Bluestar Industry News

Do your workers suffer from ‘communications disconnect’? If your workers use multiple devices to reach the data and people they need throughout the day, then they most probably do suffer from ‘communications disconnect’. That means that they are forced to waste time switching between different devices to get the job done, and fo...

The ECR Community Shrinkage and On-shelf Availability Group (OSA) together with NCR launched a comprehensive report that assesses the potential impact of self-checkout (SCO) technologies on retail loss and provides best practices and guidance on how to address and balance risks. This report identifies a variety of best-practice ...

Complete visibility of processes are the foundations for efficient planning and control procedures. At any given time, there needs to be visibility and traceability of components and materials including their processing status and location. This, however, is only possible if the objects are uniquely identifiable and tracked at e...

A common problem of our century is the tons of food wasted around the world every year. Specifically in France, there are 10 million tons of food lost or wasted on a yearly basis, according to the French Agency for the Environment and Energy (ADEME). That is why Comerso, a food services specialist, decided to help to prevent foo...

Protecting children has to be everyone's top priority. Especially when it comes to educational centres, parents need to feel entirely sure their children are in safe hands. Whether it is in the school or on a field trip, it is very important to have all children’s data gathered in one place.

Today’s society shares information at incredible speeds. However, this doesn’t come without any risks.  A technologically advanced world requires a very secure front door, which is the secure identification. Even if a lot of information is shared online, there are still plenty of data protected physically and should be of limite...

Remember the days when cold calling and print advertising were the only viable options for finding new leads? The internet has changed the way that businesses market their product and services. While it is ultra-competitive, most companies have found ways to leverage the internet and drive sales leads into their organisation. A ...

In a previous article, we have discussed several ways to overcome resistance to RFID when it comes to prospective buyers. However, it has been a rather difficult sell for many end-users. There a few reasons that might be affecting the consumers’ decisions to buying RFID solutions.

Research conducted by our partner Zebra shows that almost two-thirds (64%) of shoppers want an improved shopping experience. Some within the organisation may understand the benefits of self-scanning hardware but will be less familiar with the additional benefits of a fully integrated Personal Shopping Solution (PSS). The gathere...

The range of cloud printing applications is endless and can include customer online ordering within retail and hospitality as well as corporate print tasks such as warehouse order picking:

The challenge As everything is being digitally transformed and becomes more modern, any industry and store need to keep up with these changes and adapt to new technologies. The same was the thought process of a UK high street retailer, who decided to modernize its price markdown system.

A common problem in hospitals is the manual labelling of the sampling tubes during the blood test and the re-labelling by laser printers in the laboratory. During this process, there is a high risk of error when it comes to labelling of the patient’s tube, which at the same time is rather time-inefficient for the nurses involved...

There are only two months left until the European Union Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) is rolled out. Starting in February 2019 EU citizens will be protected from falsified or counterfeit medicines. However, this change is going to have an enormous impact on the entire pharmaceutical supply chain.

Healthcare facilities have an equipment problem. In 1995, the average patient had eight medical devices at their bedside. With advances in technology, by 2010 that number had grown to 13, and it continues to grow.

Migrating mobile apps to next-generation platforms is an essential process all organizations need to undergo, to meet modern enterprise demands. However, the move is filled with complexity. To begin with, let's discuss the driving force behind this revolution; the changing enterprise technology landscape.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Middle East FZE knows the way in the warehouse environment and operations.  Fiat Chrysler Automobiles includes automotive brands such as Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler, RAM, Alpha Romeo, and more. FCA Middle East is responsible for supplying partner accessories to eight different countries in the mid...

Selecting a warehouse printer can be rather difficult as such a printer needs to meet various requirements. Below we present the most essential traits of a warehouse label printer, which you can keep in mind when you are looking for a new warehouse printer. 

Before going into how a smart city can be built, let’s first try and explain what a smart city is. Although there is no precise definition of a smart city, there are some components that are vital for one. A smart city first and foremost should engage the society. There is no smart city without an engaged citizen. A smart city a...

In an "always connected" world dispatch operations rely on dynamic real-time management via location and status tracking of their field technicians. Why? Because it's essential for any company to be able to respond to their customers’ orders on the fly or to quickly navigate capacity and resource issues.

LCD and LED screens are always a handy feature to have when using any printing device, especially a mobile one where you are inevitably disconnected from a stationary computer or laptop. They make diagnosing and solving printer errors far simpler than if you had a screen-less device. Mobile printers require these screens in orde...

It wasn’t long ago when purpose-built hardware was the only consideration for companies looking for mobile computers. But that all changed rapidly when consumer-grade smartphones became a viable option as a mobile computer in the enterprise world. For a moment, it seemed that the original enterprise mobile computers would be com...

