Survey: why your mobile workforce needs rugged tablets

The mobile workforce has been responsible for a great deal of innovation and everyday business enablement, and they have shifted and evolved quite dramatically over the last 20 years.

However, while they might be an ever-evolving workforce, their device of choice has remained the same.

It seems the majority of mobile workers are still demanding that businesses equip them with rugged tablets, as they provide the best mixture of functionality, portability and ease-of-use, serving as a fundamental part of what makes mobile workers so efficient.

This is according to a survey commissioned by Xplore and Intel, who talked to 225 mobile workers and 68 mobile computer resellers worldwide, asking them about which mobile platform they preferred.

The results showed that rugged tablets are still the top choice for the mobile workforce, with 64% primarily preferring the devices, and they are still the most requested amongst multi-platform resellers.

These are the top three reasons why rugged tablets are still on top:

Compatibility will all current software and legacy equipment - 49% of respondents indicated that this was the primary reason for the adoption of rugged tablets, as they are tailor made for business circumstances rather than force-fitting infrastructure or software.

Connectivity - Related to compatibility, rugged tablets proved to be the best for I/O connectivity requirements.

For example, many utility, telecom and even manufacturing workers benefit from things like True Serial port connectivity to specialised equipment.

At the same time, companies can't afford for entire workflow management systems to be "offline" when a wireless signal is weak.

Thus, more than two-thirds of companies are starting to rely on more platform based - or device driven - workflow systems and need devices that can facilitate those systems both offline and via reliable 4G, WiFi and even satellite connectivity

Overall manageability, security and cost savings - Many organisations have attempted to take a BYOD mobility program. Others were hoping to make do with consumer-grade devices.

As respondents confirmed, neither mobility strategy delivered the desired cost savings, lower IT burden, or employee satisfaction.

Rugged tablets, on the other hand, delivered all of the above and more.

They are easy to use, proven to increase productivity, and the only truly mobile computing platform that enables companies to standardise on more secure workflow management solutions.

Plus, rugged tablets exclusively deliver long-term platform stability and, therefore, increase the tangible and intangible ROI of any organisation's entire mobility solution.