Choosing the Right Mobile Device for Your Business (Part 2)

Finding the right mobile device for your business can be a daunting task. To help we have put together a list of 10 factors that should be considered when investing in a mobile device solution. In part one of this two part blog we started with summarising the first five considerations – in our conclusive blog, we take a look at the final critical steps to consider when finding the right mobile device for your organisation.

Connectivity Options and QualityConnectivity requirements can vary from business to business or even from department from department, within a business. Does your device require a connection within an entire building, just in one room, or do you need connectivity for workers within an entire building, just one room, or do you need connectivity for workers who operate in the field? If it is important that your device has high quality connection on the move, WAN/WLAN may need to be considered for your workers.

Manageable, Control and SupportHow much pressure will your chosen device be put under by the IT department? Are you running a hybrid company device and a BYOD IT strategy? You need to consider where upgrades and troubleshooting takes place and whether or not your employees will be responsible for finding their own support for any BYOD solutions.

Support and Repair ServicesWill a support contact be necessary or will all support be managed internally? You will need to consider if upgrades, repairs and troubleshooting takes place onsite by employees, onsite by external company contracted for repairs or offsite at an external companies facilities. Contingencies must be in place in the event of device failures.Having an effective support and repair plan in place will ensure a fast turnaround of any repairs, equipping your workforce with working technology and ensuring productivity remains high.

Lifestyle Management Constantly replacing and upgrading faulty devices can result in mixed fleet of devices in your workforce – causing endless headaches for IT support. Are you aware of the support complications and extra financial outlays involved with a multi-device strategy? For example, a power charger for a new model may not be the same as the previous device.

Total Cost of OwnershipThere is a multitude of different factors to consider when calculating the total potential costs of any device. It’s important to identify where extra costs can originate from, as the cost of the device goes far beyond the initial purchase price.