Companies in a wide variety of industries invest substantial capital in their inventories of returnable transport items (RTIs); the durable and reusable cartons, bins, pallets, wheeled trolleys, cages, and other containers used to pack and move goods from site to site. Properly managed, RTIs can be a powerful tool to support eff...

With increasing demands from buyers and suppliers, it becomes more apparent to have a quick process of picking and sending. With buying large quantities of products such as apparel, chips or food, scanning and picking one-by-one is not the solution. But RFID can step in to help.

Over seven and a half billion mobile phones are in service around the world. With more mobile subscriptions than people on the planet today, the mobile phone is the one device that virtually all your customers of all ages carry, all of the time. Your customers are always looking for new ways that this little device can make thei...

Traditional POS systems have been proven very beneficial for any industry. However, as technology is evolving so do the needs of both businesses and consumers. Part of this next-generation way or working is also the cloud-based POS. More than 35% of operators have stated that “cloud POS is a priority for their next POS upgrade”....

Based on the Goldilocks principle, everyone keeps looking for things that are “just right” for them. Similar to Goldilocks, who within the family of bears tries to find what she considers “just right” for her, every customer seeks an experience that fits perfectly in their lives and expectations. As the role of physical stores i...

Digital transformation is the single most disruptive driver of retail change. In this age of digital transformation, retailers are increasingly faced with the challenge of delighting and engaging customers “at the moment” by providing a seamless experience — both online and in-store. A research conducted by Honeywell and YouGov ...

Ready or not, Gen Z is taking over college campuses. They're digital gurus, expert multi-taskers, fiercely individual, extremely influential and have short attention spans. They're quick to share their lives through images and ratings on social media — putting their school's brand and reputation on the line in one Snap, Tweet or...

Tablet use in enterprise markets is on the rise. The use cases are just as varied and unique as the tablet designs themselves. Restaurants install them table-side for efficient ordering. Retailers use them as a medium for consumers to browse inventory, access product information, and place orders. Banks install them in kiosks to...

Counterfeit goods are a growing problem in the supply chain. Surveys have showed that 47% of brands have experienced lost sales due to counterfeiting, estimating 2.5% of world trade is counterfeit. Counterfeit goods eat into company’s profits and can destroy brand reputation since customers are paying premium price for substanda...

More than 400,000 pharmacies in Europe will be impacted by European Directive 2011/62/EU, ratified by the European Parliament in 2016 and effective in February 2019. The intent of this measure is to prevent the introduction of illegal medicine into the legal supply chain. This means pharmaceutical industry players must consolida...

Modern surgery is often done in a hospital using surgical instruments, an operating table, and other equipment. The environment and procedures used in surgery are governed by the principles of aseptic technique: the strict separation of "sterile" items from "unsterile" or "contaminated" items. All surgical instruments that have ...

Hospitals and senior citizen homes can benefit significantly by using medical patient identifier wristbands. Hospital ID wristbands contain a barcode, which can be scanned using a barcode scanner. This barcode provides vital information about the patient, such as their name, medical history, allergies, and medicine dosage. Hospi...

Pharma fraud is a term that describes several illegal activities involving the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceuticals. One of these activities involves counterfeit prescription of medication.

“When creating solutions, always keep in mind that everything is and should be connected. That is what takes the customer experience to the next level. We, in Google, are creating an Operating System, partners are creating the devices, and the key in this solution is how these can be used together to be able to deliver better ex...

For years, Microsoft systems ruled the computing world. But Google’s Android platform is taking over as the standard operating system for enterprise computing nowadays.

In a perfect world, the supply chain wouldn’t need warehousing. But since that perfect supply chain doesn’t exist, the warehouse is an excellent solution to make a company more profitable. But how can you make sure that your warehouse moves along with increasing demand? 

Working in a warehouse means printing big amounts of labels in a harsh environment. Printers used in a warehouse need to perform high volumes of work whilst still being hard-wearing, long lasting, and simple to operate with minimal user training. At the same time, they need to be cost-efficient and be small in size in order to s...

In a retail situation where price changes occur every day, employees need to be able to print new labels quickly using effective mobile devices.

Enterprises today have a huge amount of choice when it comes to mobile technology to support their operations.

Dr. Susana Val, the Director of Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Global Scale, explains that you cannot have a smart city without the smart mobility trait. Smart mobility is the concept of improving transportation infrastructure. This concept is not only limited to the citizens but al...

Making the decision to move from paper-based systems to mobile computing is a key method of achieving better efficiency for delivery fleets. Reynolds, a UK-based supplier of foodservices to some of the country’s leading brands, decided to invest in mobile computers to improve its own service and better manage deliveries.

