As consumer demands are constantly increasing, businesses need to face a critical decision; modernize or be left behind. Nowadays, working environments are more dynamic than ever before. During daily operations, employees need reliable tools to support them on the go. 

For this reason, rugged handheld devices have become a substitute for desktop computers, as they are more flexible and smarter for today's work. 

When considering investing in new mobility solutions, a business owner might be tempted to implement consumer-grade tablets and laptops as they are a common choice. However, business-grade tablets adopt the same operating systems on desktops and laptops, yet deliver a similar user experience. In addition, rugged tablets have a longer lifecycle and can bring to the table an unparalleled level of customization and management controls. 

In this article, we will introduce you to our rugged handheld solutions. By doing so, we will focus on how implementing rugged tablets can benefit your overall business ROI. Let us take a look!

Introduction to rugged handheld devices 

Rugged handheld devices are tools designed to improve workers' productivity while delivering hardware that tolerates harsh environments. At the same time, rugged tablets bring together the mobility of a smartphone along with the larger screen and advanced processing power of a laptop computer.

Ultimately, rugged devices enable highly mobile workers to access the information they need in real-time. Besides, they provide operators with various additional apps and functions such as the push-to-talk voice, cameras, and scanners. 

Of course, the value of rugged handheld tablets goes beyond what we have just mentioned. Compared to their counterparts, rugged tablets can deliver the following:

1. Rugged reliability and resilient performance

2. Unmatched management options and customization

3. High longevity and peak performance levels during shifts

4. Environmentally sustainable designs

5. Extremely long lifecycles

Let's delve deeper into these five selling points to understand why more and more businesses are opting for such a solution. 

Rugged reliability and resilient performance

Rugged handheld devices are durable and offer an ergonomic design, providing unmatched reliability. Rugged tablets are used in many different industries such as logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and retails. Often workers need to rely on such equipment when working in rural, remote, or unpredictable environments. 

Some examples could be provided by technicians and manufacturing teams, which often operate in extreme working conditions. Under this premise, rugged handheld tablets can withstand harsh conditions as well as bumps and accidental drops. 

Consumer tablets usually shut down when confronted with extreme temperatures, salty air, and high humidity, whereas rugged counterparts can operate under high heat or frigid cold. For instance, the Urovo P8100 enterprise tablet is resistant to extreme temperatures (even at minus 30°C) and repeated exposure to dust, dirt, and water. Our solution is IP67 rated, granting workers high efficiency no matter the climate or task at hand. 

Unmatched management options and customization

One of the main selling points of rugged tablets is their "customization." Rugged tablets can suit many different applications. For instance, retailers may look for devices with user-friendly interfaces, easy to operate and ergonomic with point-of-sale payment processing capabilities. On the other hand, front-line utility workers may prioritize high visibility screens, GIS access, and drop-proof equipment. 

No matter what kind of business, rugged tablets are extremely versatile also thanks to their extensive number of accessories and optional features, including:

Integrated barcode scanner

RFID readers

GPS

Mounting and docking systems

Legacy input/output (I/O) RFJ45 or HDMI-in

Enterprise rugged devices are built to support business operations: software can be upgraded without interfering with the ongoing workflows. In addition, rugged handheld devices grant a high level of security with IT management tools such as multi-user login, multi-factor authentication, and SmartCard/Common Access Card readers. Such functions empower business owners by protecting valuable and sensitive data.

High longevity and peak performance levels during shifts

With today's technology, the rugged tablet can be quickly recharged and serve for an entire shift without turning off. Some tablets use a hot-swappable or auxiliary battery to avoid operations downtime. 

At the same time, desktop-comparable processing power and memory storage of rugged tablets make it easy to run at high performance. Wireless connectivity usually is not an issue either, as engineers properly set up antennas to ensure a constant signal between the devices.  

Looking at Urovo P8100, our rugged tablet is equipped with a removable 8400 mAh lithium battery design to ensure continuous battery life. The device has a memory of 4GB RAM with a micro SD card equipped for up to 256 GB. For connectivity, we use a dual-band 3G/4G/5G Wi-fi. As a result, workflow remains uninterrupted increasing work productivity. 

Environmentally sustainable designs

Sustainability is one of the elements kept in high consideration both from business owners and the general public. Especially, consumer expectations for sustainable products have been increasing along with environmental regulations. In this regard, many businesses are giving more weight to rugged tablets, which can last over ten years with the right maintenance.

Compared with consumer tablets that usually last up to two years, the rugged option reduces businesses' carbon footprint. Companies choose rugged devices to boast lower chum rates and because they can be recycled. In this way, enterprises reduce their contribution to landfills and hazardous waste. 

Urovo is committed to sustainability securing the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) from the Global Electronics Council for materials transparency as proof of providing truly green products. 

Extremely long lifecycles

In a nutshell, rugged devices lifecycle can be divided into enrollment, provisioning, deployment, management, and retirement. As we previously mentioned, when compared to consumers devices, the rugged solutions have a longer lifespan. Rugged devices need less maintenance and won't result in large expenses for replacement or repair. Besides, long-lasting and easily replaceable components such as batteries further improve the offer value. Other components such as chargers and adapters are upgraded only if necessary, rather than with every new device iteration. 

Ultimately, rugged devices implementation costs up to 50% less than consumer mobile devices.

To know more about the rugged tablet lifecycle, you can consult our article - Rugged Tablets: The 5 Phases of the Device Lifecycle Management.

Conclusion

New challenges and constant changes demand businesses to embrace new technology solutions that can support the unique needs of their front-line workers. Smart tools such as the Urovo P8100 rugged tablet can offer mobility, security, and ease of operation for healthcare, logistic, manufacturing, and retail industries. 

Our P8100 has already become an indispensable assistant for our partners' daily operations. Its 8-inch full-fit TFT color screen and dual speaker stereo offer more visual information, wider display, and clear feedback sound. 

The device is equipped with an octa-core high-performance CPU that supports Android 10.0/9.0 OS. In addition to the tablet, we have developed richer accessories and functions such as 1D/2D scanning, keyboard with optical fingerprint or electromagnetic screen version, PSAM card design, and RTK high-precision positioning.

Urovo is specialized in providing reliable, professional, and scalable services for its customer base. All Urovo solutions comply with ISO9001 quality management and ISO14001 environmental management systems. 

Contact us to know more about our rugged tablet solutions.