Intermec CN3 with Card Reader

MobileDataforce is testing a new Intemec CN3 with an attached card reader for one of our clients. It feels nice and balanced in my hand and seems to be a very viable hardware solution for our clients.

Our client wants to perform inspections out-of-doors with this windows mobile device and also charge for services, process a credit or debit card transaction and print invoices and receipts from a mobile printer.

Handheld Computer Considerations

There are a lot of good handheld computers available and some bad ones. I will leave the bad ones for a future discussion and focus on some of the points to consider when selecting good handheld hardware.

1. What environment will you be using the handheld computer in - is it hot, cold, wet, dusty or filled with explosive vapors? Is it a clean office environment, or a rugged out-of-doors environment?
2. Is your software application focused exclusively on bar code scanning, RFID reading, GPS, or do you need a multi-purpose device?
3. Will the hardware configuration ever need to be changed? Some handhelds can be configured at will, others are locked and can only be used with the original configuration.
4. What hardware does your selected software require?
5. Will the battery last long enough to accomplish your work? Do you need back-up batteries? Can you use batteries purchased at the local market, or are they vendor specific?
6. What is your budget? What does the value of using a handheld computer justify spending? Do you have enough budget to purchase the software and hardware you need? Does your budget only allow for low cost consumer devices? How many replacements cover the cost of a ruggedized handheld?
7. How do you replace broken devices? Can you get a replacement in 24 hours, or must you wait on the slow-boat-from-China?
8. What kind of support contracts and warranties are available?
9. How long will you new handheld computer be supported, serviced and manufactured by the vendor. Is it near end of life and being discounted for a reason?
10. Can you upgrade the operating system when Microsoft releases a new version of their mobile operating system?
11. Can you use standard laptop data cards in the handheld, or do you need to pay for high priced vendor specific cards?
12. Can you view the screen effectively in the sunlight?
13. Does the bar code scanner work effectively in real-world environment? Some scanners can not scan effectively through glass or plastic.
14. Is the size and weight of the handheld appropriate for the user and environment?
15. Can your handheld computer support all the add-ons you require at the same time? Some devices can only support a specific number of add-on components so you are forced to choose. Some can not support both a GPS and a data card at the same time. Some devices can not support both a bar code scanner and a GPS add-on. This is an important consideration.
16. Do you need only a touch screen and navigation pad, or a number pad or a full QWERTY keyboard? This is very important for user acceptance.
17. Is the handheld device also going to be used as a phone? Is a 2 pound industrial grade handheld really a usable phone?
18. Does your low cost consumer grade PDA need a rugged case like the ones Otterbox sells?
19. If you only have a budget for a low cost device, does it support the battery life and add-on components you require?
20. How will the device be transported around a job site? Will it strap to a belt, swing from a shoulder strap, sit in a holster or be mounted to the dashboard of your truck? Does your device support your chosen method?
21. Where is the closest inventory of the handheld computers? Where is the closest repair depot?
22. Will your vendor loan you a device on trial?
23. How will your handheld computer send data back to the office - cradle sync, WiFi, bluetooth, GPRS/GSM, CDMA?
24. What size screen do you need? Some devices like the Jett-Eye have a "landscape view" others a "portrait view" many have different sized screens. What do you require?
25. Do you need an integrated digital camera? Do you need a low or high resolution camera and does your device support it?
26. Does a refurbished device from Ryzex make better sense that a new device?
27. Where is your vendor's office? Are they in the neighborhood or on the other side of the planet? Does their location offer you the support and attention you deserve?
28. Does your handheld computer run on the same operating system that your software solutions require?
29. Does your handheld computer come with a pistol grip or other straps that help you avoid dropping it?
30. Can you comfortably hold the device in your handheld and complete the required job? Some devices have scanners on the side, on the end or underneath.
31. Can you effectively view the data you need? Some jobs simply require a full keyboard and a full screen for viewing large CAD files or Maps. Does your screen size match your requirements?

