By Joanna Jagiello, Marketing Director at The Barcode Warehouse
As the business world becomes increasingly digitised, industries such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare are faced with the challenge of keeping up with the demands of technology while also ensuring that their operations remain efficient and reliable. Whether it’s keeping up with the latest advancements in technology, handling the increase in the amount of digital data being both generated and collected, or ensuring that your team has the equipment they need to safely, and efficiently, carry out their jobs no matter what environmental challenges they might face.
Today, we discuss the key technological challenges being faced by industries like yours in 2023 and what the solutions to these might look like.
Key challenges being faced by businesses in 2023
During the covid-19 pandemic, business owners faced a myriad of challenges. Manufacturers faced delays and issues with their supply chains, first responders
were exposed to more risk with less support than ever before, and restricted access to customer sites made carrying out routine services and checks increasingly
difficult to do.
In addition to this, many were forced to quickly adapt to fully remote working environments – using their own, unsuitable, consumer tech to try and maintain connectivity and productivity at such a challenging time.
While the pandemic is well and truly behind us, or so we hope, the need for tech designed specifically for the job your workers are doing has become even more of a priority and with it comes a whole new wave of technological challenges.
Keeping up with technology
Companies must stay current with the latest tools and software to stay competitive. This requires ongoing investment and training.
Data management
With the increasing amount of data being generated, and collected, by businesses, managing and analysing this data can present a significant challenge. Investing in data storage, management and analysis tools, as well as ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
Cyber security
As more business is conducted online, companies are at increased risk of cyber attacks. Businesses must invest in cybersecurity measures to protect themselves
from data breaches, hacking, and other cyber threats.
Reliability
With workers back in the field, reliability has become even more important. Reducing downtime, minimising the risk of device failure or malfunction, and maintaining safety standards is a priority.
New ways of working
As the world becomes increasingly digitised, companies must adapt to new ways of working, such as automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. This requires new skills and capabilities, which can be difficult and costly to acquire.
Dependance on technology
Companies are becoming more dependent on technology to run their operations and business processes, which can make them more vulnerable to disruptions caused by technical failures, power outages, or cyber attacks.
What all of these challenges have in common is that the devices and technology being used could act as the solution! Let’s explore that in a little bit more depth.
Future-proof your business with new technology
As a business owner, it is crucial to stay abreast of the latest technological developments in order to remain competitive in todays fast-paced market. The roll-
out of 5G networks in the UK is a prime example of this. Starting in 2019, the full deployment of 5G is set to reach 68% of the population and 12% of the geographical area by 2023. With 5G quickly becoming the standard in mobile connectivity, it is important to consider the implications for your business.
Investing in consumer technology may seem like an attractive option, but it also commits you to making additional purchases and incurring increased costs. A more cost-effective solution is to invest in rugged technology, which is gaining popularity for its ability to help workers stay better connected and, therefore, more productive. By keeping an eye on the state of technology, and making informed decisions about investments, your business can stay ahead of the curve and thrive in todays digital landscape.
What is rugged technology
Rugged technology refers to devices and equipment that are built to withstand harsh environments and conditions. These devices, which can range from smartphones to tablets, laptops, and specialised equipment like barcode scanners and RFID readers, are designed to be durable, reliable, and able to perform in
extreme temperatures, shock, vibration, dust and other harsh conditions. By choosing rugged technology, companies can ensure that their operations are not interrupted by equipment failure, that their workers have exactly the right features and functions to carry out their tasks with ease, and that their data is protected even in the most challenging environments.
Here are four reasons why companies are making the change from consumer-grade to rugged technology:
1. Increased uptime and productivity
Rugged technology is built to withstand the demands of harsh environments, which means that it is less likely to fail or need repairs. Devices are built with durable materials and have features such as water and dust resistance, and wide temperature tolerance. Given that they are designed to remain functional in all-terrain environments, there’s less need for repairs or replacements as they are, quite literally, built for the job. Reducing the time that work devices are out of commission
serves not only to maintain productivity levels, but also to reduce the fix/break costs associated with managing a device estate.
In addition to this, rugged technology is equipped with features that enhance your workforces experience. High-resolution displays, long battery life, and powerful
processors, help your workers perform their tasks more efficiently in the challenging conditions they are likely to encounter. They also offer options such as barcode scanners, RFID readers, and other specialised input options that can be used in industrial and field work.
2. Improved data integrity and security
Rugged technology can play a vital role in improving data integrity. Due to their enhanced durability, which reduces the likelihood of accidental damage that could
corrupt or destroy data stored on the device, rugged tech often comes equipped with data backup and recovery features, such as redundant storage and automatic data backup, as well as advanced security features such as encryption and secure boot that can help to protect data from loss or corruption, unauthorised access or theft.
Finally, rugged devices can be managed remotely, allowing IT teams to monitor and maintain the devices remotely, troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly, and perform regular software updates and security patches. This helps to ensure that the devices are always up-to-date and secure, which helps to protect data integrity. By investing in rugged technology, businesses can ensure that their data remains safe and accessible at all times.
3. Cost Savings
As well as increasing uptime and reducing the overall cost of ownership, investing in rugged technology can provide a better return on investment and help businesses save money in the long run. Upgrading your device estate to all rugged tech may initially cost more than traditional consumer-grade equipment, but it can ultimately save businesses money in the long run. Rugged devices are built to last using more robust materials; reducing the frequency of needed repairs and replacements. Further to this, features such as high-resolution displays, long battery life, and powerful processors, also help workers to perform their tasks more efficiently, which can help organisations save money on lost productivity over time. Win-win!
4. Competitive Advantage
Choosing rugged technology can give companies a competitive advantage by allowing them to operate in environments and conditions where their competitors
cannot. This can be particularly beneficial in industries such as construction and logistics, where companies need to be able to operate in challenging conditions to be successful. Being able to offer services that your competitors cannot can open doors to new contracts and customers; helping you to recoup the initial outlay for rugged tech in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Choosing rugged technology is a wise investment for companies looking to improve their operations, protect their data, and gain a competitive edge. With its ability to withstand harsh environments, rugged technology can help companies increase uptime, productivity, security, and overall efficiency.
