Primeur picks Wi-Fi bar-coding to supply Argos

Primeur, a soft furnishings supplier to Argos, B&Q and Wilkinson, has deployed a Wi-Fi bar-coding system in its warehouses to deliver paperless data collection.

Installed and maintained by Barcoding.co.uk, the Wi-Fi bar-coding solution has boosted efficiency and accuracy by integrating with the firm's ERP business system.

The Wi-Fi system helps the firm handle a product line of 1,120, with about 5m individual items a year being imported from suppliers in India and Europe.

The entire Primeur site, across three warehouses, is equipped with 20 Proxim Wi-Fi access points, comprising an appropriate mix of AP700 and AP500 scanning devices.

This system enables real-time data collection and communication using handheld computers equipped with barcode scanners. The devices run terminal emulation and talk directly to the ERP system.

This enables operators to place the correct item in the correct stock bin. Then, by also using the portable terminals to assist with picking, accuracy is maintained with items matching the pick-lists displayed on the handheld devices.

Glynn Robinson, systems support manager at Primeur, said, "We are able to run a very well-managed business using real-time data. This is the right approach for us and has eliminated vast amounts of paper, which reduces operational and environmental costs, and significantly boosts accuracy."