By 2020, it is estimated there will be a 76% increase in the volume of online orders; and by 2021, 78% of logistics providers will be expected to offer same-day delivery.
Zebra Technologies, specialists in enterprise-level data capture and automatic identification solutions, intends to address these demands with its latest mobile computer – the MC9300, supported by an Android operating system (OS).
As Microsoft prepares to end support for existing Windows Embedded Handheld/CE 7 devices in 2020 and 2021 respectively, Zebra believes its new product will provide the best path to transition from legacy Windows OS to Android.
“With more than 3.2million MC9000 mobile computers sold since 2003,” Joe White, Vice President and General Manager Enterprise Mobile Computing at Zebra said, “we took our best-selling and most-trusted enterprise-class mobile computer and looked to provide businesses with an easy migration path from Windows to Android.”
The device includes the latest Qualcomm chipset that supports an extensible platform for application development and assures a minimum of two Android OS upgrades for a significantly lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
The intention behind the MC9300 is to give a performance edge to those on the front lines of business in warehouses, manufacturing, logistics and back-of-store retail environments.
“When we’re developing a product like this, we go to warehouses and observe,” explained CTO and Director of User Experience, James Morley-Smith.
“What we’ve noticed is the harshness of these environments, whether that’s temperature or treatment of the device itself.” He gave multiple examples, from devices being forcefully placed into the holders, to being dropped from great heights. “One was even deep fried!” He said.
This has led Zebra to create a highly robust mobile computer designed to be virtually water, drop, dust and tumble-proof.
Features such as ultra-strong Gorilla Glass and an intuitive enclosure with protruding edges protect the screen, while different versions of the device have been created for specific environments. For example, a version of the MC9300 suitable for cold-storage (down to -30°) includes a system of heaters and a freezer rate battery; and a Class 1 Division 2 (C1D2) model is available for use in hazardous locations.
Morley-Smith said that ease of use was an important feature due to a shift in the labour force. “Companies are using more temporary workers, so reduced training time is vital.”
The device is suitable for a variety of applications such as inventory management, returns processing, quality control and parts tracking.
Its scanning technology can read direct part marks, dot peen and laser-etched barcodes and quickly capture 1D or 2D barcodes in virtually any condition and from three inches to 70 feet, providing flexibility to scan items in small bins or pallets on the uppermost warehouse racks.
To maximise worker efficiency and productivity, the device also comes with a PowerPrecision+ 700mAh battery. On a single charge (with the new charging port) it is capable of running twice as long as its predecessor. However, to enable an easy transition, the latest model of the MC9000 series is also compatible with the MC9200 charging port.
The MC9300 has an optional front and back camera to capture highly detailed photos and videos to document proof of condition and proof of compliance. Moreover, it comes pre-loaded with a Terminal Emulation (TE) application designed to take advantage of the graphical capabilities of the device while easily supporting traditional “green screen” use for seamless migration and reduced deployment times.
Furthermore, it is available with Zebra’s Mobility DNA suite of end-user applications, application development tools and utilities that transform Android into an enterprise-ready OS.
