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From manufacturing to transportation and healthcare to retail, rugged tablets are being used for ever-increasing functions. This explains why the global rugged tablet market, which stood at $712 million in 2020, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8% to $863 million in the next six years.
Certainly, rugged tablets are here to stay, and why shouldn't they when they strike the perfect balance between functionality and robustness. Given their growing popularity, you may want to try out some yourself for your business, and rightly so.
However, a big challenge is to gauge the ruggedness and functional adherence of the device pertaining to the environment your industry expedites. Using a rugged tablet in extreme environments such as construction sites, mining sites, and oil rigs will be fraught with dangers. A chance encounter with another vehicle or thrown rock could result in an accident or broken machine. Perhaps the display's performance, which is crucial for navigating computer-aided design (CAD) applications, could be impacted — the display screen might fog up or become unresponsive under harsh conditions.
Likewise, the software platform (Windows or Android) might not suffice for certain critical applications. The battery backup might not be enough for a twelve-hour shift, and the keyboard might be challenging to operate in gloves or with wet hands. All such concerns make it necessary to have a clear picture of what you expect from the tablet and the environment where it will be employed.
The following are some tips from the in-house experts on selecting the best rugged tablet for your needs.
The concept of a tablet being a one-size-fits-all solution is a myth. As a matter of fact, every rugged tablet constitutes the ability to offer the best performance in a specific environment.
For instance, Zebra's L10 Rugged lightweight tablets, which are available in both Windows and Android versions, can help the workers work blazingly fast and scale the capabilities as per the requirements. As such, these tablets are ideal for a gamut of industrial usage, including transportation, warehouse management, field mobility, and transportation. Contrarily, the ET80 and ET85 Rugged 2-in-1 Windows Tablets are explicitly designed for unforgiving environments and are markedly powerful for use in the manufacturing sector.
There's no denying that both these series can be employed in a variety of scenarios; however, the fact remains that zeroing in on the most needed features is vital to performing exceptionally well. And one does that, the idea of an all-inclusive solution takes a back seat, and for all the right reasons.
The workers and the workforce who will be using this device will be operating it in a variety of tasks and environments — in mines, on construction sites, and in hospitals. Perhaps you could employ the workers to understand which rugged tablet they prefer — and this works quite well.
For instance, some might only prefer working with tablets providing the 2-in-1 feature. Such tablets, which come with a detachable keyboard, provide a traditional computing experience and can be better appreciated by workers who have been working on conventional workstations for a long time.
Similarly, some others could prefer Android devices, which are easily customisable and can be adapted to the organisation's specific needs. They are among the best choices when it comes to ensuring that the workloads are executing efficiently; however, they might seem cumbersome to some compared with Windows-based tablets that provide a classical computing experience. Again, the choice is subjective and must depend on what the end-user desires.
Imagine a scenario where a worker has to undergo a series of trials and tribulations before completing a task. A rugged tablet's battery backup could be a deciding factor in such a situation, especially if the worker has to work on a relatively prolonged shift.
Since workflows are inherently different and specific to various fields, it's recommended that the software platform be chosen with care. Holistically, the tablet should:
While selecting the rugged tablet for your needs, the important thing is to strike a balance among the following factors: performance, durability, and utility. Your choice should be such as to withstand the rigours of the field and deliver consistent performance. When you happen to strike that balance, you'll be able to extract the best out of your enterprise-grade rugged tablet.
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