LXE is a division of EMS Technologies and manufactures mobile computers that are rugged, wearable, handheld and vehicle mounted. It helps companies and businesses to provide the entire corporate network to the mobile work force that is out in harsh and demanding conditions, by providing mobile computers to meet all their requirements. LXE computers thus help in cutting costs, improving efficiency and also enhancing customer satisfaction. LXE’s latest offering to the business world is 4 new headsets that have been specifically designed for voice recognition applications like intensive picking and so on. The headset is a crucial component of the voice recognition system since it is the primary interface between the person on the work floor, the operator and the system. The productivity of the operator is determined by the quality of the headset, its ease of use, its ergonomics and its weight. An uncomfortable headset would certainly have a negative effect on the operator’s performance.
LXE’s latest handsets have been designed to enable the worker to clearly hear all the system prompts wherever he is and in all kinds of warehouse environments. The headsets work efficiently in extreme temperatures between -40 degrees to +50 degrees Celsius. Their dual sound port microphone design facilitates the cancellation of surrounding noises and disturbances. A waterproof microphone is used so that it can operate in conditions where there is moisture, in freezers, cooler and dry areas.
The 4 new models include:
1. ToughTalk HS1, a single ear, single over-the-head headband.
2. ToughTalk HS2, a single ear, dual over-the-head headband.
3. ToughTalk HS3, with a wire frame, dual ear and behind the neck.
4. ToughTalk HS4, a rugged, single ear, dual padded over-the-head headband.
Voice only applications can utilize the dedicated voice units. Voice plus scanning is possible with multiuse units, which along with multimodal units permit the use of the same hardware for various applications as well as multiple job processes. These units are available as handheld, vehicle mounted and wearable designs.
The Magellan 8400 bi-optic scanner is the best performing five sided point of sale scanner available in the market. Not only does it improve operational efficiency, it also helps to achieve the maximum first pass read rates. It has helped to take Magellan and Datalogic to the next level of higher value addition and greater productivity at checkout points, breaking previous thresholds achieved in terms of performance, output, value and reliability. The Magellan 8400 works as either just a scanner or a combination of scale and scanner with the aid of the Datalogic patented All-Weighs scale platter. This ensures accuracy in weighing at the check out counter of fresh produce and bulky items. The two remote scale display options include a single display only on the pole or a dual display on the pole, one meant for the customer and one for the cashier, as required in certain applications.
The Magellan 8400 models come in three sizes, namely short, medium and long scanners, each meant to accommodate specific POS configurations. It gets the fastest scanning speed in the industry with the aid of FirstStrike advanced software decoding algorithms. The software also enables the simultaneous improvement of first pass read rates of barcodes that are poorly printed, damaged or wrinkled. Thus operational efficiency gets enhanced at the check out counters in the retail segment.
The Magellan 8400 has additional features like Flash memory that provides easier software upgrades which help to extend the benefits of the investment made in the scanner. Its auxiliary RS-232 port offers multiple uses like handling handheld scanners, configuring and programming the scanner, and accessing the label data output of the scanner. It can optionally be equipped with the Checkpoint EAS for certain applications that require Electronic Article Surveillance. Its auxiliary RS-232 port helps to support aftermarket integrated Sensormatic EAS antennas that provide good read acknowledgement. Other Value Added Features that are optional also bring optional information tools that lead to a reduction of front end costs by better management of information on scanner software and diagnostics.
RFID or Radio Frequency Identification is often touted as the technology of the future which will gradually lead to the phasing out of barcodes. But barcodes are meant for a specific segment in the business world, and will continue to be used even as RFID technology makes inroads into myriad business applications. The two technologies are related but also use a different method of auto identification and data collection, with some overlapping in applications. If used together in applications, the two technologies are capable of providing the highest returns on investment for end users. RFID offers many advantages over barcode technology. The primary difference between the two is based on the line-of-sight concept. A barcode has to be seen to be read, that is, it has to be directly exposed to the scanner to be read, which also implies that the barcode has to be oriented towards the scanner. RFID on the other hand, need not even be visible. They only need to be within the range of the reader to be read, and do not require any orientation or human effort. Moreover, barcode scanning is a slower process with each barcode having to be passed across the scanner, whereas, multiple RFID tags can be read simultaneously, leading to unparalleled efficiency, time saving and enhanced throughput.
