CUSTOMER STORY
Driving supply chain efficiency with next-generation Zebra scanners
Company introduction:
Covering 50,000 square metres, the European Distribution Centre (EDC) at Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands is the centre of operations for Ricoh Europe Supply Chain Management (SCM). More than 300 employees manage incoming and outgoing product shipments at the site.
Challenge:
At the EDC, employees use WiFi-connected handheld barcode scanners to track items from the moment of arrival to final dispatch. Previously, the scanner fleet consisted of 210 devices, including three different models for long- and short-range scanning. Managing this mixed fleet was time-consuming, while device batteries rarely lasted a full shift, and the WiFi connection of the scanners was often patchy.
Solution and benefits:
To drive productivity in the EDC, Ricoh Europe SCM selected Zebra MC3300ax scanners supplied by Ricoh Netherlands, plus brackets, holsters, screen protectors, spare batteries, and chargers. Using one model with comprehensive functionality eliminates the need for three separate devices, enabling a reduction in overall numbers from 211 to 150. The company has also boosted scanner performance, battery life, and WiFi signal, cut its energy consumption and charging and licensing costs, and is now operating more sustainably.
“The Zebra scanners are much faster than the old models. Our employees are scanning thousands of barcodes every day, and the new devices knock off a second or so every time. When you add up all of the time saved, it makes a big improvement to productivity across the supply chain.”
Pieter Willemse
Business IT Operations Team Lead, Ricoh Europe SCM
