Purchase and use of the wrong warehouse paging system amounts to wasted investment. This in itself is demoralizing but there are other possible downsides to contend with, including:
- Overload
- Bad Customer Service
- Safety Risks
- Falling Short of Compliance & Regulatory Standards
- Operational Delays
- Increased Downtime
- Low Morale and Frustration for Employees
- Noise Pollution
These are only a few as several others can play out. In the spirit of purchasing and using the right warehouse paging system, knowledge of some key features is required. Thankfully, you will be exposed to some of the features provided you continue reading.
Must-Have Features for an Optimal Warehouse Paging System
Sadly, purchasing and using the wrong warehouse paging system is possible. Many facilities have found themselves in this situation and have had to deal with numerous downsides involved.
However, the good news is that making the right choice is a huge possibility. This is guaranteed if you understand some of the key features of these systems and how they benefit your facility. To this end, some of the said features include the following:
1. Pre-Recording Functionality
Some messages do not need to be instantly broadcast. They are required for much later, but it would help if pre-recording is possible. Such a feature is important for consistency and time efficiency.
2. Communication in Real-Time
Pre-recording capacity is vital as mentioned in the aforementioned point, but so also is the possibility of communicating in real-time. It should be such that delays would not be experienced in the course of communication.
This is a major requirement in the spirit of ensuring that various personnel in these environments are in contact with each other. Overall, it is a necessity for effective task management and optimal coordination.
3. Zoning Capabilities
Effective messaging is also about who gets to hear what is being said. To this end, there are messages in such facilities that are not meant for everyone.
As a result, passing across certain messages to sections of people who do not require them would only amount to disturbance. This is also beside the fact that some messages are too sensitive or confidential to be shared with everyone.
All these prove that zoning capabilities are an important feature of these systems. So, ensure that whatever is purchased and utilized offers this as well.
4. Multi-System Integration
A warehouse paging system is important for warehouse facilities and some other settings. However, it is not the only system required for effective and efficient operations in these facilities.
WMS (Warehouse Management System) is another required system and a very important one at that. If you would like to find out more about what it is about, you can watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_grpOkkd8p8.
The point is that warehouse paging systems can offer a lot more if they allow for third-party integration. Thankfully, several top-quality options allow for this. By the way, some of the systems that they can be integrated with include:
- ERP – Enterprise Resource Management
- TMS – Transportation Management System
- AGV – Automated Guided Vehicle
- Security & Surveillance
- Health & Safety
- Dock Scheduling
- Energy Management
- Forklift Management
- Barcode & RFID
- Inventory Management
Frankly, there are a lot more than can be mentioned here. Furthermore, the peculiarities of your operations and industry should be factored in when making choices based on integration capabilities.
For one, this is because your facility would not need all of these systems but specific ones. So, ensure that any warehouse paging system that is being considered can integrate well with specific systems required for enhanced operations in your facility.
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5. Durability
What a warehouse paging system offers is important. All of the aforementioned as well as subsequent points drive home this point. However, how long it offers the benefits that it offers is equally important.
In other words, it should be durable. An option that does not serve your best interest for a long period would only amount to a wasted investment.
Bearing this in mind, understand the demands of using such in your facility. For example, there could be serious exposure to temperature variations, dust, and even moisture in some warehouses and industrial facilities. As a result, the ideal warehouse paging system for use in such environments are option that can handle these harsh conditions.
6. Scalability
It is not uncommon for warehouses to increase the scale of their operations. This usually means the use of larger spaces and engaging more hands for increased productivity.
As a result, a warehouse paging system that would still serve its purpose if this happens is required. The same goes for situations regarding reduced spaces and fewer workers. In other words, the right warehouse paging system should be very flexible or scalable. Things like volume adjustment play a huge role in ensuring the scalability or flexibility of these systems.
7. Multi-Channel Support
Voice messaging is the traditional communication approach with this system. However, more is offered when it supports the use of texts and even alarms. The flexibility that comes with using such ensures that preferred options can be used for messaging in these settings.
8. Usable Interface
It should be very easy to figure out how to use this system. This is why having an interface that is easy to use is very important, as messages can be properly, easily, and quickly sent. Overall, this helps in preventing communication errors and downtimes.
9. Battery Backup
A lot of warehouse paging systems (primarily) run on electricity. This means that their functionality is affected when there is a power outage.
Regardless of how rare power outages may be in some places and settings, they are always a possibility no matter how slim the chances are. For this reason, it makes a lot of sense to purchase and use warehouse paging systems that have battery backup features.
By the way, this is not only applicable to this system but in several contexts. You can read this article for more insight on this.
Wrap Up
You cannot afford to get the wrong warehouse paging system considering the several downsides that come with making the wrong choice. As a result, 9 key features expected of ideal options have been shared here. These key features should therefore inform your choice whenever the need arises.
