INTELLIGENT MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Whether used
on-site or in
the field, a
business has a
far greater need
for reliability,
connectivity,
security,
ergonomics and
durability in its
devices.
INTELLIGENT MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Organisations
of every type
and size need
mobile devices
to leverage
the connected
world to support
innovation and
productivity;
efficiency and
savings.
O
Hozefa Saylawala, Director of Sales – Middle East & Africa, Zebra Technologies.
Three steps to mobilising your
workforce and business
More than simply finding the right device, businesses must
carefully consider their specific needs, ensuring they can
become as smart and connected as the world we live in says
Hozefa Saylawala, Director of Sales – Middle East & Africa,
Zebra Technologies.
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ssue 07
NTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS
ne of the most widespread
examples of business
transformation over the past
20 years has been the revolution in
mobile computing. This technology
enables operators to save time, increase
productivity and streamline business
processes. The key challenge though for
enterprises is to select the right device for
their needs.
While it may appear to be a cost-saver
upfront, using consumer-grade devices
in the enterprise environment entails a
higher total cost of ownership (TCO). VDC
Research estimates the average annual
TCO of a ruggedised mobile computer is
44 per cent lower than the average annual
TCO of a non-rugged, consumer-grade
small form factor device. This is because,
over the course of five years, the cost for
hardware will only account for 10 per cent
of TCO and less obvious operational costs
– such as productivity loss, opportunity
loss, IT support, or repair – will make up
90 per cent of the TCO.
When compared to a standard
consumer device, however, business needs
are vastly different. Whether used on-site
or in the field, a business has a far greater
need for reliability, connectivity, security,
ergonomics and durability in its devices.
It’s also important that it doesn’t need
replacement every 12 months.
Organisations of every type and size
need mobile devices to leverage the
connected world to support innovation
and productivity; efficiency and savings.
More than simply finding the right device,
businesses must carefully consider their
specific needs, ensuring that they can
become as smart and connected as the
world we live in. Here are the three key
steps to consider:
Step 1. Operating with the
right system
While mobile computers need to have the
form (design and functionality) to suit their
business use, it’s also important they can
offer a wide range of advanced functions.
This means the choice of operating system
(OS) has also become an important factor
for businesses to consider.
With support for the dominant
Windows CE and Windows Embedded
Handheld OS coming to an end,
companies will increasingly need to adapt
their mobile applications to new systems
and they must do so without sacrificing
security or reliability.
For companies to manage this
transition, they need to look for solutions
which fortify Android for enterprise
and allow companies to protect their
devices and apps with a range of security
measures. These include authenticating
users, controlling apps, managing software
updates, encrypting data and more.
Step 2. A form that’s fit
to function
Baxi, a leading manufacturer and servicer
of gas boilers, sought to undertake
mobile transformation to empower
hundreds of its field engineers. While
researching the market, Baxi field-
tested several consumer-grade devices,
including smartphones and tablets.
While these devices offered the modern
operating systems, large screens and the
multifunctional experience expected from
today’s mobile devices, their fragility in
the face of day-to-day work revealed they
were the wrong tools for the job.
Instead, Baxi selected rugged touch
computers, which were designed with
the realities of fieldwork in mind. With
high-resolution screens, excellent volume
and sound quality, and fast processors,
they provided all the appeal of a consumer
device, while crucially being built to
last (look for tumble-tested and a 2.4m
military standard drop rating) and able to
function consistently over a long period
of heavy use. These devices enabled Baxi
engineers to add a raft of new functions
in the field, scanning barcodes whether
they were dirty or damaged, acquiring
customer signatures, playing videos and
sat-nav directions.
Step 3: Making update and
integration effective
The final consideration for any
company wishing to undertake mobile
transformation lies in ensuring that a
new mobile system can be integrated
into a business as seamlessly as possible.
Mobilising a workforce represents a major
opportunity for far-reaching business
transformation, but it also requires
significant training, integration with
existing systems and roll-out if the value
is to be realised. True transformation
means not just mobilising existing
processes, but re-evaluating how
processes, people, devices and data
interact to deliver new value to customers,
employees and the business.
Look for a trusted partner, one with an
extensive understanding of mobility, and
experience of enabling enterprises with
more real-time operational visibility, to
help a company looking to take these steps
when building an intelligent enterprise.
Effective mobile transformation is
more than simply the business-wide
uptake of a new technology. At its most
effective, it offers the most valuable
competitive edge for business: real-time
visibility that is visionary.
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