For many workers, the best way to enjoy modern digital tools and applications is with a rugged industrial tablet. These compact mobile computers are powerful enough to support the range of software used in modern industrial settings while still being resilient enough to withstand harsh work environments.
But do you know what kind of tablet you need, or what features you require? By answering the questions in this rugged tablet buyer’s guide, you’ll have a better idea of what these devices are capable of and how they can satisfy your requirements.
What Environment Will You Use Your Tablet In?
Obviously, a rugged tablet is meant for rugged workplaces where consumer-grade devices would be easily damaged or destroyed. Different threats require different protective measures, so before you commit to a purchase, consider what challenges your tablets will face and if your potential choice has the design features to handle them. You should also verify that devices are truly rugged, such as by meeting standards like IEC 60068.
Shock and Vibration
Sudden impacts and constant vibration can render a tablet inoperable by literally shaking it apart and disconnecting critical components. This issue is especially common in industrial environments, such as being mounted directly on a forklift or manufacturing machinery.
A properly designed rugged tablet will be able to handle these dangers thanks to rugged interior construction, such as soldering and welding components directly onto the motherboard rather than relying on screws and other mechanical connectors. By testing these tablets to IEC 60068 standards for shock and vibration protection, a computer manufacturer can know for certain whether their devices will withstand such threats.
Drop Protection
A measure of drop protection is essential for any mobile electronic device, simply because they face a higher chance of being accidentally dropped. This is especially critical for industrial tablets, however, as they are likely to be dropped from greater distances and onto harder surfaces like concrete and asphalt, making it far more likely to suffer serious damage.
This makes it critical for warehouse managers, manufacturers, and other end-users to verify that their tablet solution has rigorous drop protection features. Design measures such as chemically hardened glass screens that resist cracking and reinforced casings that absorb impacts rather than transfer them to internal components are essential inclusions for any truly rugged tablet.
Ingress Protection
One final design feature you may want to require is ingress protection (IP) on your rugged tablet. This is a measurement of how well the tablet’s case blocks out solid matter and liquids from entering the casing, preventing them from damaging the electronic components inside.
Industrial settings can see everything from sawdust to metal shavings to water sprays, posing a threat to electronics in the workspace. If your workspace deals with such environmental factors, you should seriously consider investing in rugged tablets with higher IP ratings, such as IP65. These devices boast sealed cases that keep out solid matter and liquid sprays, sparing you the expense of replacements.
How Much Performance Do You Require From Your Rugged Tablet?
When shopping for a new rugged tablet, you should first review the suite of software tools you use or plan to use and their performance requirements. Determine factors like:
- How much RAM do they require?
- What generation of CPU do they recommend?
- How much storage do they need?
Armed with this knowledge, you can filter out tablets that do not match these performance requirements. Most rugged tablets will want at least 2 TB of data storage and 16 GB of RAM to support the full suite of digital tools a typical industrial workspace uses.
In a similar vein, make sure your tablet selection supports the operating system (such as Windows or Linux) your software tools require. Some tablets use mobile OS’s, such as Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android, which cannot work with the aforementioned enterprise software. In this situation, you will need a tablet running Windows or Linux to ensure compatibility.
What Connectivity Features Do You Need?
A key component of any rugged tablet buyer’s checklist should be connectivity. Depending on your workflows, it’s very likely your choice of rugged tablet will require a variety of both physical and wireless features. Make sure you review your current suite of hardware, with particular attention to what I/O ports and cables they rely on. You need to answer questions such as:
- Do they use USB 3.0 or earlier generations?
- Do they rely on older legacy ports that modern tablets might not feature?
- Do they need SIM card readers?
Just like with software, you need to make sure that any rugged tablet you consider is compatible with your current equipment.
Likewise, you also need to review your wireless connectivity requirements. For example, do your employees frequently run into dead zones where they lose connection with your current tablet solution? You may want to upgrade to a modern solution with WiFi 6E connectivity and greater range to help eliminate these dead zones.
Do You Need Scanners or Other Peripheral Features?
Many industrial workspaces, particularly those involved in logistics and inventory management, rely on barcodes and RFID tags to track packages and order pulls. A rugged industrial tablet is ideal for this role, as employees can receive the order on their tablet, use the tablet’s built-in scanner to verify they’ve selected the correct package, and then update the order.
Of course, this workflow assumes that the tablet has a built-in scanner in the first place. If it doesn’t, workers will have to rely on another device or manual information entry, which adds unnecessary complications to their workflows. Make sure that any rugged tablet you consider has these peripheral features built in, unless you want your employees wasting time typing and having to juggle multiple devices.
Depending on your workflows, you may want other peripheral features or accessories, like built-in cameras, carrying straps, and docking stations. If this is the case, you should prioritize tablets directly from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), as they can integrate customizations and provide add-ons directly from the source, rather than relying on third-party purchases.
Find the Right Rugged Tablet For Your Needs With Cybernet Manufacturing
The key to making an informed decision when shopping for a new industrial computer solution is to understand the challenges the device will face and the requirements put upon it. By answering the questions in this rugged tablet buyer’s guide, you should be able to find the solution that best fits your particular needs.
Know what you need and are ready to select a model? Contact the experts at Cybernet Manufacturing. Our range of rugged tablets and industrial computers is designed, tested, and certified ready for harsh work environments, and our qualifications as an OEM mean we can customize our products to better suit your unique requirements.