Why Rugged Technology Is The Way To Go

This article from Derek Oja at MobileDemand takes a look at the benefits of choosing rugged mobile technology over consumer devices and includes some points to consider, including total cost of ownership, when choosing a mobile device. Ruggedized equipment is designed and tested for use specifically in industrial environments; places like that give a new meaning to “wear and tear”. Employees can be careless with their devices and withstanding drops, dings, and accidents while being able to deal with inclement weather is crucial. Considerations should be taken to deal with vibrations from vehicles and equipment, drops onto hard surfaces, heat, cold, moisture, dust, and dirt.

Taking these considerations into mind, a recent study conducted by Venture Development Corp. (VDC) showed several results that this article looks at. Here is a sample:

Industrial devices require fewer repairs.

The failure rate for commercial devices is about double that of industrial models. And commercial devices take longer to repair.

Downtime is synonymous with lost revenue. Equipment that doesn’t work is frustrating for employees, and lost productivity affects your entire organization. According to the VDC study, over a five-year period the average cost of lost productivity for commercial devices is $3460 more than for industrial models. That can easily swallow any initial savings you might have enjoyed.

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