New Solution: On-Demand, Color Wristbands

Save the Bay (http://www.savebay.org/Page.aspx?pid=1435) protects, restores and improves the ecological health of the Narragansett Bay region of Rhode Island, including its watershed and adjacent coastal waters, through an ecosystem-based approach to environmental action; defends the right of the public to use and enjoy the Bay and its surrounding waters; and fosters an ethic of environmental stewardship among people who live in or visit the Narragansett Bay region.

This year, Save the Bay wanted to utilize new technology in one of their largest fund raising events; the 1.7 mile swim across Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.  For this event, 466 swimmers collected over $300,000 for the Save the Bay organization.  Prior to this year, Save the Bay utilized “popsicle sticks” to track swimmers.  However, the organizers wanted a more efficient data collection solution to account for all swimmers as well as track times.

To meet their requirements, Save the Bay selected ValuTrack Technology Solutions (http://www.valutrack.com/).  ValuTrack provides unbiased recommendations, delivers top-notch implementations and services in Auto Identification and Data Collection (AIDC), Networking, and Security.  Although Save the Bay had no budget for a solution, ValuTrack felt this organization would enable them to give back to the community and provide goodwill/positive public relations for the geography they serve.

For the event, Dave Janelle of ValuTrack created a template wristband with a barcode to identify swimmers and a Wave Number (in color) to help organize the start.  In addition, Dave added the ValuTrack logo (in color) to increase the awareness of their company’s contribution to the event. 

Using the Epson TM-C3400 printer along with wristbands from General Data (www.general-data.com), ValuTrack printed serialized, 11” x 1.25” color, on-demand wristband for each swimmer.  Prior to the swim, organizers scanned then placed the wristband on each swimmer; and started swimmers based on the wave color.  As the swimmers finished their trek across the bay, organizers scanned the bands again to insure every swimmer reached shore.  According to Dave, “Even after some swimmers were in the water for more than 2 hours, there were no scanning issues and no smudges with the bar coded wristbands.  They performed flawlessly!”.   According to Gretchen Heath, Events Manager for Save the Bay, “The wristbands were well received.  People like the idea that next year we will use it for more accurate timing as well.  The staff is all on the barcode bandwagon now”.

Using the TM-C3400, value added resellers and independent software vendors like you can create color-based solutions easily; providing your customers new processes, saving them time and reducing their costs.  If you have recently installed a solution that includes the TM-C3400, please let me know.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com