Deploying a large number of rugged handheld devices in a warehouse can be an expensive and complex process. In other applications like field service, some companies have successfully migrated to consumer-style mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad. But could a warehouse use that type of hardware?
If cost is the only consideration, then the short answer is “Probably not.” VDC Research has consistently found that the total cost of ownership (TCO) of rugged handhelds is significantly less than that of consumer devices for the same applications – nearly 43% lower, in fact.
In other types of mobile applications, consumer devices have been used in place of purpose-built rugged handhelds with varying degrees of success. In mobile field or route sales, for example, a consumer phone in a rugged case could be used for basic inventory and order entry, while eliminating the need for the sales rep to carry two devices.
In other instances, the use of consumer devices can create more costs than it eliminates. Frequent OS updates or mobile device management limitations can increase tech support costs. Battery life on these devices is often not as robust or reliable, which can impede productivity. And even in a protective case, the devices are more likely to be damaged or suffer a broken screen, which leads to costly downtime and device replacement.
That’s why you rarely see companies attempt to deploy consumer phones or tablets in the warehouse environment. For one, mobile devices in the warehouse are frequently dropped, exposed to extreme heat or cold, stepped on, and occasionally run over by heavy warehouse vehicles. The scanning environment in a warehouse is also much faster paced. The scanners typically found on consumer phones simply can’t scan with the speed and accuracy of the imagers built into rugged data collection devices.
However, there are protective cases and sleds available that can transform a consumer mobile device into a rugged data capture device.
Honeywell has developed a series of Captuvo sleds for a variety of consumer devices, including the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, and the iPad mini. The sleds provide enterprise-class scan performance based on the company’s Adaptus Imaging Technology, an encryption-ready magnetic stripe reader, and a durable case that can greatly reduce device failure rates in challenging environments (up to 80% lower than with competitive products). The sleds also provide additional power to the devices, increasing availability by as much as 60%.
Rugged devices designed for use in a warehouse are typically built to last; in fact, they may remain in service for five or even up to ten years in some cases. Consumer devices were not designed to last that long, but when outfitted with the type of protection and enhanced capabilities offered by the Captuvo family of sleds, they can perform up to the level required for a warehouse management application.
Whether that type of solution will work in your warehouse depends on your budget, your IT support resources, the number of devices required, the type of application and work environment. A thorough total cost of ownership analysis would be required to determine whether a consumer phone/tablet could replace the rugged handhelds in your facility.
