Opening Up Proprietary Data Capture Systems

Both proprietary and standardized systems have their advantages, but what works best for your organization?

It used to be that any organization that required a network infrastructure relied on proprietary, end-to-end architectures in order to ensure data integrity and security. This has obviously changed in recent years, with many industry experts believing that the added flexibility, availability, and diversity of open systems make them a more desirable option. For the retail POS, warehouse management, and AIDC (automatic identification and collection) markets, this shift has signaled the need for plug and play system elements that eliminate incompatibility issues. It has in turn fostered a more diverse range of products in support of multiple software platforms.

In this discussion, open systems refer to general-purpose products based around Microsoft Windows CE, Pocket PC, etc., as opposed to closed proprietary systems that are custom developed and programmed for specific environments and applications. In comparing these approaches, it is important to remember that each has its advantages and champions.