Business Enquirer Issue 118 | The Barcode Warehouse | Oct'23

NEW CENTRE BOOSTS INNOVATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR UK TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS

THE BARCODE WAREHOUSE

NEW CENTRE BOOSTS INNOVATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR UK TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS

Now known as The Barcode Warehouse, the business is founded on “entrepreneurs, innovators, strategists, enablers and tech enthusiasts”.

Helmed by Managing Director, Kevan Mutton, The Barcode Warehouse supplies a complete package of business technology solutions, designed to support businesses in becoming more automated and efficient

With a customer-first ethos, The Barcode Warehouse builds packages of solutions which can include barcode technology, RFID, labelling and enterprise mobility services to support a range of sectors such as retail, transport and logistics, warehousing, manufacturing and healthcare.

Having been on a strategic growth path over the last 35 years, growing from a small family business to an enterprise of 300 staff over three facilities, the business now plans to springboard from its newly launched Innovation and Customer Experience (ICE) Centre.

The Barcode Warehouse is now the UK’s leading specialist supplier of barcode hardware, software and technology.

THE BARCODE WAREHOUSE

PROJECT DIRECTED BY: GLEN NEWTON

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: LAURA WATLING

Launched in 1987 under its previous name of Trent Valley Labels, Chairman Ross Lee was always an entrepreneur.

Driving Customer-Centricity

Formally opened in June 2023, The Barcode Warehouse ICE Centre is the next step for the business in securing itself as partner of choice.

“The 25,000 square foot facility has been purpose-designed to enable our team to work collaboratively with customers, developing innovative solutions and gives an opportunity for problem solving,” explained Kevan,

The new centre includes interactive meeting and training rooms, demonstration areas, a café, an auditorium, and breakout spaces, allowing customers to fully immerse themselves in what The Barcode Warehouse has to offer.

“The first-hand immersive experience provides businesses with the opportunity to understand how new industry-led tech

solutions can be easily translated into their business,” shared Kevan.

Supported by solution architects, businesses can conceptualise and develop tailor-made solutions unique to their business and target market. The centre provides demonstrations and visual guides for how these technologies can transform business operations in realistic settings, such as a hospital ward.

“We’ve had a fantastic response from the customers who have already had the opportunity to experience the ICE Centre, and it's really cemented our value of being customer-focused,” said Kevan.

Since the ICE Centre’s launch, it has been awarded by Android at its recent global partner event (Android Innovation).

Additionally, The Barcode Warehouse has been awarded Gold Partner Status

Managing Director, Kevan Mutton,

Portable Power Solutions Ltd. partners with Portsmith (USA) and Cradle of Sweden, two leading suppliers of accessories for the mobile data capture market. We work together to bring customer driven and unique solutions to market

For many years we have worked with The Barcode Warehouse and supplied them with a number of solutions using both standard and custom products from our partners

Portsmith has been a market leader for over 25 years in its design and manufacturing of charging and communications products for the AIDC market and has served as an OEM for Symbol, Motorola Solutions, eCom Instruments, Trimble and others. Portsmith-branded Ethernet and charging cradles, stands, and racks serve most Zebra and Honeywell product lines with market-leading cradles accommodating Samsung Tab Active and Tab Pro tablets. Portsmith is also highly regarded for its USB-to-Ethernet adapters with full-connectivity options supporting use cases worldwide — from consumer to defence, aerospace, and other ultrarugged applications.

Cradle of Sweden develops and manufactures products and solutions for stationary, desktop, and vehicle-mounted charging of PDAs, as well as solutions for communication between PDAs, vehicles, and networks within complex mobile data systems.

Charging Solutions - Robust, Commercial grade charging cradles with a variety of formats available Designed for:Casio® ,Honeywell® / Intermec®, Panasonic®, Samsung®, Unitech®, Zebra®

• In-vehicle cradles with or without communications

• Desktop chargers, single-bay and multi-bay high-density, mini-desk cradles

• Single-bay Ethernet cradles

• Rack mount or charging walls for charging of up to 30 devices

• Scanstands to enable a handheld device to be used as a hands-free scanning station

USB-to-Ethernet solutions include:

• Rugged adapters

• Sealed adapters for outdoor use

• Sealed USB-C adapters which include power pass through allowing a device such as a tablet to be charged whilst communicating over Ethernet www.portablepowersolutions.com

