15 October 2024

Rugged Blog Image - Device Health Checklist


 

 

 

 

 

 

Put simply, very. Nothing can be left to chance when it comes to managing the highest throughput of the year. Meeting shipment and delivery deadlines rests on having slick operational processes, trained teams working to well-planned rotas, and access to the right tools and systems. As rugged devices form such an important part of this process, it’s vital they are included in peak planning. And it’s why we recommend adding a rugged device maintenance checklist to your to do list.

Rugged devices are the workhorses and get the best return on investment

TouchStar fit for purpose rugged device blog management

Putting a new rugged device into the hands of operatives is always a pivotal moment for warehouse operations and IT teams. As with any investment, it reflects the importance of equipping teams with the best tools to perform their role. Not to mention the prospect of improving productivity, efficiency, and employee and customer satisfaction.

Rugged devices work hard. They have a longevity that outweighs that of any consumer device, withstanding tough conditions and heavy work loads. In terms of return on investment (ROI), rugged devices will win hands down.

Rugged device maintenance shouldn’t be overlooked

However, it’s easy to overlook doing rugged device maintenance if they are to stay working at their optimum. As with any hardware and software, regular updates and health checks are important. Rugged devices may be smaller than a server or a laptop, but it does not mean that they are any less important in the maintenance stakes.

Unfortunately, it can be during peak that operations teams are reminded of this. Broken scanners, failing batteries, scratched screens and out of date or legacy software can all contribute to inefficiency and delays at a time when speed and accuracy are imperative.

Rugged device maintenance considerations

Now is the time to do rugged device maintenance checks 

Operations teams will be doing advance planning to ensure there is enough warehouse capacity and people power in place to cope with the demands of peak. In the same way, there needs to be a plan to ensure the devices and systems they use are ready for intense use too. It’s good practice to include it any rugged device management plans.

Get ready for peak with our ‘Peak Rugged Device Health Checklist’

TouchStar Rugged Healthcheck Recommendations

To help make the process easy and ensure nothing gets missed, we’ve developed a Peak Rugged Device Health Checklist. Comprising the fundamentals, it will help IT and operations teams ensure they go into peak confident that their rugged devices are in good health and fit for the challenge ahead.

The checklist is formed of two parts. The first relates to the administrative side of things and the second looks at the physical attributes of the device.

Peak Rugged Device Health Checklist

TouchStar Rugged Device Peak Checklist

Part 1 – Admin health checks

  • Employee feedback to pin-point
  1. Repetitive errors or problems that need to be addressed urgently
  2. Device specification - are they still in keeping with the needs of the roles they perform.
  • A check on the device contract status, to ensure external support and SLAs are in place and can be called upon quickly in case of device failure during peak.

Part 2 – Physical health checks

  • Physical damage checks – keyboard, scanner, ports, screen
  • Battery health – are batteries able to support a full shift?
  • Accessory checks – label printers, tethered scanners, wearables
  • Connectivity / network performance
  • Software updates
  • Data backups
  • Security updates   

Let’s look at these device maintenance elements in more detail.

Admin health checks

Prioritising admin health checks will ensure you are well-versed in the service and support your contract provides. It also means you can put in place a plan that will cause the least disruption to operations.

Employee feedback

TouchStar Rugged Device Healthcheck Employee

Before getting started with the rugged device maintenance checklist, refer to your teams. Are the devices fit for purpose? Can people do the job that is expected of them with the handheld device that’s provided. If the answer is no, then dig deeper and establish what’s not working and review requirements.

Do you need more long-range scanning capability for instance or image capture? Are they robust enough for the conditions in the warehouse? Establishing this early, will ensure the devices can be upgraded / replaced in time for peak, and there’s enough time for any training that needs to be done.

Think about the condition of devices with your team. There may be devices that are no longer used because they have badly scratched screens or broken scanners. These should be prioritised for repair or replacement. Talking with your teams in this way, can also help identify preventative measures, such as introducing better screen protectors, or reviewing training related to how devices are used.

Device contract status

Do you know what’s included in terms of post-sales support and service? For instance, will your supplier offer a preventative maintenance visit and support you through the health check process?

Reminding yourself of what’s under warranty, what can be replaced easily and quickly, and what will have a longer turnaround is so important. This will ensure you know what action to take if you find faults or problems with your devices as part of the health check analysis.

In some cases, you may find it’s simpler and more economical to replace some of your rugged devices outright rather than try to fix them. Understanding the contract will help you to make these decisions.  

Knowing the terms of the contract will also help establish a process for repairs during peak, when time is at a premium. Having just one device out of action could be detrimental to performance. Knowing your options ensures you can prepare the steps you’ll take when faced with different kinds of scenarios.  

Physical health checks

When you undertake the physical health check, log the rugged devices that need attention. This will give you a running list of faults to fix and helps establish the plan for repair. A rugged device hardware audit should include the following:

Physical damage checks

Start with a physical inspection of the devices. Look for signs of physical damage, such as cracked screens or worn buttons, that could impair functionality. Consider the stress the devices will go under in the coming months. If some buttons are not worn out but are showing signs of wear, is it best you change them now rather than wait for something to go wrong during peak? The answer is probably, yes.

Battery health

Check the battery performance of each device. Are they recharging as expected? Are they docking into charging cradles properly? If not, is it the device, or the power cable or cradle that needs attention? Replace any batteries showing signs of reduced capacity and swap out cradles that aren’t charging quickly enough.

Accessory check

Review the condition of accessories such as screen protectors, and cases. Replace any damaged or worn items. If something isn’t lasting well, think about whether it’s fit for the job or whether a most durable format is worth investing in.

Connectivity & network performance

This is a topic that is likely to come up when you speak to teams. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for a device to connect as they move around a warehouse.

It’s possible you’ll need to look at both the device and the network capacity. In some cases, boosters might need to be installed to provide coverage where black holes are identified. A wireless survey can be a good way to establish what you need and where. 

Software updates

Software is updated by manufacturers for good reason. It is usually designed to enhance performance, resolve known faults and improve things such as usability.

Whilst peak is a good excuse to do a software update, it shouldn’t be the only time it happens. Whenever a new release is announced, make sure to upgrade as soon as possible.

Data backup

No business can afford data loss. Ensure that critical data is backed up. For many organisations it will be a pre-requisite of contacts with suppliers and customers. However, it’s also good practice for designing robust business continuity.

Data security

Whilst legislation and regulation will determine many of your organisation’s security protocols, so too will the cyber-security landscape. Software is often updated to reflect new cyber-threats. Upgrading whenever there is a new release will ensure you are in the best position to avoid a data breach.   

Don’t make rugged device health checks an annual process.

TouchStr Rugged Healthcheck Recommendations

Regular interventions can make a huge difference to productivity throughout the year. It can also go a long way to build the employee brand. If people are confident that have the right tools to do the job, and that those can be relied upon, then they will be happier at work. A quarterly review can be sufficient.

But best practice would encourage a rugged device check monthly, if not weekly. Make the most of your device contract and the post-sales support it includes. After all, if you pay for support all year, then it needs to deliver a return on investment (ROI) too. 

Need help with your rugged device maintenance process?

If you need help establishing a health check process that keeps you ahead all year round, or want to feel confident that you are working with a partner that takes service and support seriously, then talk to us.

TouchStar’s partnership approach centres around always providing the best rugged devices and supporting them during their lifecycle. It’s why customers choose us and stay with us.  

 


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