Communication is key when it comes to maximizing productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in the workplace. If you’re leading a warehouse team, how you communicate is going to determine how effective your team is at getting things done and keeping employees safe – but the quality of your communication often comes down to the quality of your warehouse radio.
A warehouse radio is one of the best ways to ensure seamless communication throughout the day, but if it doesn’t have the right features, it can slow down productivity and even lead to safety issues. To help you decide what works best for your team, we’ve created the ultimate guide to choosing the right warehouse radio.
How to Choose the Right Warehouse Radio
Even though most warehouses have a lot in common, there are many factors that can lead to unique needs. These factors, such as the type of warehouse and size of your team, are going to determine what type of communication system will work best. When comparing different brands and features, here are some things to consider:
- Size of your team: What kind of system you need depends on how many employees you manage. Not only will you need to determine how many radios and channels are necessary, but you’ll also need to identify what maximum efficiency looks like for your crew.
- Communication needs: Each type of radio will have a different communication range. What kind of range you need depends on the size of your warehouse. If there are delays in communication because of ineffective radios or spotty signals, this can be problematic for your team.
- What you’re willing to invest: There are many costs involved in purchasing a radio system other than the radios themselves. If your team is spread across different levels or buildings, most two-way radios aren’t sufficient without the addition of infrastructure such as repeaters and towers. Before purchasing a radio system, find out exactly how much the radios will cost you.
The warehousing industry is a vital part of the economy in the U.S., employing over 1.85 million individuals. As a business owner or warehouse manager, the success of your business depends on the effectiveness of your communication.
Obstacles to Clear Communication with Two-Way Warehouse Radios
Most warehouses use two-way radios to communicate between teams. This type of radio has been around since the 1940’s, but as the warehouse industry grows, so do the needs of warehouse managers and their employees. Some of the obstacles to clear communication with two-way radios are:
- Limited communication range
- Fragile radios that can’t withstand the warehouse environment
- Loud communication that’s distracting for workers
- Delays in communication due to spotty connections
Let’s take a look at some of the features all warehouse radios should have to prevent these obstacles and make communication as smooth as possible.
Features All Warehouse Radios Should Have
Once you’ve considered how many radios you may need and what your budget looks like, it’s time to think about what features to look for in a warehouse radio. Not all radios are created equal and there are plenty of features that can improve communication within your business.
Push-to-Talk
Push-to-talk is one of the most basic features every warehouse radio should have. With this feature, employees and supervisors can communicate with each other at the push of a button, without having to fumble with multiple switches. Push-to-talk allows for instant communication between different teams and employees.
Long-Lasting Battery Life
Many two-way radio batteries only last about eight hours before they need to be charged again. The entire battery then has to be replaced every 18 months to two years. To avoid delays in productivity, find a radio that holds a charge for at least 18 hours or more. This will ensure it lasts through multiple shifts without interrupting communication.
Built-In Emergency Alert System
Effective communication is one of the most effective ways to ensure workplace safety. According to a State of Employee Safety Report from 2024, 86% of employees experienced an emergency in the workplace. What’s even more shocking is the fact that 34% of employees said they don’t feel equipped to deal with these kinds of situations.
Clear communication is critical in preventing emergencies and even though not all emergencies can be prevented, a built-in alert system can keep employees safe when they do happen.
Compatibility with Wi-Fi Networks
One of the biggest drawbacks of warehouse radios is their inability to keep workers connected across long distances or between different levels. You need a warehouse radio that provides a reliable connection, working with Wi-Fi networks in your facility to provide seamless communication.
Radios that provide nationwide coverage throughout multiple networks are the most reliable option. This compatibility allows for consistent communication throughout the day, whether someone is using their radio, phone, or other device.
Real-Time Translation
If you run a warehouse of any size, you’ve likely run into language barriers in the past. These barriers in the workplace aren’t just an inconvenience – they can cost your business hundreds of thousands of dollars as well.
The majority of facilities rely on bilingual employees, but these vital employees can easily become burnt out and frustrated without proper translation services. Real-time translation can make communication seamless, no matter what language your employees prefer.
Replace Your Two-Way Warehouse Radio with Relay
Managing a warehouse team keeps you busy – and you don’t have time to constantly deal with communication issues that are affecting your team. If your current warehouse radio doesn’t offer all the features we mentioned, it may be time to switch to RelayX.
Unlike other radios, RelayX uses LTE and Wi-Fi networks so you don’t have to pay extra for costly infrastructure. It allows you to connect across multiple teams and locations without any delays. Want to know the best part? Relay comes with a built-in language translation, TeamTranslate™ allows for automatic translation of over 30 different languages across devices.
Relay has all of the features you need to keep your team connected – but if you’re not convinced, check out some of our customer stories to see how we’ve enhanced safety and communication for thousands of teams across the country.
Ready to see how our radio can improve productivity and efficiency for your team? Sign up for a live demo of our durable warehouse radio today!