Barcodes are prone to fading and damage and this can render them illegible. This will mean that there is no way the product can be identified since standard barcodes will only provide manufacturer and general product details but not those specific to the item in question. This also poses a problem in perishable goods like milk where the barcode will contain identical information but there is no way of checking which cartons have earlier date of expiry. RFID tags, make this possible since serialization is possible with each item having a distinct identification. This proves to be a big asset in situations requiring product recalls and also in product settings in the retail setup.
The following are the differences that highlight the advantages of RFID:
1. Faster reading of RFID tags- RFID technology proves faster due to the higher read rate with multiple RFID tags being read simultaneously and automatically once they fall within the range of the reader. Barcodes on the other hand have to be individually read and they need to be placed within the line of sight. This leads to a slower speed of reading barcodes.
2. Line of sight- Line of sight is not a prerequisite for reading RFID tags since they can be read when they are hidden from the reader, by just falling within its range. Barcodes have to be oriented specifically towards the barcode scanner and it is not possible to reading them if they do not fall between the line of sight of the scanner.
3. Read/write and modification of data- RFID tags can be used for reading and writing data on them, and it can also be modified or updated. This cannot be done on barcodes which once generated and printed can hold only that information which can only be read.
4. Human involvement- Once the system of RFID has been installed and implemented, it can function without any human intervention and involvement. However, barcodes need constant human support, are labor intensive, since the work force needs to bring the barcode within the line of vision of the scanner, and this must continue for every item.
5. Durable- RFID tags are highly durable and do not get damaged easily since they can be attached inside a protective layer and still get scanned. This makes them easier to use in harsh and tougher conditions. Barcodes have to be attached to the external surface and are prone to damage, can be torn easily and fade as well, making them illegible.
6. Security- RFID tags provide higher security to data stored on them, since they can be password protected and encrypted and can also incorporate a “kill” feature which will enable permanent erasing of data stored on it, if ever the need arises. Barcodes, however have lower security thresholds, and are easier to copy, reproduce and imitate or counterfeited.
7. As event triggers- RFID tags are useful as event triggers and can therefore be used for door opening, alerts and alarms. This function cannot be performed by barcodes at all.
Thus RFID technology can be used where barcodes cannot. But RFID does not need to be used as a replacement for barcode technology. Having a system that incorporates both RFID and barcode technology would lead to numerous advantages for businesses with their proper integration and leveraging the benefits of each for product identification and data collection. RFID experts are able to give the right advice about how to use the technology for maximum benefit to the business.
The new RW 420 Print Station from Zebra technologies comes with the latest printing technology to deliver flawless results. This single, compact and lightweight print station includes an integrated printer, and can house a Motorola MC70 or MC75 handheld device. Its ergonomic design with very little weight makes it convenient to use for long periods of time. The streamlined RW 420 Print Station is ideally suited for the mobile worker, who can carry this light device on their shoulder or on a hand strap for customer visits, using it to enter data, complete all transactions with the aid of the magnetic stripe card reader and finally print out the receipts and documents that have to be handed over.
The RW 420 Print Station incorporates all the user friendly features of the Zebra RW printer series. Easy media loading, LCD screen displaying printer status, wireless connectivity and long lasting battery, all combine to ensure that the mobile worker can complete all his tasks while out in the field. These features make it the most convenient, easy to use and efficiency driven device.
Meant for the outdoors, the RW 420 is a rugged device with an IP 54 rating for resistance to dust and moisture. It can withstand multiple 1.8 meter drops to concrete and thus works flawlessly in the field areas, on-the-road and other tough environments.
