Efficient material handling processes are the backbone of many warehouses. Material handling systems can impact all aspects of your business, but different equipment for every occasion may not always be necessary. Housing surplus material handling equipment is a common problem that warehouses struggle with, but by streamlining the use of certain machines, you may see numerous benefits to workflow and efficiency. Here, Barclay Brand Ferdon discusses some ways you can be aware of unneeded equipment and how addressing this issue may benefit your business in the long run.

If your business distributes thousands of SKU’s to a high volume of customers, your storage facility’s layout and material handling fleet will determine your operational efficiency and revenue. When these key elements are planned and designed correctly, many companies have experienced an increase in sales as a result.
One of Barclay’s prospects, now a client, came to us after receiving unsatisfactory guidance from another forklift truck provider. They wanted to sell them a truck……we sold them a solution. The company was a small, local company that specialized in outdoor water sports and provided lessons as well. Here’s a closer look at how Barclay Brand Ferdon solved this client’s fulfillment issues.

A 3PL, or third party logistics company, helps manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers with product fulfillment and distribution. One of the main reasons why retailers decide to work with a 3PL is because they value the flexibility. 3PLs can scale up and down as client needs change and accommodate a range of product types. Clients rely on this flexibility because, without it, they could face major problems in their supply chain any time something changes.
When thinking about adapting and restructuring, a lot of 3PLs focus on software to help keep them moving forward. Efficiency actually begins with the warehouse equipment and with the workers who are operating them. Barclay Brand Ferdon explores why it’s so important to focus on those things first before prioritizing technology.

More and more warehouse managers are relying on lift truck fleet telemetry to help with everyday oversight. It allows them to monitor safety, efficiency and productivity around the entire warehouse—all in the palm of their hand. If you’re interested in integrating telemetry into your operations, Barclay Brand Ferdon offers a few key insights into the process below.

Understanding Lift Truck Fleet Telemetry
Telemetry is defined as a communications process by which data is collected and wirelessly transmitted to another piece of equipment. In this situation, it means the data from lift trucks can be sent to a manager’s laptop, computer or tablet for review at any time.
When they log on, managers can quickly get all the information they need to keep the warehouse running smoothly. The telemetry system can tell them…

When it’s time for individual truck maintenance
Information about accident occurrences
When employees need to complete their safety training
Labor requirements
Lift Truck Utilization – fleet “right sizing”
And more…

Essentially, telemetry gives managers the data they need to streamline and improve their operation in a simple and convenient way.
Benefits of Using Lift Truck Fleet Telemetry
Telemetry systems help managers be proactive about things going on around the warehouse. If it’s almost time for a lift truck’s regular maintenance, they can schedule it proactively to prevent additional repairs and downtime. Similarly, if an employee isn’t practicing proper safety procedures while operating a machine, they can intervene with additional training before an accident happens.
Other benefits of a lift truck fleet telemetry system include:

Maximize Productivity
Gives easy access to data at any time, so managers are always informed
Makes it easier to uphold safety and maintenance standards
Helps maximize ROI of your assets
Works with almost any lift truck

For example, at Barclay, we offer the Yale Vision telemetry system. Even though it’s designed by Yale, it’s compatible with all OEM brands of lift trucks as well. It is an option on new Lift Trucks or can be added to an existing fleet.
For electric lift trucks, fleet owners should consider industrial battery telemetry. Yale® Battery Vision is a solution that offers insight to better care for your batteries, an often overlooked but expensive asset. By having access to data, batteries can be monitored for better performance and longer life.
Improve Warehouse Efficiency Today
Whether you have 10 lift trucks or 100, adding telemetry will assist in managing your fleet to maximize productivity, improve safety and increase ROI. Contact Barclay Brand Ferdon and ask about getting lift truck fleet telemetry for your warehouse to take advantage of this powerful technology.
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