Frozen Assets Cold Storage, a Chicago-area based provider of storage solutions for foodservice companies, knew from the start that its business was extreme.

As a third-party logistics provider, it needed a way to efficiently build custom pallets for its case-pick customers in its new 267,000 square foot warehouse. There it stores and ships fresh and frozen meat, seafood, baked goods and beverages across the United States.

To do that efficiently, the company needed a data capture system that could travel through three environments—freezer, cooler and dry storage—and a temperature range of –35F to 80F. And, the terminals needed to make the transition from environment to environment without draining the batteries, fogging or freezing. The company also needed a way to track products that was compatible with its established warehouse management system (WMS).

The company decided on freezer-rated handheld readers and vehicle-mount computers (Psion Teklogix, 800-322-3437), which provided its workers with real-time inventory information. The handheld terminals have a heated liquid display that has a rapid refresh rate and clear view screen capabilities. Warehouse personnel can now check inventory information instantly, without frozen keyboards or fogged displays.

"From a workflow standpoint, it just made sense to make the entire system wireless," says Jerry Cronin, IT director for Frozen Assets Cold Storage. "Everything on the system is time-stamped so if I scan a pallet ID right now, I can tell how long it takes to unload a truck, scan products, ship them off and track the shipment."

By being able to scan inventory in real time, workers are able to pull cases from single pallets and track what's being picked. "With real-time data collection, we were able to leverage the capabilities of our warehouse management system and allow our customers to view real-time progress of their receipts and orders," says Cronin. "This allows the customer to view the progress online without having to call customer service."