While using the RW 420 Print Station, the mobile computer and the printer can be simultaneously charged from a single source. This helps to save both time and money, and does not require additional space in the office or on the vehicle. Thus it is perfectly suited for retail, direct store delivery, field service, government, logistics and transportation applications to print invoices and receipts, tickets and estimates, work orders and other vouchers.
The new RW 420 Print Station from Zebra technologies comes with the latest printing technology to deliver flawless results. This single, compact and lightweight print station includes an integrated printer, and can house a Motorola MC70 or MC75 handheld device. Its ergonomic design with very little weight makes it convenient to use for long periods of time. The streamlined RW 420 Print Station is ideally suited for the mobile worker, who can carry this light device on their shoulder or on a hand strap for customer visits, using it to enter data, complete all transactions with the aid of the magnetic stripe card reader and finally print out the receipts and documents that have to be handed over.
The RW 420 Print Station incorporates all the user friendly features of the Zebra RW printer series. Easy media loading, LCD screen displaying printer status, wireless connectivity and long lasting battery, all combine to ensure that the mobile worker can complete all his tasks while out in the field. These features make it the most convenient, easy to use and efficiency driven device.
Meant for the outdoors, the RW 420 is a rugged device with an IP 54 rating for resistance to dust and moisture. It can withstand multiple 1.8 meter drops to concrete and thus works flawlessly in the field areas, on-the-road and other tough environments.
While using the RW 420 Print Station, the mobile computer and the printer can be simultaneously charged from a single source. This helps to save both time and money, and does not require additional space in the office or on the vehicle. Thus it is perfectly suited for retail, direct store delivery, field service, government, logistics and transportation applications to print invoices and receipts, tickets and estimates, work orders and other vouchers.
The possibility of encoding multiple types of data on a single RFID tag is becoming a reality. A recent study conducted by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) that involved General Motors and Grupo Antolin reveals its feasibility, and this will enable the use of RFID for tracking reusable containers. The multiple data types include user information and a unique item identifier (UII). Both these will help multiple players in the automotive supply chain in encoding and using the tags for their own specific requirements.
The study will help the entire auto industry since automakers, suppliers of parts and logistics firms would all be able to benefit from a common set of tags, instead of having to invest in tags of their own for data catering to their needs. This was highlighted by a staff researcher of the General Motors Research and Development Division, Fangming Gu. He stated that all the information required like the UII, sequence numbers of containers, container ID etc could be stored on an EPC Gen 2 tag that has a user memory between 512 bits and 2 kilobits. This will also resolve the auto industry’s problem with the high cost of RFID tags, which has been a major impediment in the implementation of RFID technology in the industry. While there is a distinct preference for customized tags holding information meant exclusively for their requirements, the concept of having a tag containing information relevant for all users, could transform the way these businesses work.
In 2005 a presentation was made at the AIAG AutoTech Conference about how $750 million was lost every year since barrels, boxes, pallets and reusable containers were lost or misplaced. This presentation inspired the research study according to Bill Hoffman, the leader of the project and the founder, managing director of Hoffman Systems, an RFID and barcode software integration company. One way this loss could be minimized
is to somehow increase supply chain visibility by using identification labels on reusable containers that are read when they change hands. The labels cannot be barcodes because the information stored on barcodes cannot be changed once they are printed. RFID technology would be the ideal solution but the high tag cost was a major deterrent. This led to the investigation of finding ways to use the same tag to supply all the requirements of all the supply chain participants. This would minimize the number of tags used by every container.
The tag had to be able to hold two different types of data and to check whether a single physical tag would be able to do so, the first attempt was at programming an EPCglobal serialized Global Returnable Asset Identifier(GRAI) into the distinctive item identifier memory bank of the tag. This was followed by the encoding of the ISO-based data identifier information into the tag’s user memory bank.
The study was aimed at proving that data from the RFID tags could be used by multiple users from suppliers, companies and transporters. For instance, an end user could enter an ID number found in the software, find its link to the container ID and get details about how the container was transported or where it was last used. They would also be able to get details about the containers in transit, any delays in the shipments and so on.
