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Overcoming package search bottlenecks
Retail delivery drivers often spend a significant amount of time manually looking for the correct package at each stop. This pervasive challenge stems from a lack of immediate visibility into the exact location of specific items within a crowded vehicle. As drivers sift through similar-looking boxes, the time required to complete the route increases, limiting the number of daily stops each driver can successfully manage.
These operational bottlenecks directly lead to high costs and reduced daily productivity on the route. The extra minutes spent searching for packages accumulate, resulting in fewer deliveries per shift and potentially causing late arrivals. This inefficiency reduces overall customer satisfaction and creates lost revenue opportunities, while simultaneously driving up the cost per delivery for the business.
The package search bottleneck solution
Equipping drivers with the right mobile computer and AI-powered optical enablers improves the delivery process. The TC701 gives drivers reliable mobile computers for capturing package images, barcodes and printed text, while Zebra Frontline AI Enablers help interpret visual data quickly. Together, this photo-based workflow helps workers pinpoint the exact package they need without relying on manual searching or RFID-based locating.
Potential benefits
Transitioning to Zebra solutions provides clear, quantifiable improvements for your delivery operations. These measurable outcomes demonstrate a direct shift from manual delays to tangible financial and operational benefits for your entire retail delivery business.
Faster package finding by 45%
to complete stops efficiently
Up to 27 minutes
significant time saved of up to 27 minutes per day per driver
Increased daily productivity
allowing for higher daily stop counts
Reduced operational costs
creating a lower cost per delivery
How the solution works
Navigate cluttered trucks and capture details clearly in any light
Searching for packages inside a cluttered, dark, or fast-paced delivery truck can be a significant bottleneck for drivers. The Zebra TC701 is designed to help eliminate this friction. Combined with its ultra-rugged design, the TC701 is uniquely suited to handle the hectic physical environments of postal and transportation and logistics operations. The device provides the image capture and processing foundation needed for AI-assisted package identification, so the choice can be guided by the operation’s deployment needs. This all happens directly on the device, reducing cloud latency and saving on token costs.
Read package text with OCR Enabler
The OCR Enabler helps the application recognize printed text captured in a package image, such as address details, labels, or other visible package identifiers. Instead of asking a driver to visually inspect similar boxes one by one, the workflow can use text recognition to compare captured package details against the current stop. This helps narrow the search quickly and gives the driver clearer guidance on which package to retrieve.
Locate the right package with Multi-Barcode Scanning Enabler
The Multi-Barcode Scanning Enabler detects multiple barcodes in a single image, allowing the workflow to evaluate an entire field of view at once. In a crowded truck, the driver can capture a photo of several visible packages, and identify the relevant barcode without requiring each item to be scanned individually. Used together with OCR, multi-barcode scanning helps confirm the correct package faster and reduces the time spent searching through the load.
Maximizing delivery route efficiency and value
Investing in advanced mobile computers and AI vision software delivers substantial operational and financial value. Businesses will see a significant reduction in delivery costs while empowering their workforce to accomplish more stops with greater accuracy every 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.
