Beverage Distributor Lowers Costs with Intermec and Vocollect Solution

The leading beverage distributor in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest area of the U.S.,  The Odom Corporation, has deployed the Intermec CK3 mobile computer featuring Vocollect Voice.  The solution enhances operational efficiencies, inventory accuracy, worker productivity, and reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the mobile systems in Odom’s warehouse.

“Odom sells over 1,700,000 cases of varied products each month and processes an average of 4,500 orders a day. We needed a reliable, flexible solution that would mitigate errors and enable us to increase the volume of orders fulfilled,” said Julie Taylor, manager of Mobile Systems, The Odom Corporation. “Intermec was the clear choice because of the durability, speed, and robust feature set of their devices and partner solutions that decrease our hardware costs while increasing mobile workers’ capabilities.”

During the day, Odom uses the CK3 in tandem with the Retalix Power Warehouse WMS to replenish and check inventory. Using the CK3’s EX25 Near/Far 2D Imager engine, Odom mobile workers are able to read 1D and 2D barcodes, omni-directionally up to 50 feet away. The EX25 greatly increases image quality and scanning speeds, and as a result, Odom’s operational efficiencies.

At night, Odom uses Vocollect Voice software running on the CK3 with Vocollect headsets to load trucks. Using the two-way voice application, which is supported by the CK3’s 802.11a/b/g radio, mobile workers can operate the CK3 in “hands free” mode – improving productivity, safety, accuracy and operational efficiency. This capability empowers Odom to consolidate the multiple devices used with the previous solutions into a single device, significantly reducing TCO.

The Intermec CK3 mobile computer is ideal for rugged environments, providing future investment protection by delivering high performance for critical mainline applications along with the flexibility to easily add capabilities like voice/speech, on-demand mobile label and receipt printing, and RFID.

Vocollect Voice transforms the Intermec CK3 into a voice-directed, hands-free system, providing users with highly efficient and intuitive voice commands and input. Vocollect’s industry-leading voice systems have been specifically developed to run on rugged mobile computers like the CK3 and to perform optimally in noisy distribution center/warehouse environments.

“Customers across various verticals – like retail, consumer goods, healthcare and manufacturing – have deployed and leveraged the CK3’s scanning, voice, wireless communication and data collection capabilities to best match their various operational tasks,” said Earl Thompson, senior vice president & general manager of the Intermec Mobile Solutions Business Unit. “The combination of the CK3 with Vocollect Voice software truly results in a flexible solution that excels in warehouse environments and delivers the bottom-line benefits that companies are looking for in today’s challenging times.”