Thanks to thermal printing solutions, many organisations are finding that their printing requirements are no longer a challenge. Take Twickenham Cricket Club for example, where spectators expect to see quick deliveries on and off the field.

No matter what environment a mobile printer is deployed in, users need to be certain they can rely on the technology they invest in to get the job done. Whether users are in a warehouse, at a customer’s site or in a healthcare or retail environment, BlueStar partner SATO has a history of delivering mobile printing solutions to p...

Did you know that only 12% of organisations with field service workers are ‘very satisfied’ with the technology they use? It’s a shocking statistic, especially as field workers are crucial to achieving two corporate goals: growing the profits of the company and strengthening the customer experience.

Companies that sell technology solutions know that our industry is driven by change and innovation. One of the more crucial technologies to be aware of is networking. If your company isn’t offering networking solutions, there are plenty of reasons as to why you should change strategies tomorrow.

Mobile devices are changing how businesses operate through automated data identification and capture, making processes more efficient and data collection more accurate. In fact, a study by Enterprise CIO shows that BYOD can boost productivity by 16% over a 40-hour week.

Migrating mobile apps to next-generation platforms is an essential process that many organisations will need to undergo to meet modern enterprise demands. However, the move is often filled with complexity and businesses will likely turn to a trusted advisor to discuss the reasons for app migration, the process they need to go th...

Pop-up stores represent a huge opportunity to VARs, but they also need a personal touch. These types of shops – also known as flash retail – are great ways for small business owners to put their products on display to a wider audience by finding small venues, like coffee shops or markets, and selling in this location for a limit...

In environments where worker assignment optimisation is vital if managers want to meet and exceed expectations, the ‘start of the day’ process should not be overlooked. So, what platform best equips them to optimise worker assignment and dynamic scheduling to meet service level agreements (SLA) with customers?

Tallink pioneers self-service check outs on board its ships Tallink, one of the largest passenger and cargo shipping companies in the Baltics, has adopted the Datalogic Joya Touch Device and Shopevolution 7 in its on board retail stores. Tallink has included the solution on its ships after it became concerned passengers were not...

Tablets are revolutionising the way in which we do business. However, typical tablets are not designed for the commercial marketplace. Most tablets are just not built to withstand the rigours of everyday commercial use. However, in many cases, there are simple and effective steps that users can take to transform a tablet into a ...

The ability to add card transactions and receipt printing options to Android and Windows 10 devices is a real game changer in today’s mobile world. These ‘off the shelf’ devices mean that anyone who needs to add payment functionality to a mobile device can easily do so. From a delivery driver taking payment on a doorstep to a st...

In recent years, rugged handheld devices have become just as intuitive as their consumer-grade counterparts. This shift in the rugged mobile device landscape has been accelerated by a need to increase productivity, efficiency and accuracy in the workplace.

Many retailers currently handle price markdowns inefficiently, relying on pre-printed labels as they do not have the right mobile labelling system in place. The cost of pre-printed label systems This inflexible approach results in, at best, non-uniform price reduction information being communicated to customers and, at worst, lo...

Did you know that around 25% of the average forklift driver’s time is spent in receiving and put away workflows?

Not so long ago, the dominant systems in the mobile computer world were mainly Microsoft-based.

Established in 1940, SATO is a pioneer and leader in barcode printing and RFID labelling solutions. Committed to ongoing innovation SATO invented the world’s first-hand labeller and introduced the first thermal transfer barcode printer. Customers rely on SATO for accuracy, labour efficiencies and resource savings – which in turn...

Giving field workers the best device to fit their needs is a key challenge for many businesses.

There’s no doubt about it that over the past few years, the trend of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and using consumer devices for professional needs has grown exponentially.

Either working at a university, a healthcare institution, or a governmental organization, printing IDs and badges is a necessity. Except of selecting the right hardware for card printing, it is important to find a software that matches your unique needs and keeps your data secure. Below we present the most valuable concepts that...

Being in the hospitality industry most probably means that you deal with printing cards for various reasons. Either it is for an event, of for the buffet of the restaurant, these cards need to be in the best shape and form, be cost and time efficient, and most importantly they need to meet the EU regulations on allergens and on ...

“There are two types of companies when it comes to breaches; those who have been breached and those that don’t know that they have been breached yet.”

Universities possess personal information of thousands of students and faculty, all of which are collected and printed into individual ID cards. These ID badges provide them access to a myriad of services and applications, from physical facility and logical network access to cashless payment and tracking time and attendance, thu...

Even if the modern credit card is an American invention, in the twenty-first century Europe has led the way in the credit card technology. More than thirty years ago the first smart cards, equipped with their own computer chips, known as EMV cards (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) showed up in France and they have created an irreversi...

