The national retailer trusted TRG with the swap from Windows to Android.
CUSTOMER SINCE: 2020
DESCRIPTION: National RV Retailer
SERVICES:
PRODUCTS:
Distribution centers across the country continue to upgrade their mobile devices and migrate from Windows to Android. The end of support for Windows Embedded Handheld isn’t the only reason to upgrade. Warehouses that upgrade to higher functioning devices are rewarded with greater speed, higher accuracy, better communication and improved efficiency. Android is a powerfully secure enterprise-grade operating system, and the most advanced companies understand the value this brings to the table.
When the nation’s largest RV retailer wanted to begin the transition from Windows to Android, they prioritized the devices in their distribution centers. Supporting more than 145 retail locations across 36 states and integrating with a comprehensive e-commerce platform, this was no small undertaking.
Ask for Referrals When Selecting a Managed Mobility Service Provider
The retailer had procured its existing equipment from another managed mobility services partner. However, as the fleet approached the end of its lease, the company began considering its options. The partner they had first worked with had been acquired several times, and the customer felt that the original philosophy and services that had first won that partner the business were no longer a core focus.
They turned to Zebra, the manufacturer of their existing handheld devices for a referral. With so much time lost and the stakes so high, finding the right partner was more important than ever.
Zebra recommended TRG to the retailer because of our well-established relationship and track record of success. Further, the customer appreciated the fact that we are a family-owned business that takes pride in maintaining complete control over our company—the solutions provided, the flexibility offered and the continued reinvestment in the business. With a little personality and ingenuity, we were able to win over the customer and instill confidence in our ability to serve as an extension of their in-house team.
Our first task was to coordinate a product pilot. The demo included Zebra’s WT6000 wearable computers and RS5100 ring scanners for day-to-day processing by warehouse staff, as well as TC52 mobile computers for floor managers to spot check UPCs. Within 30 minutes of unboxing the demo devices, our team had the equipment set-up and running on the floor. It was quickly confirmed that the new devices would successfully transition to Android and help the team overcome the challenges they had faced with speed, accuracy, communication and overall efficiency.
MDM Platform Improves Distribution Center Efficiency
Although the customer had little hesitation about upgrading the equipment itself, they were initially hesitant to implement a new mobile device management (MDM) platform given the difficulties they had faced with the original partner. With TRG’s guidance, they ultimately signed on to implement the SOTI MDM platform, allowing them to control all aspects of their mobility ecosystem. From tracking physical assets and managing applications to keeping devices and data safe and secure, the platform quickly removed silos that had previously caused complexity and downtime. In just three hours, TRG had all of the new hardware up and running on the SOTI platform, and the customer was ready to begin the 30-day proof-of-concept pilot.
This endeavor proved to be a success, and the customer decided to move forward with the upgrade project. The customer first outfitted their East Coast distribution center with the new Zebra devices running on the SOTI MDM platform. Next, they upgraded their Central and West Coast distribution centers, ultimately completing the transition from Windows to Android in all warehouse environments.
With the customer’s primary concern resolved, TRG shifted focus to supporting the equipment. The customer has a track record of taking excellent care of their devices with an impressive failure rate of less than five percent. Although TRG’s third party repair services weren’t needed at the time of purchase, we will provide managed logistics for the devices covered under warranty and maintain a spares pool at one or more of our facilities across the country. The customer will leverage our ServiceHub platform to manage their fleet of devices, accessing real-time information to monitor the status of devices and submit orders, view tickets and track shipments.
Managed Mobility Service Providers Help Retailer Future-Proof Their Stores
With an eye on the future, TRG is always looking for ways to support customers and keep them on the cutting edge of technology. This particular customer is fine-tuning their buy online ship from store program. They have plans to introduce this solution nationwide, ensuring they can reduce lead times to just one day. The customer will use Zebra TC52s and Zebra ZD621 printers to support this effort.
This aligns with their other goal of implementing the SOTI MDM platform across all in-store technology. They’d also like to improve the in-store customer experience by upgrading to faster, sleeker devices for store associates. Zebra’s TC52s will be introduced to replace their existing fleet of TC70s. Upgrading these devices will bring all their stores nationwide up to speed and ensure they are future-proofed.
The transition can be done seamlessly through TRG’s Mobility as a Service (MaaS) program. This subscription service is a great option for those customers looking to replace large upfront capital expenditures with a predictable monthly operating expense. Leveraging the MaaS program would allow the customer to bundle all equipment costs, including procurement, configuration and deployment and ongoing maintenance, as well as any necessary software and accessories. Customers who take advantage of this service can drastically reduce upfront costs and enjoy the benefits associated with the latest in mobile technology.
Find a Long-Term Partner You can Trust
TRG won this partnership with a very targeted approach. We knew the customer had been burned before and throwing the kitchen sink at them certainly wasn’t a solution to their immediate challenges. Instead, we evaluated their situation, identified the primary issues, and pitched the essentials—and made sure to deliver.
In this ever-changing, ever-growing environment, it is crucial that all enterprises keep an eye on the future and continually leverage the latest technologies. In partnership with leading OEMs like Zebra, we demonstrate a proven track record to reduce, if not completely eliminate, headaches during equipment upgrades.
Contact us today to identify how new data capture solutions can minimize the risk of worker downtime and maintain operational stability as demands grow. Let us help you facilitate intelligence-based workflows across your entire operation and increase the efficiency of your distribution centers.
ABOUT TRG
TRG is a global, privately owned managed services provider that manages the full lifecycle of every enterprise endpoint. Our mission is to lead the future of enterprise technology by driving bold endpoint solutions with a success-or-else approach.