Based on these findings of the study, the automotive industry are contemplating the use of RFID for tracking reusable containers, but have yet to take the first step. A recommendation for a B-11 automotive item level RFID standard is being formulated by AIAG’s Pallet and Lid Committee.
Temporary RFID interrogators were installed at three different places as part of the study. The initial plan was to install two at supplier plants and one at a receiving plant. However, some damages prevented this and instead one was installed at the entry/exit gate of the Grupo Antolin’s Lake Orion Sequencing Center, in order to track the containers entering or leaving the facility for the Marlette assembly plant. The second interrogator from Motorola was also placed at the Lake Orion Sequencing Center to read tags that were attached to containers shipped from and to the GM plant and also from Grupo Marlette. The tags used were a type of Gen 2 EPC ultra high frequency with 512 bits of user memory. One tag was attached to each returnable asset.
The first step was to fit RFID tags on to Grupo Antolin’s racks and place them one on top of the other in a trailer. As they moved out of Marlette, they were read once, and a second time as they entered the Lake Orion premises. The next step was to encode the tags with the GRAI and trailer number, and link the tag ID in the software to the product part number and the quantity. Each of the tags was placed in a pouch that had a printed shipping label and attached to the container. At Grupo Antolin’s Lake Orion facility, the tags got encoded with sequence numbers and then shipped to the GM assembly plant. Here they were unloaded and the empty containers returned to the Sequencing Center where the tags were read one more time.
In real life applications the tag data stored in MB11 memory would be erased after the racks have been unloaded and be rewritten with new information.
The tags used in the study included Squiggle and TIE inlays from Alien, Portumus-I from Starport Technologies and IT 65 from Intermec. Intermec’s CN3 and IP30 RFID handheld interrogators were used to show that the tag’s MB01 and MB11 memory could be read as and when required. The handhelds were also used to change the MB11 data randomly. This was meant to show that in-service reprogramming was possible. They were able to prove that both memories MB01 and MB11 are readable at very fast speeds. The three fixed interrogators read the tags at observed rates of 100 per cent. The total number tagged and tracked included 250 racks owned by Grupo Antolin and 50 owned by GM.
The readers functioned from a 15 ft range and in the process picked up stray tags as well from other moving vehicles. This could be prevented by shielding or using the antenna by placing them in a better manner.
Small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe will now be able to get assistance in comprehending and leveraging the potential benefits of RFID technology from a new EU funded project that is starting in May and will be operational from the next two years. The biggest advantage of RFID technology is that it makes real time data collection easy with no need for physical contact or line of sight alignment. The project will be managed by UEAPME, the European craft and the SME employers’ organization. It will operate across six European countries coordinating eight pilots in multiple sectors, and the sole aim of the RFID-ROI-SME project is to enhance the adoption levels of RFID technology in SMEs.
The project is aimed at helping both the manufacturers and users of RFID technology. It will promote the use of RFID technology in the SMEs so that they can benefit from all the advantages it offers, and at the same time create a demand so that manufacturers have adequate business opportunities. It will be able to show how RFID is beneficial across various business sectors and in diverse cases with the aid of case studies, blue prints and best practices.
The project has Sebastiano Toffaletti as its coordinator who feels that RFID has enormous potential which has yet not been tapped by SMEs in the EU. The goal of the project is to assist in accomplishing this at individual company level and for the EU as a whole, so that it can take the lead in the process of technological change.
The popularity of RFID is linked to price considerations. Considered an expensive technology to adopt, a major chunk of the expenditure in this field comes from large corporations. This can be attributed to the resource crunch often faced by SMEs. However, prices of RFID equipment are consistently coming down, but till they fall below a certain level there will not be sufficient demand from SMEs. Once that happens, the mass market will bring the required shift.
The project will highlight not just the benefits of RFID but also deal with the threats posed by it. Advantages include easier traceability of products and services, better document tracking, reduction of delays and losses, and optimization of logistical processes. However its threats include the theft of information stored about patients and individuals, and the potential harmful effects of radio magnetic waves when attached to human wrists.
