Datalogic Falcon X3 supports rapid growth at ABS Holdings

Datalogic, the global automatic data capture and industrial automation solutions provider, has announced that leading omni-channel reseller, ABS Holdings, is using the Falcon X3 to improve the company's Hampshire-based pick, pack and shipping operations.

ABS Holdings' search for a solution began after the business outgrew its existing warehouse. The company had experienced some downtime at its previous premises. However, use of the existing system in the new premises degraded to the point of inactivity. "The problem was extremely difficult to diagnose," explained ABS Holdings' Commercial Director, Symon Reeves. "It could occur on any handheld device and at any location on the warehouse floor. Once in the new warehouse, our order picking performance was a cause for concern, going from a constant stream of activity from 7am – 4pm to just one successful pick every 20 minutes."

After receiving the call from ABS Holdings, Datalogic partner Ensign Communications began working closely with the business to help the company correct its faltering warehouse infrastructure. However, despite efforts to relocate access points within the warehouse, the issue of handheld downtime persisted. It was at this stage that Ensign recommended that ABS Holdings needed to consider a refresh of its end-of-life handheld estate as the next logical and necessary step in its warehouse transformation.

"Given the increased volume of shipping we were experiencing it was crucial to get this right," stated Reeves. Ensign Communications loaned a number of devices to ABS Holdings from a range of rugged handheld manufacturers including Datalogic. These handhelds offered the warehouse staff the full portfolio of possible features and form factors, such as screen types and sizes, touchscreens, various keyboard options and even PDA-style devices.

After just one week of the four-week loan period, ABS Holdings' staff and their management selected the Datalogic Falcon X3, preferring its combination of rugged ergonomic design, QWERTY keyboard and high-performance long range 2D imaging capabilities.

With the new Datalogic handheld terminals in place and running perfectly alongside re-positioned access points, the headaches for ABS Holdings were over and the business could get back to its normal levels of picking, packing and shipping. "We have taken the warehouse to a place it has never been – the system works perfectly," said Reeves.

Steve Clapham, Sales Manager for T&L at Datalogic UK&I, concluded: "Wireless connectivity is a vital component of any mobile computing solution installed inside the four walls of the warehouse. With enormous variances in productivity at stake, we are pleased that ABS Holdings were able to find a robust solution utilising the Falcon X3 and the services of our partner Ensign Communications."