Our September 10 post  focused on the total cost of ownership (TCO) of mobile devices.  The post explained that ruggedized devices are often more expensive due in part to extensive testing.  Venture Development Corporation’s (VDC) estimates testing device ruggedness to be as much as $100,000.00 per design.  It’s unlikely such testing is conducted for commercial products that are not required nor expected to support claims of ruggedness. 

So what kind of testing is done?  The following is a summary of the tests used to determine the ruggedness of handheld devices.
 
Drop Rating:
The drop rating is a measure of a devices ability to survive repeated falls from a specified height.  In rugged device testing, the surface is concrete while the height can vary.  Naturally, the higher the survivable drop height, the more rugged the device.  A drop height of 4-5 feet to concrete is considered a reasonable test of ruggedness.

IP Rating:
An Ingress Protection Rating (IP rating) is a standard used to identify to what degree a device can withstand exposure to solid particles and liquid ingress.  Typically, an IP rating is expressed in 2 numbers – such as IP65.  The first number indicates the protection against solid objects or dust with a maximum rating of “6”.  A “6” indicates that the device is impervious to any ingress of dust.  The second number indicates the protection against liquids, where the maximum rating is “8”.  An “8” would indicate that the device can withstand continuous immersion in water.  A device with a high IP rating would be an important consideration for use in outdoor applications.

The required IP rating will vary by application, however, commercial device manufacturers rarely specify an IP rating.  Again, commercial devices are not designed with excessive dust and liquid exposure considerations. 

Operating Temperature:
Commercial terminals are typically designed to operate in a “normal” environment where the temperature is fairly constant such as an office.  Using a terminal outside of its specified operating temperature range may lead to premature failure.  Industrial terminals are designed to work over wide temperature ranges that often include conditions well below freezing.  This is an important variable to consider if the terminal will be used outdoors.

 Let’s get mobile! Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about ruggedized mobile device best meets your requirements and budget.

One of Grandma Nardi’s favorite sayings was “Penny wise, pound foolish.” It comes to mind because today we’re going to take a look at Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

With any major purchase decision, enterprises perform a cost benefit analysis.  Unfortunately, many  make the mistake of not looking beyond the purchase price of a mobile device.  It’s essential to also consider costs over the expected life of the device. 

Since budgets are key considerations in the decision-making process, price is a major concern.  Higher priced hardware may present purchase barriers.  However, price, in relation to cost, is a one-time expenditure whereas costs are ongoing and can affect the business over time.

It’s true that the initial cost of a rugged enterprise digital assistant (EDA) is often higher than a commercial non-rugged unit.  This is due to more complex engineering, extended testing, higher sales costs and low production volumes.  However, studies show that rugged devices have a dramatically lower total cost of ownership over a 5 year period.  It’s like the old TV commercial about auto maintenance where the mechanic says “You can pay me now…or pay me later.”

This finding is backed up by Venture Development Corporation’s (VDC) findings in their Total Cost of Ownership models that surveyed a broad range of actual deployments.  VDC reports total cost of ownership annual savings of up to 17% in Field Profession applications and up to 32% in Supply Chain applications for rugged hardware deployments.  So even though the purchase price of a rugged device may be higher than a commercial device, it is usually money well spent in the long run.

Commercial devices are designed for use in a non-rugged office environment where rugged features are not important considerations for consumers. If commercial devices are deployed outside of their intended application, the lack of rugged features can seriously shorten their lifespan, adding to the total cost of ownership.

 Let’s get mobile! Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about total cost of ownership considerations and which mobile device best meets your requirements and budget.