North Central Sight Services (NCSS) modernized its warehouse operations by improving the accuracy and efficiency of its inventory and picking process and with Zebra’s MC3300 mobile computers running a customized warehouse management system (WMS) from CSSI Technologies, Zebra announced.

NCSS’s mission is to provide products, services and employment opportunities to the blind and visually impaired.

The organization employs 29 visually impaired workers including its CEO, and it needed a flexible platform to accommodate worker needs. NCSS workers count, package and ship AbilityOne office supplies, flash drives, labels and CD/DVD packs as part of a program under the U.S. AbilityOne Commission.

Zebra Registered Independent Software Vendor (ISV) and PartnerConnect Solution Partner, CSSI integrated its WMS solution with Zebra’s MC3300 mobile computers. It also customized the solutions with large characters, color coding and voice-directed picking to help visually impaired employees.

“The solution has helped us modernize our warehouse from a manual-based process to an automated one that has increased worker productivity and picking accuracy which has led to the near elimination of returns,” said Terri Kio, industry operations manager, North Central Sight Services. “Working with companies like Zebra and CSSI who are committed to helping visually impaired staff has made a measurable difference in our business with the technology and by making our staff feel supported in their careers.”

WMS by CSSI standardizes about 80 percent of the functionality on the MC3300 mobile computer, and CSSI customizes the other 20% for each customer. For the NCSS deployment, CSSI enlarged and color-coded text on the MC3300 mobile computers and created “success” and “error” notifications that appear in green or red text respectively along with audible notifications.

“CSSI Technologies has had a long relationship with NCCS, and this project brought us even closer to their business,” said Joe Tosolt, president of CSSI. “By working closely with the NCSS team, we were thrilled to create a solution which combined custom software with Zebra’s innovative Android-based mobile computers. This technology makes a difference for employees in NCCS’s workplace while improving business processes and preparing for the warehouse of the future.”

According to Zebra’s 2024 Warehousing Vision Study, 83% of respondents are currently or planning to use Android operating system in the warehouse by 2024.

Technical support for Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 ends in 2020 and Windows CE7 ends in 2021, which means companies will no longer have access to security patches and bug fixes for the devices running these legacy operating systems and should transition to new mobile computers running a modern mobile operating system. Businesses like NCSS are modernizing their warehouses with Zebra’s latest Android-based mobile computers and benefitting from its ergonomic design, Mobility DNA software and features like LifeGuard for Android, which provides software and security support for up to 10 years, helping elevate the performance of front-line workers of all abilities.

“Zebra designs products with an ‘accessible-first’ approach,” said James Morley-Smith, global director of User Experience Design, Zebra Technologies. “This allows us to provide an improved user experience for all end-users – from those with disabilities like a complete loss of sight to those with situational impairments like bulky work gloves. Zebra is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, and we support NCSS’ mission to help the blind and visually impaired.”