The spectrum of available secure issuance solutions from multiple vendors can seem overwhelming at first glance, but by understanding the technology options and taking some parameters and factors into consideration, you can narrow your selections. The following considerations may help to find the decisive factors for the evaluat...

The new style of working – large data volumes, mobile workers equipped with mobile devices – poses new challenges to identification processes in companies of all sizes and industries. Employee and visitor badge requirements, for example, are variable, depending on how many people and what physical and digital assets need to be r...

Most of us know the NFC technology through buzzwords such as “tap and pay” and “contactless payments". And the growth of the NFC applications shows, that Near-field communication (NFC) is shaping the future of mobility and is becoming the system of choice for many mobile payment transactions. There are a number of mobile payment...

Businesses across the world print and encode millions of smart labels every year. Most problems that do arise occur because of a few common conditions that are easily resolved. Many problems can be avoided entirely by training associates on the leading causes of smart label failure, such as due diligence in selecting proper medi...

Built on 20 years of proven direct-to-card printing expertise, the HID® FARGO® DTC1500 card printer/encoder offers the convenience and lower cost of high-throughput consumables along with a comprehensive feature set – enabling organizations to routinely issue highly secure cards and IDs at a fraction of the cost without tradeoff...

Network security is an integral part of business today, and with hacking and identity theft concerns taking center stage of many network-related discussions, helping customers to feel more secure is indispensable. There are things VARs can do when consulting with customers to help them build the security network that fits their ...

With headlines in the news about terrorist attacks, shootings at schools and hospitals, and rampant identity fraud, security has become top of mind. Some sort of identification is required – whether it’s a passport, driver’s license, employee credential, student ID card, or proof of insurance.  To prevent fraud, ID cards are get...

The EZ-ID system by Datacard® is a cost-effective out-of-the-box solution offering everything that companies need to print ID cards. The UV ribbon is a real benefit, adding the possibility to create security badges using an entry-level solution. High quality for low volumes 

What are the hallmarks?  What are the crucial quality features today when it comes to ID card printing for ID and access control, employee badges or personalized membership or loyalty cards? What requirements must be met when printing smart cards for the tourism, gambling, and entertainment industries? In professional printing, ...

Some considerations from HID Global 

Measures for efficient management of access to printers not only affect the bottom line, but also reduce data loss and security risks. 

In 2016, a government agency in the Sub-Saharan Africa region was seeking to upgrade its voter ID system. With elections forthcoming in the summer of 2017, the agency was aiming to increase the number of citizens eligible to vote by issuing voter IDs in a short time frame.

Continuously changing work processes demand ever new and practical card solutions – currently there is an unstoppable need for applications with ID cards; the capacities e.g. for customer and member cards tend to hit their limits. Integration of the solutions into existing IT structures is likewise a growing challenge.

Accessories and consumables for ID cards, such as card covers, punch pliers, individually printed lanyards, carry straps and price tags are used in many fields. They are used in health care, in access control and time recording, in banking and in event and parking lot management. 

Monochrome and colour printing on one side and/or on both sides – Datacard SD360 card printer has been designed for small and medium production quantities of ID cards and identity documents. The high printing speed is impressive:  The TruePickTM card intake draws in standard cards as well as cards with low thickness at any time ...

Food labels provide important information for the consumer, such as product ingredients, nutrients, use-by date as well as details on allergens. Today, the customer assumes that the labels, signs and colour ribbons are food-safe and are approved for direct and indirect contact to foodstuffs and packaging. He or she trusts in the...

Files, folders, records, charts, books, photos, tapes, CDs and DVDs, evidentiary exhibits – in many industries, some form of physical media is central to the process of doing business. Information is gathered, retrieved, referenced, filed and moved from location to location for various types of processing. Some of these physical...

Today’s disruptive technologies are displacing established ways of working and are making the retail environment more competitive than ever. According to Dun and Bradstreet, the retail sector accounts for 13.6% of annual business failures globally, and only 47% of new retail businesses are still in operation four years after sta...

Have you ever engaged in a conversation with prospective tech buyers that simply do not comprehend RFID and the fact that RFID is for businesses that want to gain a competitive edge in their industries? Then you know the struggle! That is why we provide the following three ways to overcome objections and get your audience on boa...

Barcode scanning revolutionized retail and logistics forty years ago. Today, the RFID technology provides huge advantages and additional values within many applications in different vertical market segments; e.g. Inventory, Retail, Industrial Automation, Transport and Logistic. RFID can track and identify objects, animals, and p...

If customers are dissatisfied, these days they leave the store and look for their desired items at the competitor’s – and: Frustrated customers are unforgiving. When are customers dissatisfied? When their expectations are disappointed; when they cannot find the items on the shelf that they would like to buy; and when the items o...

