By Keith Steidle, director of business development and marketing, Havis, Inc.,
Considerations for selecting the ideal in-vehicle solution for your fleet
Your total mobility solution should always start with the business problem you want to solve. Identifying your problem and outlining your goals will allow you to select the proper components of your total mobility solution.
These components typically include software to solve your business problem, hardware to run your software inside of your mobile worker’s vehicle, connectivity and integration into your back end systems, accessories such as keyboards or printers to assist in completing the functionality of your solution, docking and mounting solutions to ensure your hardware is mounted safely for greatest uptime and productivity, and professional installation partners to make sure your equipment is properly installed and ready for use.
Here, we’re going to dive into the docking and mounting aspect of a total mobility solution, explore the distinction between the two, and explain why it is important to think about that aspect up front. The goals of properly docking and mounting your equipment are to ensure mobile worker safety, maximize mobile worker productivity, and provide your workers with a comfortable working environment.
Docking Overview And Considerations
The mobile office greatly depends on computers, networks, and Internet connections to stay productive. However, safety is a major concern, and objects like tablets, laptops, or peripherals can quickly become dangerous projectiles. Additionally, reliability is critical in a mobile environment, where your equipment may be subjected to rocky terrain, power spikes, or even a car crash.
Safety is paramount, and docking stations provide a safe and secure method of preventing projectiles. Additionally, reliable connectivity and access for your tablet or laptop device is critical for mobile workers, and docking stations integrate intelligent port replication that allows you to safely connect to your peripherals while minimizing the risk of accidental disconnects.
Cradle-only solutions refer to docking stations with no electronics built into them. Using a universal tablet or laptop cradle allows you to secure most device brands without sacrificing safety or durability.
Once you have selected your tablet or laptop, consider the following to determine your ideal docking station or cradle: Do you need port replication, such as USB, serial, or Ethernet? Will you need to power peripherals like printers, keyboards, bar code scanners, and antennas? Do you need external antenna connectivity or pass-through such as GPS, LAN, or WAN? Will the device be frequently removed from the dock, or will it remain stationary?
Mounting Overview And Considerations
Mounting is a broad term, as there are diverse interchangeable products available from commercial-grade to fully rugged. These various products include, but are not limited to, center consoles, trunk mounts, dash-monitor mounts, passenger-side mounts, and motion devices to organize your equipment.
Mounting systems for your vehicle should provide a solid foundation and be ergonomically designed to make equipment easy to see, reach, and operate while creating additional space. Planning the appropriate location of your equipment is essential for mobile worker sight lines and visibility. Additionally, a mount that vibrates can transmit damaging shock to a computer. Even during normal use, a mount that vibrates excessively can lead to eye strain, typing errors, and undue wear and tear on the laptop’s chassis, electronics, and hinges.
The following should be considered to ensure the safety and comfort of your mobile workers, as well as the proper organization of your devices: Will you require convenient adjustments for computer usage by both the driver and passenger? Will multiple drivers need to easily modify the solution’s setup? Do you require access to amenities such as keyboards, printers, arm rests, or cup holders? Do you need to avoid permanent modification, such as drilling, of the vehicle to protect its resale value?
Your Next Steps To Enable The Mobile Office
Advances in mobile computing have turned today’s vehicles into fully functional offices. When evaluating your total mobility solution, ultimately you will want to think about safety, quality, ergonomics, and security. With constant vehicle and technology changes, an abundance of compatible products is available to enable you to customize your mobile office solution.
At Global Communications we have the right solution for all your tablet mounting needs. Contact sales@globalcommunicatins.co.nz for more information and solutions.