Thoughts on the Business of Mobile Software Development

Software and IT Consultants that wish to offer general mobile software development services and mobile handheld solutions to a broad market have the following important business management questions to consider:

• how do you achieve economies of scale (get better and faster over time to increase profitability)
• how do you manage risks (from many new and custom development projects)
• how do you develop in-house expertise in a broad market with a large number of different business processes
• how do you develop all the appropriate technology skills necessary to deliver a wide variety of applications using different synchronization, security, integration, database, business process and connectivity options
• how do you develop a complete quality assurance plan for every new custom mobile software application (make sure you include this time in your proposal)
• how do you efficiently test and de-bug a large number of custom mobile applications
• how do you document how each customized software application works (make sure you include this time in your proposal)
• how do you maintain and support a wide variety of custom mobile software applications
• how do you keep your customer’s mobile software applications current with new versions of mobile operating systems and new handheld device technologies
• how do you integrate your custom mobile software applications with a large variety of different backend databases and database applications
• how do you do this all profitably

I have had many software and IT consultants contact me and say they have tried to develop a business targeting mobile software applications using Microsoft’s .NET development environment or other coding environments like Appforge, but it simply takes too long, and the cost is too high for the majority of their small to medium sized customers. They contacted me to ask if MobileDataforce has a solution that can address their business needs. The short answer is yes.

In order to profitably develop customized mobile solutions for a large variety of business processes and/or industries, one must standardize as many of the design, development, deployment and support processes as possible. This goal is most easily accomplished by using a mobile software platform that provides these features in a configurable environment.

A mobile software platform enables your professional services organization to train on a standardized platform and to use a standardized methodology for rapidly developing and delivering custom solutions. With a common platform in use, the following benefits can be recognized:

• Many of the requirements that mobile projects have are already pre-built in the mobile software platform
• project estimates become increasingly accurate
• software developers can easily support each other's projects and mobile applications
• synchronization does not have to be developed, rather it is configured
• mobile application screens don't have to be developed, rather they are configured
• connectivity options don't have to be developed, rather they are configured
• handheld device support is configured, rather than developed
• mobile databases don't have to be developed, rather they are already included and only need configured
• common templates and functions can be re-used on many different applications
• technical support staff can easily de-bug and support new custom applications using visual de-buggers and management tools
• design standards and functions make screen creation quick and efficient
• application "clips" are reusable configurations and features that can be re-used on many different projects
• the function library has over 220 pre-built functions that save design and development time
• existing application templates can used and customized for multiple customer projects
• new versions of mobile solutions can be published to the mobile user from the server
• one set of code can work on Windows XP, Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Tablet PC and multiple screen sizes

The bottom-line - a large variety of mobile applications can be rapidly designed, developed, deployed and supported profitably if they are produced using a mobile software platform like the PointSync Mobility Platform. To program or code a large variety of different and customized mobile applications using .NET or Appforge is simply too expensive and takes too much development time for the average small to medium sized business. Speed and efficiency is required to serve this market. Mobile applications should be configured for these clients, rather than programmed.

Here are a few articles that address these issues in more detail:

• http://www.mobiledataforce.com/ceoblog/2007/04/mobile-solution-warning.html
• http://www.mobiledataforce.com/ceoblog/2007/03/what-happens-after-mobile-deployment.html
• http://www.mobiledataforce.com/ceoblog/2007/01/mobile-platforms-for-enterprise.html
• http://www.mobiledataforce.com/ceoblog/2006/11/managing-mobile-software-deployments.html
• http://www.mobiledataforce.com/ceoblog/2006/10/mobile-software-platforms-and.html
• http://www.mobiledataforce.com/ceoblog/2006/12/mobiledataforce-launches-pointsync.html
• http://www.mobiledataforce.com/ceoblog/2006/11/mobile-software-platform-thoughts.html

Rent a Mobile Handheld Computer

Ryzex now offers rugged industrial handheld computers for rent. How is this helpful? Many organizations need rugged handheld computers only for a specific 6 week period of time for year-end inventory, annual inspections, or a one time limited time project.