With the intention of ensuring that SMEs in the EU remain highly competitive in the global arena, the European Commission’s Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program has selected eight companies from six countries to run the pilot projects for introducing RFID at SMEs. The coordinator of the program is UEAPME which will manage the consortium and ensure standardization of procedures and processes adopted by the pilots. The project has adopted a horizontal approach involving sectors as varied as logistics, plastics, construction, packaging, apparel, archiving, e-ticketing and security.
Each sector has to evaluate how profitable an investment in RFID can be, and which would be the ideal technological architecture to adopt. Monthly updates about the progress of the project will be posted on a website www.rfid-roi-sme.eu, and will also carry all detailed information about the project.
RFID or Radio Frequency Identification was first used for retail operations by Wal-Mart, and consequent to its success, other retailers are trying to use this technology beyond the warehouse. RFID technology uses radio tags as a means of identifying products and services, and Wal-Mart used them for keeping track of all that was stored in warehouses. This led to improved tracking systems and it turned out to be a more efficient way of handling warehouse supplies. Based on this successful exercise, Wal-Mart decided to use RFID technology in shop floors as well.
The Wal-Mart experiment was duplicated by other leading retail chains as well. This also meant additional budgetary allocations for implementing this technology and suppliers of RFID pushed for the benefits it offered for accuracy in tracking products. Thus RFID began to gain popularity as a method of improving supply chain management and inventory control, which would eventually yield results in term of lower costs.
Research conducted by the Sam M. Walton College of Business linked with the University of Arkansas showed an average accuracy level of 62% for apparel inventories, but implementing RFID technology increased the level to 95%. Accuracy in inventory operations will lead to a sales surge because exact details of stocks will be available. According to statistics collected by Dr Bill Hardgrave, Director of the RFID Research Center at the same university, the use of RFID technology helped to increase sales by at least 2-5%. It also enables retailers to track misplaced and stolen and get to know as soon as that happens. This reveals the ability of the technology to increase product and item visibility, and also of processes involved in inventory management.
Some of the leading radio tag manufacturers include Alien Technology, Texas Instruments and Motorola. Radio tags are generally the size of a pinhead and various types of these manufactured to be either attached to the hangtags of garments, sewn inside the garments, or even used with an adhesive and placed on the outfit in question. These can then be tracked with readers similar to barcode scanners. These are some of the numerous ways of implementing RFID technology in a retail organization.
The potential of RFID
The potential of RFID is yet to be fully realized, and analysts believe this technology to be in its adolescent stage that has not found its rightful niche. This is because retailers are only just starting to use it and understand its phenomenal potential. RFID tags can offer customers some benefits like:
• getting in touch with sales personnel while trying out an outfit
• Contacting friends on Facebook or other networks while in a trial room of a store.
The store or retail outlet will be able to use RFID tags to get more customer inputs by getting access to the products they pick up, what they try and so on. Eventually they will be able to issue customer loyalty cards that will be loaded all types of information about the customer from the retailer’s point of view.
RFID systems from the company Xterprise are being tried and tested for the last one year by the Los Angeles based American Apparel. The results have been very positive but many initial loopholes are being plugged before the system can be completely implemented to yield even better results.
What is evident is that RFID systems have made into the retail segment but have yet to unleash their full potential. Thus they are positively an instrument for the future. As the technology and the systems get perfected, costs are consistently coming down. For instance, the price of radio tags has reduced from 30 cents to even as low as 9 cents, as found by IDC Retail Insights, a market research organization in Framingham, Massachusetts. Adopting the RFID system and implementing it is however, still confined to richer companies with larger funds at their disposal. This is because the cost involved could range between £2000 to £20,000. This is despite the fact that the expense incurred is recovered within a 6-12 month period with enhanced traceability, increased sales and all the other benefits of RFID technology. The technology will be universally applicable only when costs fall to as low as a penny for a radio tag, and is affordable by all the players in the retail sector. Till such a time comes it may remain a luxury meant for a privileged few top retailers.
