How Ruggedness Reduces TCO For Mobile Computers — VDC Research Presented By Intermec

By Intermec, Inc.

General-purpose PDAs and ruggedized enterprise mobile computers are made for separate markets, designed for different tasks, and vary by their size, weight, and materials. But the biggest difference between these device types is their total cost of ownership (TCO). According to independent research, smart-phones and PDAs cost much more to own and operate than ruggedized mobile computers in service, delivery, retail, warehouse, and manufacturing environments. In fact, the average annual TCO for consumer-oriented PDAs and smart-phones used for business is 42.6% higher than that for enterprise-grade ruggedized handheld computers.

Reducing TCO requires organizations to deploy the devices that have maximum reliability and productivity in their work environment. This white paper documents the relationship between ruggedness and TCO, showing how ruggedized devices add value for specific work processes and environments and providing guidance to determine what degree of ruggedness is needed for different usage scenarios.