Choosing Rugged Vehicle Mount Computers
02 September 2019
From cold chain to
potentially explosive atmospheres, there’s no limit to the variety of working
environments within which workers need digital back up. At many of these
demanding workplaces, workers also need their hands free, which is where rugged vehicle mount computers come into play. Docking securely on truck and van
dashboards, as well as on forklifts, pallet trucks, order pickers and other
types of material handling equipment, rugged vehicle mount devices provide easy and
robust access to the digital systems and data that workers need on the operational
front line.
Here we take a look at
the most important factors to consider when choosing rugged vehicle mount
computers for your business.
Features of rugged vehicle mount
terminals
To be as effective and
functional as possible within harsh conditions and extreme environments, rugged
vehicle mount computers need several key features:
Specialist touchscreens/voice control
Standard mobile
computers and smartphones may have touchscreens, but it’s unlikely they’ll keep working if
exposed to dust and dirt, water and drops from height. A rugged device boasts ultra-tough,
ultra-responsive touchscreen technology, even through thick gloves and even in
extreme temperatures, with built-in screen defrosting for cold chain conditions.
Processing power
Industrial-grade
rugged devices for vehicles boast more processing power than your average
consumer or commercial grade mobile computer. You’ll need this so that your
workers can run multiple applications seamlessly and without lagging loading
times as they log job progress and access operational data.
One-handed docking and undocking
Challenging industrial
settings involve constantly changing workloads and shifting priorities. Workers
need versatile hardware that can keep up with them as they switch from one task
to another.
Make sure your chosen
vehicle mount computers work across different vehicles, vans and trucks and can
be docked, undocked and redocked quickly and easily, even with one hand and
while wearing gloves.
Look for robust environment
performance
Most importantly,
rugged vehicle mount computers need to withstand tough working conditions
without any dip in performance. Material handling equipment is heavy machinery,
built to take impact and intense vibration, so any mounted devices need to do
the same. Rugged devices won’t need constant repair or replacement when placed
in harsh working environments, taken out on the road or frequently docked and undocked from
vehicle mounts, making them more than worth the investment.
Warehouse management, manufacturing
or waste? Which devices work best in which industries?
The right rugged
vehicle mount computers for your organisation will also depend on the nature of
your business. Warehouses, for example, need rugged vehicle mount
devices that work alongside connected rugged scanning technology for efficient inventory management, while
manufacturing firms tend to need rugged hardware that makes for simple decentralised control across each point of a supply chain.
Organisations in the oil and gas sector should look for rugged vehicle mount
computers with ATEX specification – the official regulatory standard that
ensures the safety of products used in potentially explosive environments. For waste management companies, truck mountable rugged devices that
undock quickly and easily for mobile work will be top of the list.
Whatever your business
focus, a specialist rugged mobile hardware supplier like TouchStar can help you
narrow the market to find the right rugged vehicle mount computers for you. Not
only that, our expert technicians are poised to help you integrate your new
rugged hardware into your operation and our ongoing customer support services
and onsite troubleshooting ensure you’ll always get the most from your tech.
Ready to find out more? Get in touch with us today.
ABOUT PETER MARSH - SALES DIRECTOR, TOUCHSTAR RUGGED MOBILE COMPUTERS
Peter joined TouchStar (formally Belgravium) in a sales manager role in 2001. Prior to joining the company, Peter held Partner and National Sales Manager roles within the parcel and logistics industries.
In 2011 Peter was promoted to Sales Director and is now actively involved in promoting the value of TouchStar’s Rugged Mobile Computing solutions to the warehouse, logistics, manufacturing and field service industries. When not involved in the business, Peter is a keen and enthusiastic football and cricket fan.