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New Year, New Gear

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Ahh, yes, it’s that time of year when we can sit down and think about all those resolutions we gave up on last January.  But this time, it’s going to be different.  We’re going to make a plan, vet the plan, set a timeline and milestones and really kick it into gear. 

Do away with old habits

No, we’re not talking about the latest diet craze, or fitness fad, we’re talking about your warehouse technology!  Old habits die hard, as they say, and that’s because it’s a little easier (and less costly) to keep on doing what we’ve always done; as long as it doesn’t negatively impact our productivity or bottom line. 

That’s fine if you’re talking about wearing the same t-shirt you’ve had since you were 29, but it’s not okay when it comes to computer technology.  We operate in a new age, and a different environment than we did a decade ago when it comes to satisfying our customers.  The recurring theme is boosting productivity and lower, more manageable costs — and in order to be successful we need to have the power to make it happen. 

From barcode label printers to handheld scanners and mobile computers, great gains have been made in the operation, functionality and cost of these devices.  And the timing couldn’t be better with the changes that both Verizon (saying goodbye to 2/3G networks) and Microsoft (ending Windows Handheld support) have announced in recent months.  Based on these alerts, and the day-to-day customer demands, it’s likely your existing technology is just not going to make the grade if you intend to stay ahead of the competition.  Here’s why:

  • Data connectivity will be impacted if you’re not using a device that operates on a 4G LTE network
  • Without the security patches and extended support from Microsoft, your existing Windows OS devices will be vulnerable to security risks
  • Access to a whole host of apps means less burden on your IT staff; today’s technology uses Android OS, which is a breeding ground for app development, giving you access to tons of ways to simplify your work
  • Android-based mobile computers are familiar to users due to a similar interface, making ramp up time fast and easy, allowing increased worker productivity

Consumer-grade smartphones and tablets were first to lead the charge with Android OS, but for industrial environments these devices just don’t stand up.  Industrial mobile computers, tablets and vehicle-mount computers are designed to withstand dust, dirt, water sprays, drops to concrete and more, making them a smarter choice from a productivity and TCO (total cost of ownership) standpoint.

To further secure the position on moving to newer technology is the fact that leading manufacturers are helping to future-proof your investment with support from Android O through Android R, giving peace of mind to organizations who want to keep costs controlled and management simple.

Talk to us today about evaluating your existing devices and see if the time is right for you to be planning your next gen mobile device strategy.