Honeywell offers mobile readers, fixed readers, vehicle-mounted readers and a comprehensive line of RFID antennas. Honeywell’s mobile RFID readers include mobile computers with integrated RFID reading capability and a separate RFID sled that can be attached to several models of Honeywell mobile computers. The mobile readers are ...

Speedy Services is the UK’s leading provider of equipment, rental and support services to a wide range of clients across the construction, infrastructure, industrial, rail, manufacturing and facilities management sectors – as well as to local trades and industry. Speedy has a network of over 320 depots across the country, from w...

Recently in Spain, the local agency entrusted with protection of the wild vultures had a problem with the monitoring of the birds’ population in a very specific nature reserve.   Traditionally, they had been monitoring the vulture population by banding the birds with leg rings with numbers or printed barcodes. However, it proved...

Today’s Internet-savvy shoppers can virtually buy anything, anywhere at any time. With a world of choices, they need a compelling reason to buy from a brick-and-mortar store. Yet, too often, they are disappointed with the in-store experience.  Why customers are not happy? 

SATO, a leading company in Auto-ID solutions that streamline operations and empower workforces, has recently integrated its SAP-based track and trace technology into a tractor production operation with positive results. SATO has cooperated in this project with BlueStar Finland, which is very experienced in the conception and imp...

On any given day, in hospitals around the world, doctors, nurses and administrative staff move medical equipment around in their facilities as they go about the work of taking care of patients — equipment such as infusion pumps, telemetry packs, blood gas analyzers, patient monitors, hospital beds, gurneys and wheelchairs.  Heal...

The future impact of RFID technology Interview with Ian Bayly, Director of Sales EMEA and APAC, RF IDeas

Plant Access is growing its competitive edge using an industry-first RFID solution. Plant Access provides its services utilising a unique steel stillage design used to pick, cross-dock and deliver nursery plants to Bunnings Warehouse locations across Victoria and South Australia. 

In today’s world of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) capabilities, interactivity is becoming very impactful in reaching audiences. Utilizing RFID technology in print marketing can enhance the impact of a marketing message and offer the consumer a bridge from a print ad to a digital interaction. How can this be acc...

Adopted on April 14, 2016, and scheduled to enter into force on May 25, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an overarching data protection directive that defends European Union (EU) citizens in the event of a data privacy breach. For example, if a company's data are hacked and an EU citizen's information is di...

The challenge grocery stores are facing today is to maximize profitability while keeping customer satisfaction high.

The time window between a delicious hot meal and a cold or lukewarm dish is small, and restaurant operators know that winning and keeping happy customers means operating within this timeframe. However, in larger restaurants, or self-seating locations, offering timely table service is not always easy. To keep diners happy and ord...

Today, business life is characterised by quick processes and fierce competition. High flexibility, on-time delivery and undamaged goods go without saying. Efficient work processes, intuitive applications and current technologies are coming to the fore more and more.

RFID tags can do much more than the user can imagine. In many vertical applications, RFID technology opens up new possibilities for perfecting process sequences and for organising them better.

RAIN RFID automatically identifies and tracks shipments moving in and out of dock doors. The system recognises items passing through dock doors at a distance of up to 30 feet, even without without direct line-of-sight. The core of this application is the platform using RAIN RFID technology, which monitors all processes and ensur...

Introducing an automated system into a retail store represents a cutting-edge project that needs the right technology in place if it is to be a success.

Adapting to meet customers expectation through the latest checkout solutions is a key goal for many businesses.

Did you know that four out of five customers use a smartphone while they shop? And that 80% would prefer a more mobile-optimised shopping experience?

It’s becoming well known that tablet POS offers the advantages of versatile cloud-based software alongside compact, low cost hardware.

Think of us your warehouse as we work with you, so you can concentrate on your key goals.

Operational intelligence doesn't happen in the cloud – it happens on the ground. In your business, every minute of every day. Not only do you want to get there, you want to get there smartly. Honeywell delivers the solutions that get you to your goals. In a connected world, our ergonomic, high performance devices work together s...

Did you know that physical stores still account for more than 90% of retail sales, according to Forbes? It’s a surprising statistic given the rise of online shopping, but it does demonstrate how traditional stores are still at the heart of the best retail experiences.

Did you know that Star Micronics has replaced its TSP143U printer with the new TSP143IIU ECO? The TSP100 futurePRNT series from Star Micronics successfully combines a high-performance POS printer with ground-breaking software, four-year warranty including print head and cutter.

