JonRasmussen
on - last edited on
You've seen our "future of field work - coming soon" hints over the past few weeks, and now, Intermec today launched the CS40 rugged mobile computer.
The launch release (read the full press release here) opens with an interesting question - is the CS40 a smart phone or rugged mobile computer? The CS40 is the first rugged mobile computer with the size and styling of a smart phone, providing the ultimate solution for mobile professionals that require high performance barcode scanning and mobile line of business applications.
So why does making the switch to rugged benefit the mobile workforce? Let's take a closer look.
We already know that nobody likes change. Mobile workers don’t want one more “thing” to learn that might slow down their already hectic day.
So, many companies wonder – if people already use smart phones in their everyday lives – why make them carry around one more piece of equipment? Some merchandising companies have even started using iPhones armed with limited applications for their day-to-day operations.
Despite that, it’s pretty simple. Rugged mobile computers are more reliable, contain many more features to speed productivity, and frankly, allow stable operation and expansion for multiple years, which you can’t say for smart phones.
A Feb. 2010 Forrester Consulting study found the top 10 important factors driving mobile applications include:
- Increased worker productivity
- Increased employee responsiveness and decision-making speed
- The ability to resolve customer issues faster
- Improved customer satisfaction ratings
- Faster resolution of internal IT issues
- Increased sales revenue
- Competitive differentiation
- Improved field service management, scheduling and dispatching
- Reduced sales cycle
- Improved brand perception among customers
At the end of the day, what do all of these goals equal? Revenue.
To achieve all of these revenue-driving goals, companies would not only benefit by migrating from traditional consumer-grade smart phones to rugged mobile computers, but also see increased productivity from the get-go.
So besides the obvious (money), what else might motivate companies to make the switch? In my next post we’ll look at a few benefits and general trends as to why companies might look to make a change to something more rugged, like the CS40.