Vehicle Cradles and Mounts, Desk Charging Cradles and Racks

Robust, Commercial grade for demanding environments, charging cradles with a variety of formats available. Designed for:- Casio® , Honeywell® / Intermec®, Panasonic®, Samsung®, Unitech®, Zebra®

Vehicle Cradles

Cigarette / Car Plug / Flying Lead / Hot Swap option USB / RS232 output option

Desk Cradles

Side by side format chargers: 1,4 and 5 gang. 1 slot cradles available with ‘Portsmith reliable’ ethernet connection

Charging Wall or 19” Rack chargers

4, 5 or 8 gang 19” rack plates

High Density ‘Mini Desk’ Gang Chargers

The most compact desk charger available

• LED charge indication

• Fast charge option

• 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 slot available

Enterprise USB Ethernet Adapters

The “Swoopy” Range

Easily add Ethernet network connectivity to existing USB connections with Portsmith durable adapters

Swoopy

3C-R Rugged USB C to Gigabit Ethernet with Power Injection Allows Android tablets to charge whilst communicating

Swoopy Original USB Client to Ethernet Adapter Kit

Swoopy 2

Encapsulated USB-A Client to Ethernet Adapter

Scanstands and Pedestals

Convert Handheld computers into stand alone presentation scanning computers

• Handsfree Scanning for Access Control etc.

• Works with any of our vehicle cradle models

on the new Android Enterprise Partner Programme by meeting Android’s high level of business, product and performance requirements. Notably, The Barcode Warehouse is one of the first recipients of this accolade.

In addition to its ICE Centre, The Barcode Warehouse works to ensure its solutions are effective and efficient for its varied marketplaces, as well as building a network which makes the sales process for customers easy and trustworthy. This includes a multilingual 24/7 support desk, e-commerce and a field-based enterprise sales team.

Further still, its Managed Service offering ensures that its customers' businesses are kept running with uninterrupted workflow and transactions.

“We developed this offering to help to deploy, protect and maximise customer’s return on their mobile technology investment,” added Kevan, “ We understand that our customers want an efficient system for managing its enterprise mobility; one with business continuity, security and firstclass customer care at its heart”.

Improving Efficiencies in the NHS

In June 2023 the UK Government outlined three key priorities for the NHS, setting out expectations and related budgets. The mandate states that all trusts across the UK should have implemented barcode scanning of their most high-risk medical devices by March 2024. Further to this, all data captured should be submitted to the Medical Device Outcome Registry, or MDOR, to track and improve patient outcomes when using high-risk medical devices.

Supporting this, The Barcode Warehouse has been working in partnership with Hull University Hospital, providing an asset tracking and inventory management solution, as part of the government's “Scan4Safety” initiative.

“By scanning globally unique barcodes that are present on patient wristbands, implantable medical devices, locations and sometimes staff badges, you create end-toend traceability and consistent processes throughout the entire patient pathway,” explained Kevan, “We have seen evidence of significant cost reductions and improved efficiency, and hope to roll this out at other trusts”.

The flagship project has seen 70,000 hospital items recorded and tracked, resulting in 88,000 hours of time saved for staff, real-time visibility of all assets, and access to better data to make more informed purchasing decisions.

The projected cost savings across the NHS on roll out are estimated to be £1 billion over seven years.

Increasing Robust Solutions

In the next step in its development, The Barcode Warehouse has partnered up with Traka, the global leader in providing intelligent management solutions for keys and equipment, to provide a complete suite of quality key and asset management solutions, securing access to vital keys and equipment across multiple sectors.

“Traka provides a best in class asset locker, which is robust and innovative,” said Kevan. “we are currently working with them on a large solution which is in the proof of concept stage with a major retailer with the plan to replicate this across other sites.”

More than just a locker, the Traka intelligent locker systems and key cabinets can control access to shared portable equipment, identify who last had access to a specific item and retain auditable logs and manage faulty equipment and repairs more effectively.

By The People, For The People

With customers at its core, The Barcode Warehouse has invested in employee engagement ensuring that everyone is on board with the company’s values and behaviours.

“Before becoming Managing Director I spent much of my career in sales. To sell a business and its benefits to customers you have to truly believe in it, and the team we have built and nurtured are aligned to this. We are proud of our quality people, who are empowered and trusted in their roles,” said Kevan.

www.thebarcodewarehouse.co.uk