Vocollect Integrates Voice with Hands-free Scanning

Vocollect, a business unit of Intermec, Inc. and provider of voice-enabled solutions for mobile workers, has unveiled its new Talkman A700 solution that introduces an integrated voice and scanner in one wearable solution – developed to improve user productivity while reducing the need, cost and management of multiple peripherals.

The solution facilitates hands-free scanning for process steps such as inducting totes at the beginning of assignments, batch-picking and product traceability, while retaining the ergonomic and performance benefits of a compact, purpose-built mobile device.

“In the past we have deployed Bluetooth ring scanners to support scanning in voice workflows,” said Bill Morris, senior director, hardware systems, Manhattan Associates. “All indications are that eliminating the extra piece of equipment, the additional battery required to power the scanner, and the management of pairing the Bluetooth scanners to the Vocollect Talkman A700 solution will be beneficial in both productivity and reduction of maintenance.”

Lipari Foods, a leading food distributor based in Warren, Mich., with more than 8,000 customers in 12 states, uses Vocollect Voice for case- and each-picking in its distribution operations and has realized an 80 percent error reduction and 12 percent productivity improvement. “We had a great experience with our pilot of Vocollect’s A700 solution,” said Joe Beydoun, systems and process manager, Lipari Foods. “Our associates also like the smaller form fit and extended battery life. There are many tasks that can benefit from scanning in addition to voice, such as weight capture. Having a single hands-free device that supports both voice and scanning is a powerfully efficient tool for picking and many other distribution tasks.”

In addition to the optional integrated bar code scanner, when used in combination with Vocollect’s VoiceCatalyst software and wireless SRX2 headset, the A700 solution supports a number of features that accelerate deployment and shift start-up times and improve both system performance and user comfort.

• Vocollect SoundSense: Maximizes speech recognition quality by blocking unwanted environmental sounds such as honking fork lifts, conveyors and freezer fans, enabling a 50 percent reduction in recognition errors when compared to other leading industrial headsets
• Vocollect TouchConnect: Brings immediate touch-pairing of a worker’s Vocollect SRX2 wireless headset to the A700 solution, reducing start-up times
• Vocollect RapidStart: Provides workers with consistent, self-guided education, minimizing supervisory coaching time and increasing the speed of worker competency on processes
• Personalized Voices: Introduces a new “personalized voice” option which enhances the nearly 200 voice options currently offered by Vocollect, providing companies with additional flexibility for their distribution operations environment

The A700 solution is designed to be used by both new and existing users of Vocollect Voice. It provides a flexible, configurable architecture approach, designed to adapt to new challenges within the supply chain as business needs evolve.

“With the advent of our A700 solution, there is no better time for companies to take a new look at voice for transforming their distribution operations,” says Jay Armant, VP of product management, Vocollect. “As the global voice market leader, Vocollect brought forth a vision of the voice-centric warehouse, and today offers the most comprehensive end-to-end, integrated solution to help companies optimize their supply chain performance.”

The Vocollect A700 solution will be commercially available early this autumn.