Handheld Terminals

When you use handheld terminals, you ensure that the logistics processes in your warehouse run faster and more smoothly. They can be used for various purposes. For example, the terminal can be used to record and transmit product information and/or data. Examples include:

A major advantage of handheld terminals is the ease with which they allow you to scan items quickly and accurately. Handheld terminals are easy to carry and highly portable. You can simply point the scanner at the barcodes you want to scan. The mobility and ease of use of handheld terminals allow for faster and more efficient work, saving both time and money.

There are many different handheld terminals on the market, and not every work situation has the same requirements for a handheld terminal. It is important to choose a handheld terminal that meets the needs of your warehouse or factory.

With the rise of touchscreens and smartphones, the selection of different types of handheld terminals has only grown. They’ve become easier to use thanks to better, more intuitive user interfaces; displays have improved and now feature touchscreens; and processors have become faster. As a result, there are more options available, and you’re more likely to find a terminal that perfectly meets your needs. Selection criteria are determined, among other things, by scanning distance, durability, weight, the need for keyboard input, and the severity of environmental conditions.

The handheld terminal is primarily used as a mobile barcode scanner. But which barcode scanner is best suited for reading the barcodes in your process?

At what distances are barcodes scanned? Are they all scanned from the same distance, or are there different scanning distances? We sometimes encounter situations where barcodes need to be scanned from very close up (just a few centimeters away) to very far away (up to more than 10 meters). And we have handheld terminals that are suitable for these different situations.

The work environment often determines how rugged a handheld terminal needs to be. Some environments require a handheld terminal that is as compact as possible—small and lightweight for easy carrying. In other situations, however, a handheld terminal is needed that can withstand the most demanding environments and temperatures, as well as drops and vibrations.

Does the handheld terminal need to have a keyboard?

Many handheld terminals do not have a physical keyboard. They use an on-screen keyboard. This isn’t always the best approach: sometimes it’s more convenient if the handheld terminal does have a physical keyboard. For example, if the employee is wearing gloves while working, or when data that can’t be scanned needs to be entered regularly. When selecting handheld terminals with a keyboard, there are many different options to consider. Depending on the intended use, customers may prefer more or fewer keys on the keyboard, or the size of the keys may be important for ease of use.

Terminals may sometimes be used in harsh environments. In such cases, it’s wise to choose water- and dust-resistant devices. Or perhaps you’ll be using the handheld terminals in a refrigerated or frozen warehouse? We can advise you on this as well and ensure you choose the handheld terminal that’s best suited to your work environment. DatAction offers a wide variety of handheld terminals from brands such as Zebra, Honeywell, and Datalogic, so you’ll always find what you need.

A handheld terminal in a warehouse or factory is usually connected to a central computer system via a Wi-Fi connection. As a result, the range of the handheld terminal naturally depends on the Wi-Fi network. If there is a stable and fast wireless connection throughout the warehouse, you won’t encounter any problems. If this is not the case, DatAction would be happy to help you improve your Wi-Fi network so that you can use your terminals as efficiently as possible.

In addition to Wi-Fi connections, we also support other ways of using handheld terminals, such as via a 4G connection. This is used primarily on large industrial sites, in ports, or at airports.

Are you looking for a way to make the use of your handheld terminals even more efficient and less prone to errors? We make it possible to incorporate sound, voice, and color in various ways. To ensure that your warehouse employee doesn’t have to constantly look at their screen, we can use an audio cue to immediately let the employee know whether the scan is correct or incorrect. Through voice prompts, we make it possible, for example, to immediately inform the employee where the inventory should be placed. We can also optimize the user interface. It is essential that the most important information is immediately visible on the screen to prevent wasted time. It still happens too often that employees have to search for the necessary information on the screen because of small font sizes or a cluttered screen. By displaying the most important information in large text, employees can immediately see what they need to know.

Our handheld terminals excel in connectivity and barcode scanning, and also offer RFID options, cameras, and high-performance batteries. Several handheld terminals can be equipped with a convenient pistol grip and feature both a touchscreen and a physical keyboard.

Given the wide variety of handheld terminals available, it can be difficult to find the right one. DatAction is happy to help you find the best solutions and optimize your processes. Curious about the best solution for your situation?