What does AIDC cover?
Automatic identification and data capture connects physical items and handling units with transaction data. Barcodes, RFID, mobile computers and labeling are parts of this flow. Reading a barcode does not by itself post an inventory movement: the WMS must identify the intended item, lot, pallet or location.
Start with the workflow
- Task: Receiving, picking, counting or shipping?
- Environment: Dust, cold, moisture, gloves, scanning distance and shift duration?
- Connection: How does data reach the WMS, and what happens during an outage?
- Label: Which surface, reading lifetime and print station?
- Acceptance: Record a pilot with real items, labels and users.
What does WMS compatible mean?
Validate the device model, operating system, WMS version, browser or application, data delivery method and label template together. Ask for these components as separate proposal lines. A generic compatibility statement is not a substitute for an accepted workflow demonstration.
Connect hardware to the workflow
- Receiving and counting: Try mobile computers and rugged tablets with scanning, quantity entry and transaction confirmation.
- Packing: Use a barcode scanner to check the order and a label printer to print the correct case identifier.
- Locations and shipping: Distinguish the location's rack label from the moving unit's pallet label.
- Sourcing: Keep Zebra, Honeywell and Datalogic channel verification separate from the device's WMS acceptance test.
Editorial selection guide. Validate the exact model and application in your warehouse.