The Big Decision: Rugged or Consumer Devices?
19 July 2022
Businesses now have more options than ever before when it comes
to mobile technology supporting their operations, with the decision on which
devices to use becoming increasingly difficult.
Businesses can choose from a large number of devices with
a variety of operating systems and features to support manufacturing, logistics,
cold storage and other enterprise activity. Before diving into a comparison, businesses
should consider a fundamental decision - whether to use rugged or consumer devices.
After all, making the right choice could save your business time and money, so
do not treat this decision lightly.
What is a rugged enterprise mobile device?
A rugged enterprise mobile device is a smartphone, tablet,
or another electronic handheld that is built to withstand the demands of
commercial use. There are three types of rugged: semi-rugged, fully-rugged, and
ultra-rugged (i.e. indestructible), and the level required by a business is determined
mainly by the operational environments.
Many rugged enterprise devices have additional options and
features such as barcode scan engines and longer-lasting batteries, as well as higher IP ratings against water and dust.
What is a consumer enterprise mobile device?
A consumer enterprise device is a smartphone, tablet, or another
electronic handheld that can be used for business but also can be used as a
personal device. For example, a personal smartphone that a line manager uses
for business purposes such as looking up inventory data.
There are two options for using a consumer device;
purchasing consumer devices expressly for a business, although some major
modifications might be required, or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) when employees
supply their own mobile devices and access the company’s applications.
Key considerations between rugged vs consumer devices
Cost
When considering costs, it’s important to consider the total
cost of ownership (TCO) and not just the initial buying costs of devices. This
is because the TCO also takes into consideration fail rates, costs of repairs,
replacement, productivity and device maintenance.
Although consumer devices are cheaper to purchase initially,
they have a shorter lifespan and are more likely to be damaged during their
use, leading to downtime, repairs and potential replacements. On the other
hand, rugged devices will last longer and withstand harsher conditions, making
the need to repair/replace them less. Therefore, when comparing the total cost
of ownership, rugged devices can cost a business less in the long run compared
to consumer devices.
Ease of use
Consumer devices are used by workers every day, and due to
their continued development, are more familiar and easy to use compared to
rugged devices. This familiarity, plus their compact size, makes them more
appealing to businesses looking to invest in technology. A consumer device also
has an advantage in terms of screen size and convenience, making them a
favourable choice to many.
On the other hand, it’s important to note that newer rugged
devices are now using an Android Operating System which makes them more similar to many consumer devices.
Many are also easier to use in harsh environments compared to consumer devices
as their toughed touchscreens are glove-friendly and resistant to cracks.
Durability
Consumer devices are more likely to fail, and have a shorter
life cycle compared to rugged devices, with technology also becoming older and
phased out more quickly. Plus, consumer devices rely on the user purchasing
protective covers whereas rugged commercial devices already have them built-in.
These hardened rugged casings are all assigned an IP rating for users to
understand their protection level and are designed to withstand drops and shocks.
Therefore, rugged devices are the clear winner when comparing durability, and
can be used for many years.
Work environment
Choosing between rugged and consumer devices will also
heavily depend on the business’ specific work processes and environments, as
some can be more hazardous than others. Consumer devices are not designed to
operate in the harshest environments and therefore wouldn’t be suitable for all
users.
In comparison, rugged devices are specifically made for
tough situations with built-in protection against dust, moisture and heat.
These devices are also designed with longer battery life, high processing
speeds, screen resilience and larger memory, all ideal for use within a
challenging work environment. Therefore, rugged devices are more robust in a
range of scenarios and don’t require extra care or protection when in use.
Software customisation
Customisation for some businesses is very important, and
unfortunately, many consumer devices are limited in customisation options. On
the other hand, with rugged devices, businesses can have more say and adapt the
device’s software to meet their needs. These customisation opportunities can range
from custom branding to a fully modified rugged device in line with business
operations. These modifications to the software are there to improve the
overall experience of users and help increase work productivity, such as adding
key features to the home screen.
Security
Depending on the consumer device, there are a number of
built-in features that can be more susceptible to cyberattacks, allowing
unauthorised access to any stored data which may include sensitive business
data. Although some consumer devices are now increasing their built-in security
features to prevent data breaches, there is still a high chance of the device
being stolen from a user’s pocket and re-sold. Therefore, consumer devices can
not only provide easier access to a device’s data, breaking data protection
policies but are more likely to be stolen.
In contrast, rugged devices have enhanced built-in security
features such as the lockdown of applications so that only authorised users can
have access. This enhanced protection helps prevent cyber attacks on a company
network. Rugged devices are also unlikely to be used for personal use, and so
would be kept on-site, helping to prevent theft.
Find out more
The choice between rugged and consumer devices is always a
personal one and will depend on the business and its operations. The most
important thing for a business to consider is whether the device is fit for its
purpose.
If you decide to invest in rugged devices, we have you
covered. We have over 30 year’s experience and can help transform your
operations with rugged devices to provide you with a robust solution to your
process and procedural needs. You can rest assured that you’ll receive all the
help from TouchStar you may need. To find out more about our rugged solutions
and how they could benefit your business, please get in touch.