From scanning inventory when it first enters the warehouse to tracking parcels out for delivery, devices are heavily relied on by the transport and logistics (T&L) sector. When devices go offline or when applications malfunction, multiple points of the supply chain can be disrupted. As a result, staff productivity can be severely hindered.
This lost time quickly adds up. New data from SOTI reveals that T&L workers each lose an average of 11 hours a month to device issues. This is costly for companies, especially during the festive shopping season when demand is high.
SOTI’s data suggests that a lack of visibility may be the root of the problem. Over a third of workers reported an inability to identify downtime issues and fix them quickly as a key source of delays.
Coupled with ongoing labour shortages, this makes visibility, or a lack thereof, a crucial factor for businesses to address. Without doing so, goods can’t be delivered as efficiently and seamlessly as possible.
Tackling Tech Stress
A big part is making sure that employees have the necessary tools for their role. Vitally, those tools must also be charged, updated and ready to go. Yet, SOTI’s study found that over half (54%) of UK workers are experiencing increased stress due to device issues impacting their ability to get on with their job. This includes fast battery drain and apps being slow to load or not working at all. Much of this could be avoided if logistics businesses could take stock of their full fleet of company devices. Doing so would allow them to better monitor health and performance.
Another issue is the rising trend of device swapping within organisations. Almost three-quarters (71%) of respondents reported that device swapping was becoming more common. This is due to scanners being uncharged or not working, or there not being enough to go around.
While SOTI found that 82% of workers feel adequately trained in data security, this culture of sharing devices increases the risk of data breaches as employees may gain access to sensitive information not required for their role. This can be prevented if each employee has their own well-managed, working device. Central visibility also means that if a device becomes lost or stolen, it can be tracked and locked down immediately.
Combatting E-Waste
In addition to battling downtime, workforces are expecting more from their employers when it comes to sustainability, and some are even willing to walk out the door. SOTI’s report found that half of T&L employees would leave their jobs if their employer was not doing enough to protect the environment. And one of the biggest preventable issues is e-waste.
There needs to be a bigger spotlight on how businesses repair, reuse and improve existing devices as too many are thrown away for ‘shiny, newer’ models, simply because it’s easier. This rip and replace culture of devices needs to be addressed from a wider environmental perspective but the enterprise mobility industry has a huge role to play. By enabling better visibility and quick, remote fixes, organisations can reduce the swap mentality and focus on identifying device issues upfront.
This not only contributes to a more sustainable tech ecosystem but helps improve employee morale, enhance operational efficiency and bolster security.
Road to Success
We’ve seen this in action through our work with logistics provider, DPD Ireland. DPD has a network of over 300 delivery vans and drivers within its network of depots. The company manages up to 25,000 parcels every single day. And this volume doubles during peak periods like Christmas. Due to these high volumes, it needed to ensure its devices were up to the task, allowing its workforce to get on with the job. With SOTI, DPD gained instant visibility over operations throughout the complete job cycle. Immediately, they began receiving updates on the state of devices so that issues could be dealt with quickly.
The Top Five Benefits of Increased Device Visibility:
- Security. The T&L sector can ensure the security, compliance and protection of sensitive data by locking down managed devices. Critically, this can be done from any location at any time.
- Deployment. Companies can rapidly deploy devices, content and apps, out to their fleet of devices.
- Tracking assets. Real-time tracking allows businesses to see the location and status of assets, so operations can continue to run smoothly.
- Increased productivity. Reduced downtime from device issues means staff can focus on getting the job done.
- Reduced e-waste. With access to device diagnostics and intelligence, managers can make more informed decisions on whether a device needs to be replaced or simply repaired.
- Digital Supply Chain