Consumer Smartphones or Industrial Grade Smartphones?

Psion EP10

One of the interesting things that I have observed in the mobile industry is the differences in perspective between mobile industry veterans coming out of the blue collar and barcode scanning space, and the more recent mobile rookies with a focus on supporting white collar workers and smartphone devices.  One of the differences is that veterans coming out of the barcode scanning space seem to appreciate the mobile device and its capabilities as a mobile data collection tool to a greater degree than most rookies in the industry.

Having the right mobile devices can in many cases make a big difference in the efficiency of a mobile workforce.  Can you read the screen in bright sunlight?  Can it withstand daily drops and bumps?  Can it fit in the pocket and be ruggedized at the same time?  Is the barcode scanner designed for high volume hourly use?  Can the device be used in one hand, or does it require two?  Can it handle rain, dust and snow?  Will the battery last the entire workday?

Many industrial grade devices have additional sensors and accessories that make them more efficient.  Let me provide an example.  The Psion EP10 comes with the following in-built interactive sensors:

• Proximity sensors
• Light sensors
• Accelerometer
• Gyroscope
• Digital compass
• GPS

These sensors enable automatic backlighting, screen rotation and precise data geo-tagging.  If you are out geo-tagging assets for your SAP EAM system, then you had better be able to use the barcode scanner all day long without running out of batteries, and if working outdoors the barcode scanner had better be bright enough to work satisfactory in the bright sunlight so you don't waste time.

Purpose built mobile devices are often the best fit for specific tasks.  It doesn't do any good to give a person a device than can't make it through the day completing its intended task. These are all important considerations with looking at productivity in the field.  Wouldn't it be sad if a company invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into just the right field services software application to maximize workforce productivity, but then failed to provide the right mobile devices capable of achieving the maximum ROI?

Consumer grade smartphones are great, however, for industrial and production purposes you may still find significant value in purpose-built, ruggedized industrial grade mobile devices and smartphones.

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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer

Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict

Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility Group

Read The Mobility News Weekly

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Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

More on HTML5 for Mobile Application Developers

We’ve already explored some HTML5 features such as media playback, offline mobile data support, and 2D graphics capabilities.  Let’s now explore two additional advantages.

Geo-Location

HTML5’s geo-location application programming interface (API), is to me one of the most interesting features.  It enables mobile web sites to access a mobile device’s GPS technology.  The W3C geolocation API specification was published in September, 2010.  (http://www.w3.org/TR/geolocation-API/)

Google Latitude for the iPhone is one example of a pure HTML5 web application using these features (It’s also available on iPad and Android-powered devices).  Latitude lets users share where they are and see where their friends are on a map.  Read more at http://code.google.com/apis/latitude/ and http://www.google.com/mobile/latitude/.

Some other application scenarios for using HTML5 geolocation are:

1. Finding points of interest in the user’s area
2. Showing the user’s location on a map
3. Alerts when points of interest are in the user’s vicinity
4. Turn-by-turn route navigation

Forms

There are more than a dozen new input types and new features that can be used in HTML5 web forms. One of the features enables developers to create and display a placeholder in an input field. What is a placeholder?  It is a hint as to what input is expected and what the format should be.  When you highlight the field, the placeholder disappears and allows the input. 

Another feature is the addition of form validation.

There are many new data inputs supported in HTML5:

1. Search – To prompt users to enter text they want to search for.
2. Email – For entering a single email address or a list of email addresses.
3. Color – For choosing color through a color well control.
4. Number Slider – Turns the input field into a numeric slider.
5. Web Addresses - Now fields requiring a web address can provide a custom keyboard on iPhones made for entering URLs.
6. Numbers - You can now specify minimum and maximun numbers allowed in a particular field, plus what "steps" or increments you allow (i.e. 0, 2, 4, 6 or 0, 5, 10, 15).
7. Native Date Picker Control - This eliminates the need to use javascript libraries to pick dates and times.
8. HTML5 Form Validator - Now you can validate data in a field from within HTML5.  Invalid data will launch an error message from within HTML5, not an external javascript.
9. HTML5 Required Fields - Now HTML5 can be configured to produce an error message if a required field is not completed.  No longer is it necessary to use an external javascript.

I have worked on many, many custom mobile applications that are used for inspections, assessments, surveys and field data collection.  Ensuring accurate and valid data input is critical.  We developed a lot of custom code to ensure accurate and valid data in the past.  These advances in HTML5 will make developing these kinds of applications faster and easier.

Previously published articles on HTML5

What Can HTML5 Offer Mobile Developers?
HTML5 - What I am Learning
Projections for and Demonstrations of HTML5

Upcoming Events

Field Mobility 2011 - October 25 - 27, 2011
Enterprise Mobility Exchange - November 2 - 3, 2011

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Mobile Adoption Among Gas and Electric Utilities
Mobile Adoption in Life Sciences
Mobile Adoption in Oil and Gas
Networked Field Services

Recorded Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
Healthrageous Mobility Case Study
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform

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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer

Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict

Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility Group

Read The Mobility News Weekly

Read The M2M News Monthly

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobility News Weekly - Week of August 1, 2011

The Mobility News Weekly is an online newsletter made up of the most interesting news and articles related to enterprise mobility that I run across each week.  I am specifically targeting information that reflects market data and trends.