Retailers and merchants are looking to invest in business intelligence and analytics technology solutions to take data insights to new heights. For example, did you know that 73% of retailers in a Zebra survey rated managing big data as important or business critical? Or that 58% of retailers surveyed are budgeting for big data ...

Making a short shopping experience as quick and enjoyable as possible is a big challenge, but Estonian shipping company Tallink found an effective solution. Tallink is one of the largest passenger and cargo shipping companies in the Baltic Sea region and operates the fast ferry Star, connecting Helsinki (Finland) to Tallinn (Est...

Although 2018 is well underway, it’s still useful to take a step back and look at some of the big Point of Sale (PoS) trends over the past year. It’s a useful exercise and will help to understand issues that have grown or expanded into more complex solutions, such as the continuing trend towards mobility and cloud-based solution...

In today’s omni-channel world, retailers must rise to customers’ expectations immediately, or risk losing sales in the process. The challenge is made tougher as in many cases the customers are already omni-channel experts. How many times have you seen a customer in front of a product display tapping her smartphone screen? Is she...

The introduction of tablet Point of Sale (POS) devices has had a significant impact on all sorts of businesses, from high street retailers to pop-up stores and restaurants. Reduced investment costs, easy setup and flexibility to immediately react to market changes, not to mention greater efficiencies, are just a few of the undis...

Enhancing customer experience through the latest RFID solutions is a smart way to boost your business In fact, the best strategies being used in today’s retail environment are implementing RFID within an omni-channel approach, offering customers a more satisfactory experience. This also allows the retailer to provide a much more...

In today’s retail world, customers are more demanding than ever before, and it's unlikely they will be willing to wait more than a couple of minutes to checkout. In the past, they may have been willing to wait longer. But with customer experience so key to creating positive shop vests and locking in loyalty, retailers need to mo...

There are over seven and a half billion mobile phones in service around the world, representing a massive opportunity for the mobile barcode market. In fact by 2021 75% of retailers say they will know when their customers are in store, and 79% expect to be able to personalise the store visit. But retailers have work to do to cat...

A key challenge for retailers in 2017 and beyond is creating a joined-up shopping experience for their customers. After all, we're all now more connected than ever before and we expect a similar experience whether we are in-store or online, or even a combination of the two. It’s almost become second nature to check prices online...

Anyone in the retail business will tell you that the shopping experience is key if you want to secure customer loyalty and build a brand. But with competitors, online shopping and flash sales to compete against, how do you go about offering a personalised experience? After all, many shoppers now make the majority of their purcha...

Shopper demand for integration between online and offline channels is continuing to grow, increasing the need for retailers to install digital touchpoints in-store. This digital revolution is leading retailers to look for new ways to integrate digital options into their stores to offer customers the experience they are looking f...

The introduction of exciting new technology over the past few years has meant that the world is more connected now than it ever has been before. In fact, the word ‘connectivity’ has become a buzzword associated with almost all new technology. But it’s true that the latest devices have made a huge difference to the way retailers ...

Omnichannel is a revolution that is impacting retailers and the different technologies they currently use as well as those they are considering investing in for the future. What is Omnichannel? Omnichannel means a better integration of technology to improve the customer journey, and above all to provide true continuity in the sh...

In the past, a customer may have been willing to wait five minutes at checkout. Today, he or she is likely to tolerate less than two minutes. As a result, the speed and accuracy of retail scanning are critically important to the customer experience.

In order to cope with the pace of change in 2017, retailers are having to reassess their business models and customer service processes.

In cooperation with iZettle, BlueStar provides taxi payment solutions for black cabs in London to help drivers comply with recent regulations.

Retailers today often have to choose between traditional fixed Point of Sale (POS) solutions or the newer and more innovative tablet POS, which has taken great strides in providing more flexibility and mobility – especially in hospitality environments.

Today, nearly all retailers understand the reasons why they should offer a Click & Collect service, which include increased online conversion, the opportunity to sell an extended product range online and the chance to upsell at point of collection.

Sitting in between an old-fashioned cash register and a full ePOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system, mPOS (Mobile Point of Sale) technology creates a fully mobile solution that offers huge flexibility to businesses of all sizes.

Matching the right patient to the right medical history, medications and doctor's instructions is critical to providing the right care.

The consistent and accurate identification of patients has long presented a challenge for healthcare organisations across the globe. But with today’s technology, why should it?

In healthcare environments, accurate data and traceability isn’t just a target, it’s a requirement. Users need to be sure they have the best solution in place for dealing with issues where accuracy is of paramount importance, such as blood and plasma bag labelling.

The use of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology in the healthcare industry has grown rapidly in recent years. As technology evolves, the industry has a multitude of opportunities to grow and change through adopting new methodologies and devices. Manufacturers are continually improving the features of scann...