E-pedigree or electronic pedigree is the name given to the standard serialized track and trace system used in the pharmaceutical supply chain in countries like the U.S. The country’s GS1 Healthcare Secure Supply Chain Task Force has created a pharmaceutical supply chain model that fits in as a section of its program called 2015 Readiness. This program includes 50 companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain and is attempting to trace the movement of all pharmaceutical products from the manufacturing facility to the final drug store, including electronic data captured along the way, stored and later shared. A simulated supply chain is being developed with the aid of 65 personnel from 50 pharmaceutical companies. It will be run on software used by companies that have adopted the Six Sigma processes for higher efficiency levels. The software enables users to map a complete supply chain and send products with unique identification codes on RFID tags or 2D barcodes. The program will help to develop a model that can be used by anyone and everyone in the pharmaceutical industry responsible for logistics, packaging, IT, manufacturing, retail pharmacies and wholesalers as well. It is simulating a forward moving supply chain, and is being modified to also incorporate problems like returns and recalls.
The e-pedigree law is likely to come into force in 2105 in California, and it will make it mandatory to have all kinds of information about every pharmaceutical product. Details required will include product description, place of origin, date of expiry, each sale or trade of the drug in question, the date of each along with the names and addresses of the involved parties.
The 50 participating companies include not just drug manufacturers, but also distributors, retailers and healthcare groups, all of them being members of the GS1 Group. The simulated supply chain being created is keeping in mind the requirements of the e-pedigree law as its gradually moves towards completion. The entire supply chain simulation has not yet been completed. This was stated by the director of the GS1 Healthcare US, Robert Celeste, who also said that the group may incorporate additional steps in the model as it moves ahead. This may include, for instance, staging areas where products wait temporarily while waiting to change hands at some point in the supply chain to check for compliance with the e-pedigree norms. This staging area is not currently part of the supply chain, but may have to be incorporated at a later date.
The group’s work can be seen by those aiming to use the model for implementing the e-pedigree regulation in 2015 at a two hour mini workshop being planned at GS1’s UConnect 2010 conference in San Antonio, Texas on June 8th. The workshop will explain its achievements for the simulation and all that it has found.
The model will be close to completion by the fall of 2010 and two day workshops will be offered by GS1 to give members of the pharmaceutical supply chain to get more details about the model. It will also reveal its tasks ahead, namely, resolving the issue of recalls and returns. The aim of the workshop is to familiarize the potential players in the industry with the working of the e-pedigree system, the possible challenges of using the simulation software, and the ability of the organization to use the system and understand it fully. Thus they will understand how to trace a missing item in the supply chain and what to do about it.
The e-pedigree law will help reduce incidence of counterfeiting, theft, expiration of drugs delayed at a point in the supply chain, invoice disputes and other issues, all of which will make the system more efficient.
The California Board of pharmacy requires that by 2015, manufacturers are able to apply a 2D barcode or RFID tag to at least 50% of the products meant for California, encoding the label or tag with a serial number linked to the product, expiry data and manufacturer’s name. The remaining fifty percent must be completed by 2016, and the system must be in use for inputting data. The deadline for 2017 is to make the e-pedigree system fully operational to identify the product when it reaches its destination.
Conversions for e-pedigree compliance are already picking up and manufacturers are already making plans and setting targets.
IT organizations are set to receive huge benefits from the latest two new managed services announced by the Enterprise Mobility Solutions business of Motorola. These include the Managed Infrastructure Service and the Managed Device Service, and both will enable IT companies to successfully resolve the complexities of managing multi-vendor wireless devices and networks. They will also be able to make mobility solutions available to a larger number of enterprise and government customers. Motorola managed services will bring benefits like lower cost of ownership, predictable uptime, faster response and restore times on detection of faults, and also provide asset investment protection. The new Managed Infrastructure Service is a combination of AirDefense Infrastructure Management and Network Assurance solutions. This enables IT companies and customers with limited IT resources to gain access to facilities like highly available remote monitoring, management and problem solving of their wireless LAN. Motorola’s Managed Device Service forms part of the company’s Device Management Framework that enables the company’s Mobility services platform to help customers get comprehensive management of their mobile devices like mobile computers, enterprise digital assistants and barcode scanners. It also provides the expertise to maximize asset availability to every part of the organization.
