What Is The Future of Rugged Devices?
15 November 2021
As rugged devices continue to grow in popularity across a
variety of sectors, manufacturers also continue to grow and develop their
device capabilities. Rugged devices are becoming more intuitive, have better cameras/scanners,
operate at a quicker speed and become smaller where needed, such as in some
handheld devices.
If manufacturers keep progressing with demand, rugged
devices will continue to change in the future. So, what are our predictions for
the future of rugged devices?
Mobile connectivity
As 5G
networks continue to roll out across the country, it’s likely that 5G will soon
become the standard in mobile connectivity. In line with the growing 5G
network, we’ll see manufacturers increase their supply of 5G compatible devices
to meet the growing demand across different sectors.
Not only
will 5G become more popular, but it’ll also help a lot of businesses stay
better connected. 5G connectivity will also allow workers to be better
connected and potentially streamline their day-to-day processes; the increased
network speed could allow for the implementation of intelligent warehouse
solutions that enable workers to monitor workflow progressions from production
to dispatch and delivery. The faster connections will be pivotal for
streamlining existing processes and optimising the capabilities of current
technology.
Internet of Things
Internet of
Things (IoT) works to connect objects and technology to exchange real-time
data. This data can take different formats like images and videos, and IoT
helps to better analyze and monitor this information. IoT can be widely adopted
to enhance systems such as supply chain management, in addition to the performance of
devices and applications, including rugged devices.
Capturing
images and other data in harsh environments and transmitting them in real-time
can be crucial for some sectors. By increasing the development of IoT in rugged
devices, more industries could benefit from being better connected and able to transmit
necessary data even quicker than they do now.
Operating system
Although the
Windows CE operating system was once king, ever since Microsoft phased out
support in 2018, Android is quickly becoming the chosen leader of rugged
operating systems. For businesses choosing to migrate to Android Enterprise for
their operational needs, many are experiencing the benefits that it offers,
including:
- Regardless
of the device manufacturer, the end-user will enjoy the same familiar experience.
- Designed
to support multiple work profiles and managed devices at once.
- Highly
customizable interfaces and uses across a variety of sectors.
Any
migration from Windows to Android must be considered carefully, looking at both
hardware and software requirements, as well as app strategies. Management
solutions must also be thought through to fully leverage Android’s capabilities
and allow businesses to maintain high levels of productivity.
Analytics
The
reliability of rugged devices across all sectors is essential to productivity,
and if a device encounters a technical issue, productivity is impacted. This
makes device analytics even more crucial for IT departments in order to empower
businesses to proactively monitor and enhance device uptime.
With
advanced analytics on devices in the future, businesses will be able to adopt
emerging trends such as artificial intelligence (AI) to automate manual tasks
such as simplified decision-making processes. Also, businesses will be better
adapted to anticipate and take precautions before any issues take place on
rugged devices and applications, providing a better overall user experience
when they need it the most.
Find out more
At
TouchStar, for the past 30 years, we’ve been providing businesses with the
latest devices and software to help them stay productive and connected. And we
will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Get in touch today
to speak to one of our expert team about how we can best help your business
now, and in the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - PETER MARSH
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.