Revolutionizing Retail With Tablets, From The Warehouse To The Storefront: Optimizing Retail With Tablets

By Mike Stinson, vice president of marketing, Motion Computing

As businesses respond to the increased demand for real-time data at their fingertips, the necessity for mobile computing devices designed to boost productivity through immediate access to information is paramount to success. From the warehouse to the storefront, tablets are quickly becoming the mobile computing solution of choice for retailers implementing productivity tools to manage inventory and improve the customer experience.

But why choose a tablet purposefully built for retail when there are so many options on the market? These tablets provide the durability and flexibility retailers demand for efficiently managing operations while limiting their total cost of ownership (TCO). Armed with stringent durability testing criteria, these devices are built to be rugged and able to withstand drops, extreme temperatures and liquid spills. In addition, rugged tablets in the warehouse or retail storefront make the most economical sense. A study recently conducted by the Venture Development Corporation determined that the average annual TCO of a rugged tablet is $2,814; while the average TCO of a non-rugged tablet is approximately $6,598. With an approximate savings of 59%, the rugged tablet clearly provides a more cost-effective solution.