How crucial is Rugged Device Maintenance in peak trading?
15 October 2024
Put simply, very.
Nothing can be left to chance when it comes to managing the
highest throughput of the year. Meeting shipment and delivery deadlines rests
on having slick operational processes, trained teams working to well-planned
rotas, and access to the right tools and systems. As rugged devices form such
an important part of this process, it’s vital they are included in peak
planning. And it’s why we recommend adding a rugged device maintenance
checklist to your to do list.
Rugged devices are the workhorses and get the best return on investment
Putting a new rugged device into the hands of operatives is always a pivotal moment for
warehouse operations and IT teams. As with any investment, it reflects the
importance of equipping teams with the best tools to perform their role. Not to
mention the prospect of improving productivity, efficiency, and employee and
customer satisfaction.
Rugged devices work hard. They have a longevity that
outweighs that of any consumer device, withstanding tough conditions and heavy
work loads. In terms of return on investment (ROI), rugged devices will win hands down.
Rugged device maintenance shouldn’t be overlooked
However, it’s easy to overlook doing rugged device
maintenance if they are to stay working at their optimum. As with any hardware
and software, regular updates and health checks are important. Rugged devices
may be smaller than a server or a laptop, but it does not mean that they are
any less important in the maintenance stakes.
Unfortunately, it can be during peak that operations teams
are reminded of this. Broken scanners, failing batteries, scratched screens and
out of date or legacy software can all contribute to inefficiency and delays at a time
when speed and accuracy are imperative.
Now is the time to do rugged device maintenance checks
Operations teams will be doing advance planning to ensure
there is enough warehouse capacity and people power in place to cope with the
demands of peak. In the same way, there needs to be a plan to ensure the
devices and systems they use are ready for intense use too. It’s good practice
to include it any rugged device management plans.
Get ready for peak with our ‘Peak Rugged Device Health Checklist’
To help make the process easy and ensure nothing gets
missed, we’ve developed a Peak Rugged Device Health Checklist. Comprising
the fundamentals, it will help IT and operations teams ensure they go into peak
confident that their rugged devices are in good health and fit for the
challenge ahead.
The checklist is formed of two parts. The first relates to
the administrative side of things and the second looks at the physical
attributes of the device.
Peak Rugged Device Health Checklist
Part 1 – Admin health checks
- Employee feedback to pin-point
- Repetitive errors or problems that need to be
addressed urgently
- Device specification - are they still in keeping with
the needs of the roles they perform.
- A check on the device contract status, to ensure
external support and SLAs are in place and can be called upon quickly in case
of device failure during peak.
Part 2 – Physical health checks
- Physical damage checks – keyboard, scanner,
ports, screen
- Battery health – are batteries able to support a
full shift?
- Accessory checks – label printers, tethered
scanners, wearables
- Connectivity / network performance
- Software updates
- Data backups
- Security updates
Let’s look at these device maintenance elements in more
detail.
Admin health checks
Prioritising admin health checks will ensure you are
well-versed in the service and support your contract provides. It also means
you can put in place a plan that will cause the least disruption to operations.
Employee feedback
Before getting started with the rugged device maintenance
checklist, refer to your teams. Are the devices fit for purpose? Can people do the job that is expected of them
with the handheld device that’s provided. If the answer is no, then dig deeper
and establish what’s not working and review requirements.
Do you need more long-range scanning capability for
instance or image capture? Are they robust enough for the conditions in the
warehouse? Establishing this early, will ensure the devices can be upgraded /
replaced in time for peak, and there’s enough time for any training that needs
to be done.
Think about the condition of devices with your team. There
may be devices that are no longer used because they have badly scratched
screens or broken scanners. These should be prioritised for repair or
replacement. Talking with your teams in this way, can also help identify
preventative measures, such as introducing better screen protectors, or
reviewing training related to how devices are used.
Device contract status
Do you know what’s included in terms of post-sales support
and service? For instance, will your supplier offer a preventative maintenance
visit and support you through the health check process?
Reminding yourself of what’s under warranty, what can be
replaced easily and quickly, and what will have a longer turnaround is so
important. This will ensure you know what action to take if you find faults or
problems with your devices as part of the health check analysis.
In some cases, you may find it’s simpler and more economical
to replace some of your rugged devices outright rather than try to fix them.
Understanding the contract will help you to make these decisions.
Knowing the terms of the contract will also help establish a
process for repairs during peak, when time is at a premium. Having just one
device out of action could be detrimental to performance. Knowing your options
ensures you can prepare the steps you’ll take when faced with different kinds
of scenarios.
Physical health checks
When you undertake the physical health check, log the
rugged devices that need attention. This will give you a running list of faults
to fix and helps establish the plan for repair. A rugged device hardware audit
should include the following:
Physical damage checks
Start with a physical inspection of the devices. Look for
signs of physical damage, such as cracked screens or worn buttons, that could
impair functionality. Consider the stress the devices will go under in the
coming months. If some buttons are not worn out but are showing signs of wear,
is it best you change them now rather than wait for something to go wrong
during peak? The answer is probably, yes.
Battery health
Check the battery performance of each device. Are they
recharging as expected? Are they docking into charging cradles properly? If
not, is it the device, or the power cable or cradle that needs attention? Replace
any batteries showing signs of reduced capacity and swap out cradles that
aren’t charging quickly enough.
Accessory check
Review the condition of accessories such as screen
protectors, and cases. Replace any damaged or worn items. If something isn’t
lasting well, think about whether it’s fit for the job or whether a most
durable format is worth investing in.
Connectivity & network performance
This is a topic that is likely to come up when you speak to
teams. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for a device to connect
as they move around a warehouse.
It’s possible you’ll need to look at both the device and the
network capacity. In some cases, boosters might need to be installed to provide
coverage where black holes are identified. A wireless survey can be a good way to establish what you need and
where.
Software updates
Software is updated by manufacturers for good reason. It is
usually designed to enhance performance, resolve known faults and improve
things such as usability.
Whilst peak is a good excuse to do a software update, it
shouldn’t be the only time it happens. Whenever a new release is announced,
make sure to upgrade as soon as possible.
Data backup
No business can afford data loss. Ensure that critical data
is backed up. For many organisations it will be a pre-requisite of contacts
with suppliers and customers. However, it’s also good practice for designing
robust business continuity.
Data security
Whilst legislation and regulation will determine many of
your organisation’s security protocols, so too will the cyber-security
landscape.
Software is often updated to reflect new cyber-threats.
Upgrading whenever there is a new release will ensure you are in the best
position to avoid a data breach.
Don’t make rugged device health checks an annual process.
Regular interventions can make a huge difference to
productivity throughout the year. It can also go a long way to build the
employee brand. If people are confident that have the right tools to do the
job, and that those can be relied upon, then they will be happier at work. A
quarterly review can be sufficient.
But best practice would encourage a rugged device check
monthly, if not weekly. Make the most of your device contract and the
post-sales support it includes. After all, if you pay for support all year,
then it needs to deliver a return on investment (ROI) too.
Need help with your rugged device maintenance process?
If you need help establishing a health check process that
keeps you ahead all year round, or want to feel confident that you are working
with a partner that takes service and support
seriously, then talk to us.
TouchStar’s partnership approach centres around always
providing the best rugged devices and supporting them during their lifecycle.
It’s why customers choose us and stay with us.