— Newsletter Archive: Newsletter Vol. 10, 2024/5/15 —
This series of newsletters introduces solutions that utilize the logistics management solution “HAKO-FLO” to improve the efficiency of manual tasks such as “receiving/shipping management,” “inventory management,” “stocktaking management,” and “documentation,” including cargo damage reports, and beyond.
In previous newsletters, we have introduced topics such as RFID technology to instantly acquire information, LiDAR sensor technology used in inspection and damage reporting applications, and barcode and character recognition technology.
In this and the next issue, we will cover the cloud services that the various HAKO-FLO services utilize to share information.
PAT. P
The global pandemic has resulted in an increased need for digital transformation (DX) in logistics warehousing operations, including rising logistics costs. One of the key technologies driving this DX is cloud services. One of the characteristics of cloud services is that they can be accessed from anywhere via the Internet and offer the scalability to start small and expand flexibly as needed. Many cloud service providers (CSPs), including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, offer managed services to manage and control cloud resources, which allow CSPs to take over some of the management of IT infrastructure, thereby reducing operational efficiency, allow us to respond to changing business needs while maintaining operational efficiency and security risks.
(1) HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service running on Microsoft Azure
The HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service is built and operated on Microsoft Azure, a cloud service provided by Microsoft. During the early designing of the HAKO-FLO CLOUD Services, we concluded that it would be relatively easy to implement the basic system requirements. We also considered the ease of releasing the developed system and selected the functions to be used in the HAKO-FLO CLOUD service (see Figure 1).
The HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service is currently operated from the U.S., but it is designed with operations in other regions such as Asia and Europe in mind, and is configured to allow flexible deployment of the service according to customer needs.
(2) Role of the HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service
The HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service provides features like user authentication, data storage and retrieval functions via API to HAKO-FLO applications such as RFID Query and EZ report, which are warehouse efficiency improvement solutions provided by HAKO-FLO.
The HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service provides OAuth 2-based user authentication, which reduces the risk of user information leakage by authenticating users without retaining user credential information in the application.
Users have attributes such as operator, supervisor, and administrator, and the functions available to them are categorized according to each attribute.
In addition to services via API, the HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service also provides user interfaces that allow users to browse data with various Web browsers (see Figure 2). Since user authentication is unified with OAuth 2 described above, users can use the HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service via a Web browser using the same user information as when signing in from the HAKO-FLO application.
Data uploaded from the HAKO-FLO applications are stored in databases and file storage, and can be accessed anytime, anywhere from any device, including PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
Data stored in the HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service can also be exported tin CSV format, making it possible to reuse the stored data using other applications such as Excel.
(3) HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service User Interface Features
The HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service provides user interfaces with functions compatible with HAKO-FLO applications such as RFID Query and EZ report, which are warehouse operation efficiency improvement solutions provided by HAKO-FLO. The screen layout consists of a “Narrowing Area” at the top of the screen for searching and narrowing down data and a “Display Area” for displaying data, and this screen layout is common to all HAKO-FLO Services in consideration of user operability (see Figure 2).
The Narrowing Area displays the database fields managed by each HAKO-FLO Service, where you can enter criteria to refine or search for data, and the results are displayed in the Display Area (see Figure 3).
Fields to be displayed in the narrowing area can be customized according to each customer’s requirements, and we will configure the database according to the customer’s business.
In addition, in order to utilize the data stored in the HAKO-FLO CLOUD Service in your WMS, etc., an export function of data in CSV format is provided, which can be executed by clicking the icon corresponding to the respective function.
In the data Display Area, each user can freely set the items to be displayed, so that only the necessary information is displayed according to the user’s work.
We, Tokyo Electron Device Limited, provide Microsoft Azure in Japan as a Microsoft Cloud Distributor. We leverage our strengths as a technology trading company and manufacturer to offer the best solutions to our customers and provide Microsoft Azure through our unique technical support program.
In addition to providing IoT and AI services for a variety of industries, we also provide support services for using Microsoft Azure through our Azure Certified for IoT support lab and support services for certification work for diverse types of businesses.
We offer an easy-to-implement service “HAKO-FLO” that utilizes cloud services and other technologies that are highly effective for business efficiency. We also provide consulting services to help our clients utilize these technologies in their workplaces.
If you have any warehouse management issues, please contact us.
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