How to Tell if Your Headset is Really Enterprise Ready

Order picking can consume over half of a warehouse’s total operational costs. Serving as the backbone of effective distribution, order-picking workflows require careful attention to detail and speed. Perhaps this is why supply chains are steadily migrating away from traditional manual verification systems to adopt reliable automation. Barcode scanning technology has redefined the modern warehouse by automating repetitive tasks, but the limits of automation continue to expand. Going beyond point-and-shoot scanning, voice technologies combine audible cues and hands-free scanning for easy implementation and maximized worker comfort. While much time should be spent on selecting a viable scanner, the same can be said for your solution’s headset. 

When integrating speech-driven applications and voice solutions in the supply chain, enterprise headsets are vital to support collaboration and lower operational costs. To verify if your headset is enterprise-ready, look for the following features in your device:

• Dependable audio quality for cordless and corded models – Warehouses can be loud, which is why your enterprise-grade headset should incorporate noise-cancellation technology to eliminate background noise and deliver high-definition audio for improved clarity.
• Flexible for maximized worker movement – Choose between cordless and corded setups to make sure your team can still travel seamlessly throughout the warehouse without losing connectivity. 
• Rugged durability to handle drops – There is a strong chance that headsets will be dropped frequently, which is why an enterprise headset should be able to handle up to 6ft drops and tumbles to concrete. 
• Adaptable for different environments – Higher IP sealings ensure your headsets remain dustproof, spray-proof, and waterproof. For workflows involving low temperatures such as cold storage, consider selecting freezer-ready devices capable of surviving in temperatures as low as -22°F.
• Prioritized worker comfort – Allow workers to customize wearing styles with boom swivels and over-the-head placements for greater mobility. Detachable microphones also help lower operation costs as warehouses don’t need to purchase complete headsets for every worker. 
  
  

How Zebra’s HS3100 Headset Exceeds Expectations

As the leader in innovative technology, Zebra raises the bar in wearable devices with the HS3100. While it possesses the criteria discussed above, the HS3100 also empowers distribution centers with: 

• Seamless swappable batteries so you can recharge headsets without powering down and losing connections with the host device.
• Integrated NFC capabilities for split-second tap-to-pair. 
• Support for HD Voice to add two and a half octaves of voice information for a new level of accuracy. 
• Long-range connectivity so workers can travel as far as 30ft. from their host device.
• Up to 15 hours of battery power for Bluetooth models.

Take a look at our HS3100 headset fact sheet to learn more. 

Though voice technology is expected to keep transforming distribution centers, it is still recommended that warehouses partner with a solution designer to properly match workers with wearable solutions that meet their comfort level. In addition to a headset, your team can also help you integrate wrist-mounted computers and scanners to deliver a complete wearable solution that optimizes order picking.