rugged
wearable device. Paired with a Bluetooth ring scanner, the TC21 is mounted on
the user’s wrist to provide a user-friendly, futureproof and scalable
hands-free scanning solution. Undertaking a thorough testing process, TouchStar
worked closely with Findel from proof of concept and onwards towards the full
deployment of the upgrade.
Anthony continues, “As we move towards the go live of
the system, we are excited by the numerous process improvements the new
technology will deliver. Throughout the testing phase, it became clear that the
new TouchStar solution was a step up in terms of speed and clarity of display,
it was also well received by all our operators. In TouchStar, we have found a
company that not only understands our requirements today, but also for the
future. Their industry experience is clear, and their recommendations and
technical expertise led to a successful outcome in the testing of the new
solution. The localised support we have received from TouchStar has been
excellent and we look forward to a successful rollout of the technology
upgrade.