Daniel Park, Sales Engineering Manager of Australia and New Zealand, Zebra Technologies
For businesses to be agile and retain their competitive advantage, it is important that teams are equipped with the right technology. Technology can improve efficiency and optimise their labour force, which is critical given the current labour shortage across Australian industries. However, it is imperative to be selective when picking the right solutions for the business, particularly as budgets remain tight amidst economic headwinds.
At times, business owners and IT buyers do not take the time to consider how their devices must function before purchasing them. As a result, these technological solutions may fail to seamlessly integrate within the existing infrastructure. Down the line, these issues can become a cost-burden for organisations that have to deal with various repairs or replacements.
To ensure that you are investing in the right tools, consider these factors:
1. Existing workflows
Your workflow is the fuel that keeps all the moving pieces of your business operating like a well-oiled machine. That is why it is important to consider how much you are willing to adapt your existing workflows to fit into the mold of new technologies. If changes are necessary, it is important to assess whether you possess the available time, energy, money, and resources to adapt accordingly.
However, tools that create the least number of alterations around your existing workflow may be the ideal starting point. Implementing technologies that seamlessly transition your staff from old devices (or no devices) to modern devices with familiar and easy-to-use interfaces will save your team time and a whole lot of aggravation.
2. The user experience
If the devices are not helping employees, your mobility solutions may just cause more frustration in the long run. Your employees want to feel well-supported by the devices without worrying about interference with their daily tasks. How will this piece of technology impact the employee’s work experience while using it? Is it practical for the user? Is it wearable? Is it economical for you, personally, and your business? Is the system intuitive or will it take a while to train staff and onboard new staff? These are some key questions that can help influence your device decisions. Comfort and lasting practicality are not always at the top of people’s shopping lists, but they are just as important as having a quality scanner that does the job.
3. The flexibility and security of different operating systems (OS)
Look for an OS that is built with a business user in mind. You will need flexibility in how you can manage your mobile and printing solutions, and you will probably want help monitoring for and pushing security and maintenance updates.
As a smaller business, you may not see the need for mobile devices that run enterprise-grade Android OS versions or enterprise printers with specialised OS platforms. However, you have the same data security and privacy requirements as every other business, and your customers are relying on you to deliver on time — just like your larger competitors. So, you need to level the playing field and even give yourself an advantage when it comes to device management and security. If you opt for enterprise-grade devices, you will be able to easily stage your devices on your own timeframe, add or scale new apps and even provide remote support for employees who may be out making deliveries when they report device issues. They have self-service device management tools built-in – tools that also make it easier to push security patches and updates and protect both devices and data. Plus, they are built to last and grow with your business.
You do not want to have to get new devices every year or two as new applications are needed, or an OS update is required. Even if you must spend a little bit more money upfront to get an enterprise-grade device, you will save so much money over five years — mainly because your devices will last that long, no matter how many times you need to upgrade the OS or workflow software.
4. Connectivity and visibility
Consider how your back-end systems sync or connect with the “edge” devices used inside and outside your four walls. Are workers in stores, warehouses, or the field able to make reliable, real-time connections to the people and data they need to complete tasks or assist customers? Communication always needs to be at the forefront of operations. If signals are getting crossed and insight is getting lost, you will not be happy with your new investment. You need to ensure the devices provide your team with full business visibility and keep them in sync with one another, partners, and customers. Look for technologies with the following connectivity capabilities to ensure effective communications:
- Indoors: You will want a secure Wi-Fi network. Just be sure each device’s Wi-Fi performance has been optimised for voice over IP (VoIP) and has a VoIP client to enable push-to-talk (PTT) and voice calls over Wi-Fi.
- Outdoors: You will need devices with cellular 4G/5G connectivity that can support an outdoor PTT voice client. Also, confirm the device has best-in-class audio features like noise-cancelling algorithms, multiple microphones, and a loud front-facing speaker.
Are you moving items around a store or warehouse space? Several valuable track and trace technologies can accurately and automatically reflect those changes in back-end systems, so staff, partners, and customers have visibility into the current status of inventory or orders. For example, handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) sleds can be attached to mobile computers to help associates quickly locate or account for items.
5. Long-term value
You will not be able to get much use out of your new devices if they break the first time they are dropped, they cannot be used in the rain\, or they will not be compatible with future wireless networks. Find solutions that suit the nature of your business.
There are different devices out there designed for specific operational needs. If your workplace is going to put a lot of physical impact on handheld devices, printers, or scanners, you will need ruggedly designed technology that can survive the daily hazards they will encounter through the years. You will also need to be able to add features or unlock certain functionality as workflows evolve. A quality investment is meant to last and perform up to your business standards.
It is important to pause to consider the true driving purpose behind every technology decision. Discover the role your mobility investment is meant to play, and know that by minding the details, the time, and money you spend today will pay off in lasting, impactful ways.
