Rugged or Consumer Grade?
Which Tablet Should I Choose?

If this blog caught your eye, then you’ve probably been considering a more durable device for your workers.  The idea of increasing productivity simply by making workers more mobile brings to mind the hand-held computer or tablet. For tablets, consumer-grade units are often chosen based on familiarity with them in our personal lives.  We know how to operate them, we understand their capabilities and since we’ve dropped our own tablet a time or two, we think that they would work fine in an industrial environment.

Think again.
From a price standpoint, certainly consumer-grade tablets are more attractive.  And if you’re purchasing 10, 20 or 50 of them it seems even more cost effective.  But for a harsh environment like a warehouse, distribution center or manufacturing plant, it’s a totally different ballgame.  Because consumer devices were not designed to be particularly rugged (think multiple users, drops to concrete, dust, water sprays, extreme temperatures), lower-priced tablets will end up costing you more in replacement and repair costs over time.  Not to mention downtime associated with a device that fails mid-shift.

A rugged environment deserves a rugged device.  The quality and reliability of a rugged tablet is much higher because they are designed specifically to battle the demands workers place upon them. When reliability is high productivity remains high, downtime is limited and profitability stays in check.  When considering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), you quickly realize the benefits of a rugged device. Check out this ET50 video from Zebra and get a taste of what a rugged tablet can handle.

Consider the Zebra ET50 Rugged Tablet

If you’re looking for an example of a tablet that can easily stand up to your environment, without compromising the styling and form factor of a consumer-grade tablet, then the Zebra ET50 or ET55 might be just what you’re looking for.

• Your choice of OS – Android 5.1 Lollipop or Windows 10
• Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 with Native Damage Resistance™
• IP65 sealing (dust-tight design that can handle a water sprays at full force)
• Wi-Fi and 4G LTE support
• 2 integrated cameras for basic bar code data capture (8MP rear and 2MP front)
• Optional advanced imaging engines to capture any 1D or 2D bar code
• Handles 3.2 ft drops to concrete, or 6 ft with optional extra-rugged frame

If you’re on the hunt for improved productivity, lower operating costs and greater flexibility, consider the advantages of a rugged tablet. Consumer tablets aren’t necessarily built for industrial applications, and most certainly don’t offer you the range of accessories and functionality that these tough applications demand.  The ET50/ET55 Enterprise Tablets address these issues and allow you to tailor data capture features, rugged specifications and power management for your workforce; and at the same time giving your IT department the tools they need to simplify backroom management and efficient use of backroom space.

Need new ideas for warehouse productivity to get your New Year off to a more efficient start? We’ve helped hundreds of companies eliminate inefficient processes and blast through productivity milestones.  We can help you too.  Contact us today for a free consultation and see how quickly your world can evolve.

4136B Jersey Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Phone (423) 855-1822 | Fax (423) 499-6317

sales@barcominc.com