In the pursuit of faster throughput and precise handling of goods, warehouses and distribution centers are continuously exploring ways to enhance productivity and minimize operational expenses.
A key to this in warehouse management is dimensioning – accurately measuring the size of inbound and outbound boxes and pallets.
Dimensioning Systems
Static dimensioners
A solution suited for small boxes or certain-sized pallets is traditional static dimensioning, but it comes with limitations such as:
- low mobility throughout a warehouse,
- a need for a designated dimensioning area.
Static dimensioning systems require boxes and pallets to be taken to a designated area for dimensioning. This naturally translates to employees having to walk or drive additional distances.
These limitations lead to strain on warehouse workers and slower throughput, among other factors.
Mobile dimensioners
One of the most important factors of how mobile dimensioning can boost productivity in warehousing is through mobility.
Mobile automated dimensioning systems eliminate the need for a designated dimensioning area, which reduces the use of forklifts for a now redundant task. This allows for items to be dimensioned anywhere within a warehouse and taken straight to the storage area.
Object Types & Hardware Cost
Companies that offer static dimensioning systems have multiple products for different purposes, such as a dimensioner for pallets, a dimensioner for large boxes, and a dimensioner for small boxes.
While these solutions can cost several thousand euros, if you require a dimensioner for all sizes of pallets and boxes, which is typically the case for most warehouses, the cost of acquiring these solutions can be prohibitively expensive.
Mobile dimensioning systems enable dimensioning of boxes and pallets of all sizes, making it possible to use a single solution for all purposes.
Features
Static dimensioning systems’ one and only purpose are to dimension the boxes or pallets, which means that the lack of features leads to limitations that impact warehouse productivity. With a mobile dimensioning solution, you can choose your own customizable workflow which fits your operations.
Proof of dimensions
Often the dimensions of a pallet or a parcel directly impact the shipping price. In these cases, often there are discussions between the carrier and customer about the dimensions of the shipment, as these discussions can determine the cost of transportation.
However, by providing actual evidence of the measured dimensions of the box or a pallet, any debates regarding the size of the shipment can be eliminated.
The carrier can ensure that they are charging the correct transportation fees, and the shippers can avoid any unexpected costs.
Barcode scanning
Mobile dimensioning systems offer the additional advantage of integrating barcode scanning into the workflow, enabling you to scan and link barcodes with EAN codes and pallet IDs, while simultaneously integrating dimensional data into your WMS, TMS, or ERP.
Quality control
Goods can get damaged during transport, but since mobile dimensioning systems take an image of the products during dimensioning – either of a pallet or a box – shippers can provide proof that the box or pallet was in a certain condition upon arrival and before transport.
In that case, the discussion arises if the goods were damaged before or during shipping. With a picture and a timestamp, you can protect yourself as a shipper.
Constraint information
Mobile dimensioning systems allow users to add any constraints they want for a specific box or pallet, such as:
- Stacking information in case items cannot be stacked upon each other due to weight or fragility.
- “This side up” information in case items cannot be transported in any other vertical rotation.
- Rotational information in case items can or cannot be transported in other vertical or horizontal rotations.
- Fragile information in case items must be handled with more care and transported with additional blocking and bracing.
These constraints make it easier to manage inventory according to specific warehouse requirements. This functionality ensures that items are stored and transported in the most efficient and safe manner possible.
In addition to the constraints mentioned above, mobile dimensioning systems also allow users to indicate whether the item being dimensioned is a single SKU (Stock Keeping Unit), a master carton with a specific quantity of items inside, or a full pallet.
By knowing the exact quantity of items on a pallet or in a master carton, you can easily plan for storage and transportation, as well as anticipate the need for additional orders or replenishment.
Transport cost calculation
Receive instant transport cost calculations based on your carrier contracts right after receiving the dimensional data of your boxes and pallets.
This real-time information allows you to make informed decisions about transportation costs. By integrating your carrier contracts with a dimensioning system, you can ensure that you are aware of the shipping rates and that your shipping costs are accurately reflected in your invoice auditing.
Integration
Mobile dimensioning systems can be integrated with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, making it easier to manage inventory and ensure accurate invoice auditing.
By integrating with these systems, mobile dimensioning enables warehouses to automate order fulfillment and increase efficiency in the supply chain.
Mobile dimensioning systems can be integrated along with other solutions such as pallet load building and truck load building, providing a holistic approach to supply chain optimization.
This integration reduces the amount of time and effort required to load and unload trucks, ensuring smoother and more efficient logistics operations and allowing you to create optimized pallet and truckloads based on the dimensions and weights of the items to be shipped.
Conclusion
Customize the process of dimensioning and your workflow with the feature sequence that suits your operations.
Optioryx's mobile dimensioning system can be used in warehouses of any size, from small facilities to large distribution centers.
This makes it a flexible and scalable solution that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of any warehouse operation.
A unified solution for your warehouse operations.