MobileDataforce sees a lot of these projects because our mobile software platform, the PointSync Mobility Platform, enables companies to quickly design, development and deploy these simple mobile applications.

Another important set of considerations is the ability to immediately synchronize and review the data that was collected on the mobile applications. In an earlier blog article I wrote about the challenges with using poorly trained, temporary workers for important data collection in the field.

Furniture Delivery & Handheld PDA Solutions

I had a piece of furniture delivered this week and it was an interesting experience with a mobile application. The delivery team had an Intermec 700C Pocket PC with an integrated data card and a bar code scanner with them. I asked them to tell me what they do with it and here is what they said.

1. They first scan all boxed furniture as they load it into the trucks. This allows the office to see where any piece of furniture is at any time.


2. The scan is synchronized with the enterprise database and the addresses of the delivery location and the customer information is pulled down to the handheld computer.


3. When they unload the furniture at the delivery location, they scan the bar code on the label of the boxed furniture and fill out an electronic delivery form on the handheld computer with the deliver driver's name, date and time stamp on it.


4. They carry the boxes into the house and remove the furniture from it.


5. They inspect the furniture for damage


6. They ask the customer to inspect the furniture for any damage and then sign their digital signature on the Intermec bar code scanner screen.
7. Any identified damage that is documented activates an additional "damage report" form on the handheld computer.


8. The driver also signs his name on the screen to verify his delivery.


9. The Intermec bar code scanner synchronizes the data via GPRS back to the enterprise database.


10. Any changes to the driver's routes or deliveries are synchronized out to the driver's handheld computer and a pop-up window with an alert bell informs the driver of a new dispatch.

The above list contains a good example of how to effectively use handheld solution for the following:

• proof-of-delivery
• scheduling of deliveries
• near real-time dispatch
• near real-time notification of deliveries
• near real-time notification of route progress
• inventory tracking
• damaged goods inspection and reporting
• work order management

The problem - the delivery man still had me sign 4 copies of paper forms. What was that all about? 2 copies of delivery forms, and 2 customer service forms verifying there was no damage to the furniture upon delivery. I also had to sign my initials verifying the time of delivery. I asked him if the handheld computer saved him time and he answered no and that it added time to the delivery because he must climb into the back of the truck and scan all of the bar codes before leaving the warehouse, and scan then all again upon delivery....plus fill out the same information on paper forms. OK, that is a problem.

The delivery company had not integrated many of the associated business processes yet. They had made a good first step, but they needed to get all the paper forms on the handheld. The driver does not want to carry a handheld computer in one hand, and a stack of papers in the other. You want to reduce work, not add another layer of it.

The furniture delivery company had automated part of the process (dispatch and proof-of-delivery), but not the customer service forms and the furniture company's inspection reporting documentation.

A complete integration of business processes would have all the data collection requirements for all the various third parties on the same handheld device. The device would synchronize the data back to the office and all the relevant "data" would be forwarded to the appropriate business partners and integrated with their IT systems. This solution would save a great deal of delivery time, internal staff resources and paper.

Ryzex Visit in Bellingham, Washington

Last week I had the opportunity of visiting Ryzex in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Ryzex is a very interesting company that sells new, used and refurbished handheld computers. Their business model supports the purchase of old and used handheld computers from their clients, and upgrading them with new hardware. They also have a rental program for companies needing short-term data collection devices.

As I walked through their facilities I saw workstations where engineers were repairing devices, disassembling devices and cleaning used devices. I saw a warehouse full of handheld computer parts and add-on components. It was a very interesting tour and I left impressed with the scope of their services and offerings. They sell and service a wide range of handheld computers including Psion Teklogix, Symbol, Intermec and others.

My interest in all of these handheld devices of course is that they require software in order to be of any use. MobileDataforce develops all kinds of applications for mobile handheld computers and it is important for us to understand all the different technologies, plug-ins and add-on components and how we can best support them.