Specimen labelling has recently come under greater review, as it could be the next big opportunity to improve patient safety in healthcare environments. It’s always unfortunate when specimen collection labelling errors contribute to wasted time. But there is also a possibility of a much more alarming outcome, as one mistake coul...

A great solution is one that not only solves an problem but reduces the costs associated with that issue.

In healthcare, there is a huge opportunity to automate the collection of information and the quality of patient care. In fact, automation within the healthcare industry can help to reduce errors and risk in the field, especially in hospitals where thousands of people receive care each day.

In healthcare environments, patient safety is always goal number one. But on top of this requirement, patients also want assurance that they are receiving the right care, in the right way, based on the right information.

Healthcare facilities have an equipment problem. In 1995, the average patient had eight medical devices at bedside. With advances in technology, by 2010 that number had grown to 13, and it continues to grow.

Medication administration is often put in the spotlight as a key area for improvement in order to boost patient safety. So it’s no surprise that that ensuring accurate administration is a priority for healthcare providers around the world.

Did you know that nurses are spending more than 30% of their time in non-patient-care activities? With ever-increasing government regulations for improved clinical documentation, in combination with a constant flow of new medical devices, it may come as little surprise. But more than any other hospital staff member, nurses have ...

A common requirement in most healthcare facilities is the ability to secure access to stores and supplies. After all, healthcare fraud is a significant problem and one that potentially involves a large cost. 

One of the key challenges that healthcare providers have faced in recent years is providing patient-focussed healthcare with safety and real-time information at its heart.  To achieve this, providers need to easily access relevant patient data at the bedside as well as having the ability to perform a wide variety of daily tasks ...

Whether working in the public or private sector, healthcare providers face multiple challenges. From maintaining accurate medical records and reducing data errors, through improving security, to continually enhancing the standard of care, they have their work cut out. Clinical errors simply aren’t acceptable and it’s why governm...

Ensuring patient safety, managing medical devices efficiently and labelling pharmaceuticals correctly are three key pillars in any healthcare environment.

An uncomfortable truth for many healthcare providers is that around half of their mobile equipment fleet is likely idle at any one time. This is not only hurting their budget, but also putting patient care at risk. Putting the cost of idle mobile equipment into context

It will come as no surprise to hear that, like many other vertical markets, digital transformation is revolutionising the healthcare and medical market.

Nurses at the bedside must balance hands-on patient care with an ever-increasing need to manage medical technology, all while electronically documenting every activity and observation.

Counterfeit medication has become a major problem that can lead to people taking medicine that does not contain the correct ingredients or, even worse, toxic substances.

It’s no secret that healthcare professionals are facing growing challenges. Tightening budgets and overwhelming demand leads to increased pressure, and having to rely on outdated systems can be a costly issue when it comes to time and money.

Mobile computers, barcode scanners and printers are often used in healthcare settings for supply chain and management workflows. After all, maintaining, distributing, and tracking medical supplies and inventory is critical for patient care.

It’s absolutely crucial that efficiency is a priority in any hospital setting. But maximising the capacity of the whole value chain whilst providing a tailored service to the needs of each client can be a tricky balancing act.

Did you know that worldwide online retail sales are expected to hit $4.058 trillion in 2020, representing 14.6% of all retail spending that year?

Developments in today’s technology has led to many warehouse businesses transitioning to devices built on Android and from keypad-centric devices to full touch screen.

The idea of Internet of Things, or more widely known IoT, can be summarised as everything is connected through the cloud, providing constant monitoring to all the data. Although this concept can be perfectly understood, what is important to grasp is the business opportunities generated from IoT. Pedro Pina, Domatica’s VP of Busi...

Having a reliable printing solution in a warehouse environment is essential to ensuring a smooth and efficient operation. Combined with wireless hand-held terminals, BlueStar partner SATO’s lightweight PW2NX mobile printers print both picking labels and shipping labels to improve the picking and checking operations in the wareho...

The growth of omnichannel shopping and demand for faster deliveries is redefining how warehouses operate. A shift in how consumers buy from multiple sources — from desktop computers, mobile devices and in-store — has created the need for smart warehouses to serve today’s connected consumer.

Like any company, Google continually changes and updates the way it functions and ranks websites. The Google algorithm, sacred and highly secret, is the key to creating quality SEO organically, but there’s always an air of uncertainty to it. Some changes come along because they are improving their techniques. Some are because th...

Barcode printers provide a significant advantage to users in the warehouse and logistics sectors. Not only do they replace the manual handling of data, removing the risk of human error and improving logistics flexibility, but they also offer users immediate control of stock and shipping – from cargo withdrawal to delivery – by l...

