We are certainly living in a digital age and one aspect of that is logistics; we are moving from mechanical to electrical solutions and the digital revolution has led to the birth of a new sector, namely white glove logistics. As the name suggests, this industry is tasked with the handling and installation of technical equipment, which demands qualified white glove technicians who are approved by the manufacturer.

Range of White Glove Logistics Services

A leading UK white glove logistics company such as Rhenus High Tech would offer a wide range of specialised services, which include the following:

• Final Mile Delivery – Large and complex equipment such as MRI and CT scanners are typically delivered by the manufacturer to a pre-agreed location which is close to the final destination. Such an operation would present complex challenges to the white glove team; the equipment would need to be manoeuvred through doorways and up several floors and this often means disassembly, which is part and parcel of the work. 
• Data Centre Relocation – Large companies have a lot of data to store and after a few years, they require their data centre relocated to another facility. This is very technical work and the technicians need to obtain certification from the manufacturer before they can work with the equipment.
• Reverse Logistics – When a piece of equipment needs to be removed, the white glove team are called in. It might be that the equipment has malfunctioned, or had been installed for a demonstration period and the white glove team would take the equipment to the given destination. Here are a few tips to developing a business successfully.
• WEE Recycling – When a large company wishes to replace their IT hardware, the white glove team would install and configure the new hardware and they would dispose of the old equipment according to WEE directives. There are severe penalties for dumping IT hardware, so you need to use a company that has government approval for dealing with old IT equipment.
• Hi-Tech Warehousing – If a piece of equipment needs specialist storage for any reason, talk to a leading white glove logistics provider, as they have a storage facility with very precise climate control. Medical equipment, IT hardware and delicate digital equipment might require safe storage and the white glove logistics company are the people to talk to.

Business Sectors That Rely on White Glove Logistics

There are quite a few business sectors that rely heavily on white glove logistics, which include the following:

• Banking & Finance – ATMs are installed and serviced by white glove logistics teams. Commodity markets and stock exchanges require very secure telecommunication networks, which are set up and monitored by white glove teams.
• Medical Sector – Technical equipment such as MRI & CT scanners, plus complex X-Ray machinery.
• Retail – Many bar code systems are installed by white glove technicians. Digital signage is another field that is supported by white glove technicians, with huge 4k video screens that are made up of many smaller screens.
• Manufacturing – Robotics is big business, with many factories already being fully automated. Extremely complicated robotics systems require specialists to install and the technicians need to study to gain the certification they need to work with the equipment.
• Printing & Imaging – 3D printing is really taking off and all high-grade printing and imaging equipment requires specialised installation. Complex imaging equipment is often calibrated off-site at the white glove warehouse.
• Vending & Gaming – All the latest generation of touch-screen vending machines require expert handling and next time you are in a casino, the slots are the domain of the white glove technicians. Special security clearance might be needed for working on the slot machines in casinos, which is part of the job description.

The white glove industry is booming, as more and more technical equipment is replacing the old mechanical machines. The UK government understands the importance of technical logistics and if you are ever in need of specialised technical logistics, Google will help you locate a leading company and they would be happy to show you what they do.