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New IDC Study: The Business Case for Rugged
New IDC Study: The Business Case for Rugged
No one can deny that mobile technology has dramatically changed the way people work. From increasing worker productivity in the field to improving real-time customer service, mobility offers companies and agencies more flexibility, which impacts the bottom line. But there are risks with these new rewards. From inevitable drops or usage in extreme conditions, mobile devices can encounter more damage risk than traditional PCs. The lost productivity and cost it takes to repair a damaged device can mount quickly, as workers increasingly adopt mobile devices, both commercial and rugged, for use outside the office or on the road. We hear this from customers who have opted for a consumer-grade device and later switched back to a Toughbook device.
We recently asked analyst firm IDC to conduct a study to evaluate the true cost of mobile device damage across a broad range of vertical industries. The report, “Pay Now, Save Later: The Business Case for Rugged Devices,” sheds light on the true and hidden costs associated with damaged devices. It concludes that while enterprise-grade rugged devices “cost more up front, over time, the benefits in terms of durability and productivity will typically far outweigh the higher initial cost.” Key findings include:
The Device Damage Dilemma
Device damages cost organizations more than just repair charges, the loss of employee productivity due to device downtime is a hidden cost that adds up quickly. Though productivity is difficult to measure and varies depending on usage and environments, IDC reports that some cases a down device means work is completely stopped – that costs real money. Customers continue to echo this pain point to us.
Money-Making Mobility
As mobile devices become increasingly important to businesses, a growing number are turning to ruggedized mobile computers and tablets to minimize failures and lower TCO. According to IDC, turning to rugged devices for their durability and longevity may cut costs in the long run. Rugged devices are built to withstand common organizational damages (device drops) as well as more industry specific needs of a mobile workforce (daylight readable screens and swappable batteries). IDC’s study examines why upfront cost of rugged devices may be more than their commercial counterparts, but actually end up costing significantly less in repairs over their lifecycle than commercial devices, yielding some positive results for organizational productivity and ROI.
To see the full results of IDC’s research study and learn how rugged devices can save organizations money, check out IDC’s full whitepaper, “Pay Now, Save Later: The Business Case for Rugged Devices.”