Also read Field Mobility News Weekly
Also read Mobile Commerce News Weekly
Also read Mobile Marketing News Weekly
Also read M2M News Weekly
Also read Mobility Charts Weekly
Also read Mobility ROI Weekly

A new report published by analyst firm Juniper Research forecasts that the number of global smartphone shipments will reach one billion per annum in 2016, up from 302 million in 2010.  Read Original Content

The global mobile satellite television market is projected to reach $11 billion by 2015, driven by the growing consumer demand for video content on an anytime, anywhere basis.  Read Original Content

HTC sold a record 12.1 million handset units during the second quarter.  Analysts predict that HTC’s market share in Asia will grow by 200 percent year-over-year with “quadruple growth in China.”  Read Original Content

Apple's share of the mobile phone industry's profits has swelled to around two thirds, as the company's iPhone sales have remained profitable while achieving the top spot in sales.  Read Original Content

Canadian-based Research in Motion released two new BlackBerry Bold models and three new BlackBerry Torch models, which will all operate on the company's new BlackBerry 7 operating system.  Read Original Content

Mobility ROI Weekly - Week of August 1, 2011

This weekly ROI (return on investment) report includes ROIs that I come across in my weekly enterprise mobility and mobile data collection research.  My goal is to create an archive of mobility ROIs that we can all use when we are called upon for them.  I hope you find this useful.

John Deer Factory Uses Wi-Fi Sensors to Increase Efficiency

John Deer has increased productivity in a factory in Illinois by employing Wi-Fi enabled sensors that track the progress of materials along the production line.  The sensors are specifically designed to help notify welders throughout the manufacturing stages when materials are running low.  The reported ROIs are:

• The company has seen a 40 percent increase in efficiency in welding due to improvements in material replenishment and fewer delays caused by waiting for materials in its welding areas.
• The system has reduced the amount of time to assemble an average row-crop planter vehicle by 5 percent
• Provides awareness for the number of materials left in a “kitcart” so that supplies never completely run out for assembly workers.

Read original source here.

Electronic Ear Tags Help UK Farms Detect Sick Animals

Newcastle University is testing a new way to detect sick animals by using electronic sensors attached to animal ear tags.  By monitoring the amount of time each animal spends at the feeding trough farmers can observe animals with unusual eating habits.  The expected ROIs are:

• The ability for farmers to detect sick livestock before animals are too ill to recover.  Helps extend the life and production of the animals which increases the value of these assets. 
• Early detection prevents the spread of disease which helps maintain a healthier and more valuable herd.
• Allows farmers to efficiently monitor the status of the herd remotely.

Read original source here.

RFID Sensors Help Mining Companies Eliminate Paperwork

Ascendent ID recently introduced an RFID tracking system for companies involved in the mining industry.  The system is designed to track materials being shipped to and from mining sites by large trucks.  The reported ROI's are:

• RFID tracking has allowed mining companies to eliminate a significant amount of paperwork and administrative costs that were required when shipping materials.
• RFID tags can be used as physical access permits that allow them into construction zones and mining site.  This improves security, safety and loss by authorizing only trucks with tracking tags to enter these areas. 
• Using RFID sensors increases efficiency by automating data logs and eliminates time spent on paperwork.
• Eliminating data entry and paper processing errors through automated data collection improves the accuracy and efficiencies of many business processes.

Read original source here.

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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer

Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict

Join the SAP Enterprise Mobility Group

Read The Mobility News Weekly

Read The M2M News Monthly

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobile Marketing News Weekly - Week of August 1, 2011

The Mobile Marketing News Weekly is an online newsletter that is made up of the most interesting news, articles and links related to mobile marketing that I run across each week.  I am specifically targeting market size and market trend information.

Also read Field Mobility News Weekly
Also read Mobile Commerce News Weekly
Also read Mobility News Weekly
Also read M2M News Weekly
Also read Mobility Charts Weekly

A new survey by Deloitte has found that an increasing number of families will be back-to-school shopping through their mobile devices.  Read Original Content

Cars.com has improved their mobile site and now allows shoppers to view vehicle history reports for free.  Currently around 35 percent of potential car shoppers use tablets and mobile devices while searching for new vehicles.  Read Original Content

Mobile ad spend is growing at a rate of 50 percent or more in many markets across the globe.  In South Africa, Vodacom, MXit and Google predict that mobile marketing and advertising spending in South Africa will grow to $1 billion in revenue by 2012.  Read Original Content

According to comScore 76 million Americans own smartphones, this combined with the recent BIA/Kelsey report predicting mobile advertising revenues to hit $2.8 billion in 2015, makes it clear that mobile marketing is set to increase in demand.  Read Original Content

Marketers are failing to invest in targeted mobile channels, such as search, by being too fixated on smartphone apps, according to a study by Forrester Research.  Read Original Content

Velti has been selected by Subway Restaurants as the provider of mobile marketing and advertising technology.  Subway will begin providing mobile marketing for over 24,000 stores.  Read Original Content