There has been a shift in the mobile operating system landscape over the last few years, and it’s clear that the transition from legacy Windows is well underway. While there remains several distinct choices on the roadmap, the trade-offs and compromises associated with each have become clearer.

You probably already know that barcodes are the primary tool used by enterprise to track and trace assets all over the world. It’s the global standard for companies worldwide, regardless of size, industry, or location. Government, hospitality, retail, wholesale, logistics, manufacturing, security, transportation, utilities, and ...

Each new day often brings a new buzzword, so it’s important we fully understand new terms as they quickly become part of our language and used on a daily basis. One such term that has joined some of the big buzzwords like IoT and Big Data is ‘smart city’. But what does a smart city actually look like?

The role of the warehouse is changing. But operating across multiple channels – retail, catalogue and Internet – creates a new set of logistical challenges. No longer just a space to store inventory, today’s warehouse operation is fast-paced and often decentralised. Inventory turns faster than ever as retailers and manufacturers...

If your partners have been wondering how they can harness the power of the IoT in their own business, the Visual Warehouse could be the solution they have been waiting for. In fact, you may have heard of SATO’s Visual Warehouse - a virtual warehouse director that fully streamlines storage, picking and route navigation for enhanc...

Wearable devices being used in a business environment isn’t anything new. In fact, it’s been going on for more than 20 years. These handy devices are usually deployed to enhance employee effectiveness in the warehouse. They allow users to move around hands-free and pick product quickly and effectively.

If you’re an ISV and have decided that it’s time to broaden your business opportunities and grow your business then you’ll no doubt be considering the channel. The channel is a great way to look for new business through dedicated partnerships, and can bring great long-term success.  But it is highly competitive so it’s important...

Businesses today face unrelenting pressures to reduce operating costs, better manage the workforce and deliver perfect customer service. But did you know, for example, that 54% of the average distribution centre’s workforce is consumed in the picking workflow? This makes workflow performance gains in picking very valuable to war...

Here’s how Russian business Fissman significantly optimised its warehouse operations and increased transparency with the Falcon X3 mobile computer. Fissman, a leader in glassware and household items, had a history of carrying out warehouse operations on a paper-based system. Storage locations were not indicated, causing numerous...

Simple and extremely cost-efficient, stand-alone barcode stations can provide an effective solution to increasing productivity whilst driving down costs. That’s why BlueStar, in cooperation with German Software company MSC, has developed a stand-alone barcode station capable of copying an existing barcode onto a new label. The s...

Did you know that enterprises are set to make up 18% of tablet purchases in 2017, according to the Global Business and Consumer Tablet Forecast? For some, it may not be a surprise to hear that tablet use in enterprise markets is on the rise. After all, the settings in which tablets are used are often just as varied and unique as...

Having a reliable printer in the warehouse is a necessity for most modern businesses that value flexibility and efficiency. But the latest printers have gone a step further. SATO’s next generation of thermal printers offer advanced support for barcodes, character sets and RFID encoding. The NX Series incorporates value-added fea...

Logistics is big business. Did you know, for example, that in the US it accounts for 8.2% of GDP and 15-20% of finished product cost? At the core of this trillion-dollar sector is the warehouse, where minor missteps can have a major impact on the supply chain. Today’s warehousing professionals are looking to new technologies to ...

To appeal to the individual needs of warehouse managers, resellers need the ability to create new applications for mobile devices in short spaces of time and without the need of a technical expert. Why are mobile apps needed in the warehouse environment?

The internet changed the world; It touches all aspects of our lives. It allows us to connect on social media, video chat with friends and colleagues and even read this blog right now. Now, there is a push to connect every device to the internet. While this provides new functionality and convenience, there are also some potential...

In most warehouse environments, the speed and accuracy of receiving and putting away goods makes all the difference to workflows downstream.

Space is a major issue for modern warehouses. Order patterns, volumes and speed of delivery have all gone through rapid changes in the last five years and older warehouses may struggle to keep up unless they utilise every inch of available space as efficiently as possible. 

BlueStar Services offer another significant opportunity for our partners to improve margins and gain a competitive edge on hardware sales.

Every business student knows about the ‘blade and razor’ model - the idea that when you’re selling razors, you can just about give away the handle because you make your real money on the blades.

All warehouse managers know that speed and reliability when managing goods and tracking merchandise can help to improve efficiency while reducing costs.

All of your warehouse customers know that when it comes to outbound workflows, much like inbound workflows, it is vital to keep the flow of material on the dock fluid and moving.

Choosing the best mobile devices to fit a specific business is a task which can take months of careful planning and review, often including testing different models and gaining user feedback.

Every year, there are new trends to examine, new ideas to consider, and fresh perspectives that can affect a business.