Author: Mr.Tawan Jandang
Regional Director Thailand and IndoChina, Honeywell Systems (Thailand) Ltd.
Few aspects of mobile computer deployment are as easy to understand – or misunderstand – as the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO.) It is easy for businesses to calculate the purchase price of the hardware and license fees, but when the initial cost analysis is complete, companies often find themselves wondering why their IT operations, support and software maintenance costs continue to rise.
Choosing the right mobile devices in terms of reliability, battery life, upgradeability, device features and ruggedness can have a big impact on the TCO of a mobile computer deployment, as the cost to support and secure mobile and wireless devices rockets each time a device needs attention.
Assessing the Work Environment
Selecting rugged devices over consumer type PDA’s can significantly lower TCO. On average, ruggedized computers last five years whereas 80 percent of consumer devices have to be replaced after three. Non-rugged PDA’s are also more prone to breaking down as they are designed to be light and compact. Ruggedized computers are developed for enterprise needs and built to withstand the bumps and knocks such devices suffer in the field.
For example, a handheld that will land on a carpeted floor when it is dropped doesn’t need to be as rugged as one that will land on concrete. Drops are the leading cause of damage to mobile computers and are the leading cause of resulting damage and downtime. To be considered rugged — and therefore reliable — mobile computers must be rated to repeatedly withstand at least five-foot drops to a non-yielding surface.
Future-proofed Devices
A key aspect to also consider when evaluating the TCO of your mobility deployment is the extent to which your mobile devices allow you to ‘future proof’ or update for emerging technology, without having to undertake total equipment refit. New hardware such as the Honeywell Scanning & Mobility Dolphin 75e Mobile Computer has been designed to accommodate for technological demands such as 2D bar-coding, be rugged enough to withstand falls of 1.2 metres to concrete and is pocketable. The device is also highly flexible and can be migrated to all current and future operating system needs. This means that a company’s handheld computer investments can be preserved and reutilised without buying a whole new range of mobile computers.
Sustainability through Software
But as well as ensuring you select the correct mobile equipment, there is also software on the market that can help lower the TCO of your mobile computer deployment. Device management software (DMS) can help cut labour costs and boost productivity by freeing IT staff to do their work without the time, effort and cost required for physical contact with devices they manage.
DMS can keep track of a company’s investment in mobile devices by allowing real time visibility of mobile devices’ status and availability. If a device is unavailable for an extended period of time, the DMS alerts IT staff. By comparing devices with a list of pre-determined properties and settings, the DMS can monitor and control which devices have components that need to be updated.
DMS can also help maximise productivity by keeping software applications running and in optimal working condition. Updates, upgrades and other maintenance can be automatically pushed out to users by device management software without interrupting work.
As companies embrace mobile technologies, the need to contain costs while supporting an expanded base of users and devices becomes a sizable challenge. Choosing the correct mobile devices and employing management technology such as DMS can make a big contribution towards extending the life and usability of mobile devices, as well as lowering the overall total cost of ownership.
The Right Mobile Computer for the Right Job
Many mobile computers can quickly be ruled out from consideration because they lack the battery power to last the length of a shift, or lack the staying power to remain reliable throughout a three-to-five year life cycle. Features like rugged construction, well supported operating systems, remote management support and flexible peripherals provide value by protecting businesses from having to replace their mobile computers prematurely. By understanding how these features differentiate devices, and by carefully considering the environment in which mobile computers will be used, businesses will be able to determine the device that will provide the most value.
