Why the latest rugged technology is critical for today’s fast-moving logistics sector

Content created in partnership with The Globe and Mail

In today’s technology age, the cab of every truck or delivery van has become a sophisticated mobile office to some extent. This transformation is due in part to rapidly advancing mobile technologies and the development of applications specific to the logistics industry.

Logistics, the movement of goods from manufacturer to warehouse and warehouse to consumer, relies on mobile technology to assist with item tracking, scanning and records management, among other tasks. These activities are critical to the safe and accurate delivery of client goods.

John Corey, president of the Freight Management Association of Canada, says his industry has always required cutting-edge communication and technology to meet its obligations.

“The first telegraph lines were on rail lines and they were used to communicate where trains were,” he says. “Transportation is always pushing communication technology. It makes sense that this sector would embrace mobile technology.”

Today, the freight industry is looking to mobile technology to further streamline its processes. Thanks to the latest mobile computer vision software, barcode scanning is now available in real-time on smartphones and tablets, speeding up the flow of goods and delivery to the consumer.

“You used to require a lot of paperwork to cross the borders — 75 per cent of our exports go to the U.S. — some by train, a lot by truck,” Mr. Corey says. “If you go to the border and you have your paper manifest… it’s extremely time-consuming and the border is already busy enough… If you don’t have it electronically, you get turned away.”

Unloading inefficiency with connected mobile tech

With barcode scanning technology now available on mobile devices, including the Samsung Galaxy rugged lineup, item tracking and data management within the delivery sector has received a huge efficiency boost.

 “Logistics workers are no longer required to carry a separate device to scan barcodes, which is a huge bonus for delivery drivers who are constantly on deadlines, moving from location to location,” says Paul Edwards, vice-president and general manager of enterprise mobility at Samsung Canada.

The Samsung Galaxy rugged lineup – which includes the Galaxy XCover Pro, Galaxy Tab Active Pro and Galaxy Tab Active3 – are all equipped with the Knox Capture[1] enterprise-grade barcode scanning app.

“Workers simply press a pre-programmed button on any Galaxy rugged device to activate the scan, and from there, they can scan multiple items at once. The data retrieved can then be used to update the (tracking) application,” he says.

The other benefit of Knox Capture barcode scanning, says Edwards, is that there’s minimal work for the IT teams who need to deploy the solution. “Knox Capture requires zero coding and integration – it’s truly an out of the box solution,” he notes.

Having accessible mobile technology is key in the logistics industry, where there are multiple checkpoints and links in the delivery chain.

“Having an open, instant line of communication helps workers identify and resolve any issues that may delay the process of getting packages from the warehouse to customers’ doors,” Mr. Edwards says.

To that end, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro smartphone offers a Push-to-Talk, Microsoft Teams Walkie Talkie feature so workers can keep in touch more easily during the order fulfilment process.

With a smartphone or tablet in the truck cab, the driver benefits from a mobile office at his or her fingertips, Mr. Corey says.

“Big companies, who have big fleets, are pushing technology in their trucks. Single operators are being forced to catch up because if they can’t compete with that kind of technology, no one will hire them,” Mr. Corey says.

Built to last from door to door

In addition to rich features and innovative functionality, drivers and warehouse workers require their mobile devices to be rugged, says Edwards.

“If you’re going to have a smartphone or tablet in that environment, it has to be well-protected,” Mr. Corey says. “It can’t break the first time you drop it and it has to be sort of immune to vibration.”

There are inevitable bumps and shocks that come from travelling in a delivery truck, so the devices mounted to drivers’ dashboards need to be able to handle those conditions. According to Edwards, it’s why the Samsung Galaxy rugged lineup was built with military-grade durability, to withstand shocks and vibrations, transit drops and extreme temperatures.[2]

Devices must also be able to withstand the dust and dirt typical of warehouse environments.

“Warehouse workers are not going to spend all their time wiping down and keeping the tablet clean,” Mr. Corey adds. 

The IP68-rating on the Galaxy Tab Active Pro and Galaxy Tab Active3 with included S Pen stylus mean they are resistant to dust and water[3], adds Mr. Edwards.

“This enables delivery workers to capture signatures digitally from customers after a package is delivered, even in the middle of a rainstorm, or make annotations on an electronic waybill form while working in the warehouse,” he says.

The Samsung lineup of rugged devices also has defence-grade security safeguards in place to ensure restricted access to the devices, which comes in handy when transporting classified cargo.

“Even when the devices are powered off, Samsung Knox helps secure business data stored on the devices against intrusion, malware and other malicious threats,” Mr. Edwards says, noting that an added layer of protection is also available through fingerprint scanners and biometric facial recognition software.

“This helps to help further restrict access to only those individuals who have been cleared to handle the device,” he says.

Rugged smartphones and tablets are an important lifeline for delivery drivers and warehouse workers who rely on them to communicate with colleagues and supply consumers with real-time delivery updates.

The devices, and the applications on them, are what make it possible for consumers to receive the updates they now expect, and for the order fulfillment process to run as smoothly as possible.

—

[1] Free trials may be available for these services. Please check www.samsung.com/knox. Additional licenses are required for Knox Configure, Knox Mobile Enrollment, Knox Manage, Knox E-FOTA, Knox Platform for Enterprise, and Knox Capture.

[2] This device passed military specification (MIL-STD-810H – Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests is a United States Military Standard) testing against 23 specific environmental conditions, including transit drop, temperature, dust, shock/vibration, and low pressure/high altitude. Real world usage varies from the specific environmental conditions used in MIL-STD-810H testing. Samsung does not guarantee device performance in all extreme conditions. Please see the inbox Quick Sales Guide.

[3] IP68 rating means that the device is protected against harmful ingress of dust and static fresh water at up to 1.5 m for up to 30 minutes, under certain defined test conditions. According to accredited test results, individual results may vary. Note: IP68 rating does not mean that the device is waterproof.

All images captured pre-Covid-19. Samsung Canada adheres to all local health guidelines regarding physical distancing and face coverings.