I'm often asked for recommendations on mobile devices for proof of delivery applications and handheld data collection. If you're looking at Motorola devices, most people need help choosing between Mc55, Mc75 and Mc9090 devices.
This narrative will expound what you should consider when choosing mobile devices and will highlight real-life customer examples for field data capture and proof of delivery applications.
Gps Units
Before we start with criteria, it is important to understand what features you need today as well as in the future. With rugged devices, once you buy the device, you cannot go back and add hardware options like a camera, Gps or Bluetooth. The devices we will discuss are:
- Mc9090 (Mc909x) - these are the largest and most rugged of the 3 models. They are supported on all carrriers (Verizon, Sprint, At&T and T-Mobile) and have the broadest range of hardware options. These are the most costly devices.
- Mc75 - these are mid-sized devices that Motorola targets for proof of delivery, field data capture and barcode solutions.
- Mc55 - this is the latest member of the family, has a slightly lower level of rugged found and size than Mc75's. It is the least expensive.
Questions and Criteria
You should narrow your hardware selection by request the following questions.
Do you need cellular data? If so, what cellular carrier do you use and do you know what the data coverage is in your territories?
- The presuppose for this is straightforward - some territories like the North East are wholly owned by a carrier (Verizon). If man wants T-Mobile or At&T coverage, they need to check or consider changing carriers.
- The Mc55 is not currently supported on Verizon, so the selection is between an Mc75 and Mc9000. All devices preserve Gsm networks (e.g. T-Mobile and At&T).
- Do you want want gismo to cover international or face of North America? If so, you will need to only consider Gsm.
If you need cellular data, are you going to do anything that requires 3G/3.5G or faster networking?
- Most customers don't know the retort to this but the inquire becomes more clear if you are:
- Taking pictures - photo size can be adjusted on the mobile device, but a uncostly ability color photo would be roughly 1Mb or larger.
- Downloading large files, such as site plans, Msds sheets or merchandising plan-o-grams for proof of delivery apps.
- The Mc55 is targeted at basic route accounting users.The Mc55 car cradle does not have a built-in serial port. Examples of where this applies are: serial cable connection to the car Gps or Jbus (vehicle diagnostics), fuel delivery meters or external transportation devices.
- The Mc75 and Mc9000 car cradles have a built-in serial port. Their cradle is more costly than the Mc55 cradle by roughly 0-200.
- All devices preserve barcode scanning. The only decision is whether you need 1D/2D or long-range.
- 2D scanners can be helpful if you have barcodes that may get dirty or damaged. Examples of this include plant nurseries where 2D barcodes may be easier to read due to dirt on the barcode label.
- Long range scanners can scan barcodes up to 40' away. Long range scanners are only ready on the Mc909x platform. Examples of long range scanning would be scanning the barcode at the top of a warehouse rack from a forklift.
- If you need Rfid, your only selection is an Mc9090. Note that Rfid enabled devices are significantly more expensive.
- The Mc9000 is the most rugged device. It has the best drop spec (6' to concrete) and the best Ip (intrusion protection) rating.
- The Mc75 is fullness rugged and designed for field delivery applications (5' to concrete).
- The Mc55 is close to, but not as rugged as the Mc75. It is designed for the field but not for harsh environments.
- Examples of harsher environments would be where you work face in the rain or dirt - such as oil field services, agriculture or bulk stock delivery such as fuel, lubes, chemicals or fertilizer to tanks outside.
- The Mc55 and Mc75 both have similar sized keypads. They are larger than a BlackBerry but the size of the gismo shell is fixed.
- The Mc9000 comes in a short version (Mc9090S), a long version (Mc9090K) and a gun/pistol grip (Mc9090G). The keypads on Mc9000's are larger than the Mc75 or Mc55. If drivers use gloves (such as fuel delivery) then it would be worth comparing the Mc9000 to the Mc75.
- If you perform a lot of scanning, you should consider a pistol grip, which is only ready on the Mc9000.
- This customer excellent Mc9000's because they needed the most rugged device, a large numeric keypad, a larger battery to power the wifi since they use wifi for roaming throughout the plant to load products, and because they wanted a larger gismo so it was easier for the driver to keep track of it.
- This customer excellent the Mc75 because they wanted a mid-sized gismo that would be easy for the driver to carry but would be rugged enough to be nearby perilous materials and heavier tool that might bang nearby or have the gismo dropped. They needed 3G network speeds to facilitate image capture. Gps is done on the car but can also be captured on the handheld.
- This customer evaluated the Mc55 and Mc75, but excellent the Mc55 because it was less expensive. They determined they did not need the ruggedness of the Mc75 or the 3G network speed since the pictures would queue and sync in the background. They wanted the smallest/lightest gismo since the gismo would be carried all day by the field personnel.
Do you need barcode scanning?
Do you need Rfid?
Do you have exact ruggedness requirements? Will you be dealing with harsh environments?
What size keypad do you need? What type of input will the keypad be used for? Do you need a pistol grip?
So which gismo is right for you? The following highlights examples of using each type of device.
Mc9090 - Bulk bleach maker with 8 plants in 5 states. This customer receives bleach in rail cars and then distributes to pool furnish companies, municipal water rehabilitation facilities, paper manufacturers, etc. The bleach is loaded at the plant and the driver starts their day by scanning a barcode label on the truck (tractor), trailer and delivery ticket. They weigh the truck on an market truck scale and wirelessly receive the truck weight to presuppose the volume of stock on the truck. The driver makes deliveries to a set of customers and scans the delivery ticket, product, etc and records stock quantities in each tank. The customer signs the gismo for proof of delivery and then prints a receipt on mobile Zebra Rw420 printers. When drivers return to the plant, the driver scans and weighs again to presuppose remaining volume. Once at the plant, deliveries are sent wirelessly to the goRoam server for processing and export for invoicing.
Mc75 - HazMat pickup and disposal for large retailers, oil turn shops, car dealers, etc. Across 30 states. These drivers receive routes/stops through cellular communications while on the road. The drivers go to each stop and pickup one or many HazMat containers (waste oil, paint, chemicals, etc.). They place a barcode on the holder (by hazmat stock type) and narrative the contents of each container. This can involve a uncostly amount of data capture through the touch-screen on the handheld gismo as they have to unblemished distinct mobile forms depending on the pickup. Once complete, the customer signs for electronic signature capture/proof of pickup.
Mc55 - Door-to-door surveys and canvassing on a large scale. This customer canvasses homeowners and businesses. They unblemished field data surveys that may include 300-750 questions, although not all are required to be answered. When a homeowner or firm needs a observe completed, the field personnel scan a barcode and take 1 or more high-quality pictures per site. They take a Gps reading and possibly make a drawing on the gismo to show the site. Once complete, the homeowner signs the gismo for proof of delivery/electronic signature capture and a receipt is automatically emailed.