One of the biggest issues worrying organizations today is being able to maintain control and visibility of their mobile ecosystem. End users of enterprise mobility solutions are always looking for newer delivery, deployment and management models for their mobile solutions. Though the recession made many businesses delay many mobile and wireless investments, it also proved to be the catalyst for the next generation managed service business models.
Motorola’s Managed Infrastructure Service has been able to combine the expertise of the Motorola engineers with the network management skills of the AirDefense Infrastructure Management and Network Assurance solutions. This has given customers the confidence of having their problems resolved in the quickest possible time and with minimal costs incurred. Their selection of this service gets them access to multiple services customized to meet their specific customer requirements. These include
• comprehensive 24-hour monitoring and management of WLAN infrastructure,
• proactive problem identification,
• remote troubleshooting for higher network availability , low cost of ownership and maximized performance
• Fault management and monitoring of wireless infrastructure for anomalies
• Configuration management activities to change existing deployment and new ones
• Reporting and advice for network optimization
• Software release management services
• Professional hardware repair and replacement services
The Motorola Managed Device Service helps to keep devices in proper running condition, time based actions like profile management and problem identification and resolution during downtime to save working time. Remote reset and reboot of devices is also possible, remote device diagnostics help to ensure device availability and functionality, and fault identification also becomes easy. The service also helps to track and maintain detailed information about each mobile device. This enables organizations to keep track of all their assets, get detailed insights about their operational environment and thus optimize business and get better returns on investments. Incase of theft, devices can be tracked and also wiped clean of sensitive data to avoid misuse. Software updates can also be remotely installed without staff needing to spend time on this exercise.
Motorola’s vast experience in managing wireless systems like large two-way radio networks to wireless broadband solutions customized for users. The company is now set to manage wireless devices for their customers to simplify processes and give the customers the comfort of having their devices under the care of qualified technicians who are experts in their fields. These services are currently available in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa through Motorola sales and members of the Partner Empower Channel Program.
Zebra has now offered a solution for in-house ID card printing with its QuikCard Printer. The solution lies in the P110i for one-sided Id cards and the P120i two-sided model for ID cards having magnetic strip encoding capabilities. The Zebra QuikCard is a color printer that comes loaded with free software with templates that complete printing process from the start to the finish. Updates for the software can be loaded as and when they are available. It also provides the option of printing cards directly from an excel sheet or database. The Zebra QuikCard ID Solution software enables quick upload of data and this makes the printing of cards even easier.
The printer also comes with a security camera. The Logitech Business Webcam is part of the hardware kit and this also helps to resolve compatibility issues. The camera also enables the organization to take pictures and instantly upload them and print them on the ID card making it more personalized for an employee or a visitor. The Printer also comes with a USB digital webcam along with supplies for producing 200 cards when the printer is purchased. This simplifies the initial operation of the Zebra QuikCard printer. The blank cards provided are durable and have a smooth printing surface since they are made out of PVC. The cards for the P110i are plain while those packed with the P120i have a magnetic strip at the back. The printers can also be used to print barcodes on the cards for security and data purposes.
The Zebra QuikCard ID solution is an all-in-one kit for meeting all ID card printing requirements of offices and organizations. Some of the principal features of the printer include:
• Superior quality 300 dpi printing resolution
• LCD command display
• Fast printing, 30 seconds by the P110i and 40 seconds by the P120i
• Free software in 8 languages
• Compatible with Windows Vista, 200, 7 XP and Server 2003
• Feeder capacity of 100 cards
• Hopper capacity of 45 cards
