Handheld terminals are devices that businesses across a range of key sectors count on, each and every day. These portable computers can make a big difference to an organisation’s warehouse operations, for example, thanks not just to their general ease of use, but also specialised functionality such as barcode scanning, and the ability to download apps for purposes such as communication and scheduling.
But of course, a given handheld terminal delivering excellent functionality and performance ‘out of the box’ doesn’t guarantee that the same device will always cater to a business’s full range of needs.
As time goes on, the software on your own firm’s handheld terminals may gradually go out of date, or there might be functions your terminals aren’t presently well set-up to fulfil. That’s before you account for the accumulative effect of wear and tear on your devices over the months and years.
So, what are the essential things to know about the process of keeping your firm’s handheld terminals up to date?
Do your terminals have the latest – and most relevant – software?
Presuming you are reading this as someone within an organisation that has existing handheld terminals to maintain, one of your most urgent priorities might be to ensure your devices are benefitting from the most up-to-date and relevant software for your needs.
An obvious first place to look is the website of the handheld terminal manufacturer. Those who have devices from the Zebra brand, for instance, will find that the manufacturer’s site makes it easy to browse various categories of device – such as barcode scanners, mobile computers, and tablets – and find appropriate drivers, software, and firmware.
It’s a simple process to use the site to search for software solutions ranging from Android USB drivers and USB CDC drivers to device trackers, diagnostic tools, developer tools, and much more. And of course, the same is likely to be the case for the site of whatever the manufacturer of your firm’s handheld devices is.
What is your plan for keeping your terminals updated over time?
So far in this article, we may have given the impression that updating your business’s mobile devices can be a merely ‘ad-hoc’ activity; the staff member using the device might notice for themselves that it could do with an update to the latest software, or they might make a habit out of checking the manufacturer’s website from time to time.
But if you are to ensure your organisation gets the best out of its devices as far as performance, functionality and security are concerned, you probably need to have more formalised arrangements than that.
Such arrangements could include training your staff in how to install updates to whatever handheld terminal they are using, as well as how to check that each given update is OK to install. This policy of essentially getting your personnel to take responsibility for the updating of their ‘own’ devices may largely suffice if you are a small business with just a few team members.
Many businesses, however, may be best advised to take a more centralised approach to keeping their devices updated. For your business, that may entail automating at least some aspect of the process, whether it is simply a case of setting up the given software to alert the user when updates need to be installed, or using a tool that automatically carries out the actual updating process.
Your devices might sometimes need repair, or even replacement
Sometimes, over the course of your handheld terminals’ working life, you may encounter apparent problems with the functioning of a device.
Some of those – such as issues getting the barcode scanning software to work on a particular barcode – may not turn out to have anything to do with the hardware or software. It might be that the barcode itself is too small, for example, or that the device isn’t being used correctly.
On other occasions, however, even perusing whatever troubleshooting resources are provided by the manufacturer might not make it obvious where the source of the problem lies, or whether it can be swiftly and easily resolved.
Such issues might lead you to seriously consider replacing the handheld terminal altogether, especially if software or support resources are no longer provided by the manufacturer for that specific device.
Before you go that far, though, it’s probably a good idea to seek out an informed third party, who will be able to advise on whether it might be a better decision to have the device repaired instead.
There are various firms out there that specialise in handheld terminal repair, such as Mobile Computer Repair, and they could help ensure you avoid any unnecessary expense or inconvenience over the course of your devices’ operating life.