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Overcoming picking bottlenecks
Sequential, single-barcode scanning slows down back-room picking operations significantly. Every time an associate points and shoots at an individual item, valuable seconds slip away. This manual, one-by-one process creates a constant drag on daily productivity. When workers are forced to process items sequentially rather than simultaneously, the natural rhythm of inventory management is fundamentally compromised, creating a slow baseline for all subsequent tasks.
As associates lose time on every pick, the negative impacts multiply quickly. Throughput suffers drastically, leading directly to costly operational delays. These continuous bottlenecks force shifts to run long, increasing labor expenses and generating unnecessary frustration. Ultimately, this inefficiency reduces overall profitability and limits your ability to scale retail operations effectively.
Accelerating workflows with advanced scanning hardware and AI
Upgrading your technological foundation directly addresses these back-room picking delays. By implementing purpose-built mobile computers equipped with advanced, on-device artificial intelligence capabilities, retailers can completely transform their inventory processing speeds. This powerful hardware and software combination allows associates to quickly process massive amounts of barcode data at once, removing the friction of manual scanning and keeping your retail operations moving at peak efficiency. Additionally, processing everything on-device avoids cloud latency and token fees.
Potential benefits
Deploying the TC501 and TC701 with Frontline AI Enabler Multi-Barcode Scanning creates immediate, tangible value for your retail business. Associates work faster, labor costs decrease, and overall inventory throughput improves significantly across your entire back-room operation.
Up to 9% increase
in back-room picking efficiency
44 minutes
saved per associate per shift
Multiple codes
captured and processed in a single read
Eliminated bottlenecks
from sequential single-barcode scanning
How the solution works
Streamline store operations with continuous power and seamless data processing
The Zebra TC501 provides the reliable computing power needed for demanding retail environments. Built with a class-leading embedded memory architecture, this device easily handles heavy data loads. The device includes a high-capacity 5000 mAh battery that can be hot-swappable, allowing workers to swap batteries without shutting down and supports fast charging. This robust foundation gives associates a dependable tool for continuous daily use, allowing them to run advanced applications seamlessly and keep operations flowing without interruption.
Providing visual precision and rugged power for challenging environments
Back-rooms often suffer from poor, challenging lighting. The TC701 features a 6.0-inch FHD+ Hybrid OLED (AMOLED) display delivering 1500-nit peak brightness and high contrast, making instructions crystal clear. It also houses a 50 MP high-resolution rear camera, capturing enough light and sharp detail in dim spaces to feed highly accurate visual data into AI applications. When this drop-proof, ultra-rugged device is paired with Frontline AI Enabler Multi-Barcode Scanning, it can fundamentally chang back room picking from a slow, error-prone chore into a highly optimized, high-speed automated workflow.
Accelerate inventory processing with simultaneous multi-barcode capture
Frontline AI Enabler Mutli-Barcode Scanning unlock simultaneous multi-barcode scanning capabilities processed directly on your device. Instead of reading one item at a time, the software instantly detects and decodes multiple barcodes in a single image capture. This removes the traditional point and shoot bottleneck. Associates can swiftly process incoming inventory, reducing errors and saving significant time on every single pick.
Realize your productivity potential
Investing in advanced scanning technology yields rapid operational improvements. By saving 44 minutes per shift for every associate, retailers significantly reduce labor overhead while increasing the total volume of inventory processed smoothly every single day.
Note:
Use case figures and savings estimates are illustrative only and may be derived from customer data, projections, or controlled testing. They do not represent guaranteed results, and actual outcomes will vary by application; customers should consult a Zebra sales representative to evaluate their specific environment.
