Are you a busy business owner? Maybe, you’re looking for ways to enhance your business property this summer. If you can relate to this scenario, consider upgrading the front door of your business establishment. The front door is one of the first things customers will notice when they visit your business. Giving the interior of your business property a fresh coat of paint is also a wonderful idea. If the parking lot in front of your business’s building has seen better days, consider having it repaved. You want to provide your customers with easy and safe access to your place of business. On this blog, I hope you will discover the importance of keeping your business property beautiful and inviting. Enjoy!
If your workers carry rugged mobile devices in the field, sooner or later they'll want and need the convenience of a rugged printing solution. Rugged mobile printers make it easier and more convenient for field workers to transfer crucial documentation from data to paper. These printers are also durable enough to survive the vibrations, shocks, and temperature extremes that often come with outdoor working conditions.
When choosing a rugged mobile printer for your employees out in the field, it's important to consider the following criteria:
Environment
Where and how your workers intend to use their rugged mobile printers can have a tremendous impact in the mobile printing solution you'll ultimately choose. For instance, oil field and utility workers may need a rugged mobile printer that offers the highest level of Ingress Protection (IP) available to withstand high levels of dirt and moisture intrusion. Portability is also an important factor, especially for workers who expect to carry around their belt-mounted rugged mobile printers.
Some working environments may also require additional capabilities aside from printing. Law enforcement officers, for example, may need rugged mobile printers that are also capable of reading driver's licenses and other valid forms of identification. Field technicians and sales representatives may also need mobile printing solutions that are also capable of capturing handwritten signatures and reading credit cards for on-site payment and work order authorization.
Ease of Use
Not only should the ideal rugged mobile printer be capable, but it should also be easy for field workers to use. Complicated and complex user interfaces can be a liability in the field, making critical transactions and operations slower than necessary while frustrating end users. The ideal rugged mobile printer must be quick and easy for workers to use.
Many mobile printing solutions offer one-button functionality, making it easier for field workers to perform critical tasks with the least amount of input needed. These buttons should also be large enough to accommodate workers wearing thick gloves.
Adding too many options to a rugged mobile printer not only adds complexity, but also unnecessary weight—a potential drawback in field conditions where portability is paramount. Consider only the essential feature sets needed for your workers, and carefully add special features only as required.
Printing Speed
Your field workers not only need a portable printing solution that's portable and rugged enough to withstand a variety of operating environments, but they also nee don that is capable of providing fast, high-quality printing. Today's rugged mobile printers have evolved from clunky machines offering slow printing speeds to compact, modern equipment that can print a variety of documents at reasonable speeds.
When choosing a rugged mobile printer, consider the type and volume of printing your workers need in the field. Having the fastest possible printing speed is essential for serving customers and vendors. Paper capacity is also an important factor for applications where high-volume printing is necessary.
Connectivity
It's also important to consider your rugged mobile printer's connectivity options. Most rugged mobile printing solutions offer Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, making it easier for field workers to send documents from handheld computers and other mobile devices. You should also consider how your mobile printing solution integrates into your company's back-end systems and whether any additional connectivity features are needed.
Longevity
The life of a rugged mobile printer can be a harsh one, but environmental conditions aren't the only factor that determines your rugged printer's projected lifespan. As technologies and formats evolve, the last thing you need is for your newly purchased mobile printing solution to become obsolete overnight.
Consider the potential for scalability and customization when choosing a rugged mobile printer. Don't forget about the need for software and driver updates—your IT team must be able to push these updates remotely whenever they're needed.
Battery life should also be an important consideration for rugged mobile printers. If your field workers don't have access to convenient power sources to recharge their devices, they'll need as much battery life as possible.