With 2012 in full force, London is preparing for the Olympics, but without proper preparation, the city could face debt.

Even manufacturers need to prepare for the event. While 40 percent of manufacturers have not made any preparations for the Olympics, demands for products and services are projected to increase. In fact, only 10 percent of manufacturers have actually introduced new systems or technologies that will allow them to flexibly manage their supply chain.

The games start at the end of June, so there’s still time to make the necessary adjustments, but manufacturers need to act fast. Because of increased traffic, routes will be greatly affected, so manufacturers, especially those in the food and beverage industry, need the right tools to create the most cost effective routes while keeping track of accounts. Manufacturers should make sure their field workers have the right tools to get the job done in the most efficient way possible, despite any impact the Olympics may have on business.

Weather you’re preparing for the Olympics or not, make sure your mobile field computer can handle a marathon (the Honeywell/LXE Marathon that is). Learn more about solutions for the manufacturing industry and start preparing.

Choosing the proper mobile device is key to the success of any warehouse. Intermec Technologies recently released an article on the 7 questions to ask yourself before implementing a new mobile solution:

1. Do you have an existing WMS (Warehouse Management System)?
2. Will your warehouse have wireless coverage?
3. How are you going to prepare your devices for deployment?
4. Are your training plans and resources structured for a successful technology implementation?
5. How will you deal with damages and repairs?
6. How will you provide and manage user support?
7. Do you use returnable containers in your warehouse / distribution network? Do you often lose them?

Once you’ve asked yourself these crucial questions, it will be much easier to identify the proper device for you. Check out popular devices here.

While it seems as though everyone has a smartphone for their business these days, a new study revealed that smartphones may not be the preference. A survey conducted by Harris Executive Omnibus revealed that over300 Fortune 1000 executives are investing in ruggedized handhelds, allowing them to go paperless, which will ultimately increase efficiency and reduce costs. Of the executives surveyed, a whopping 67% are interested in replacing their consumer-grade PDAs, cell phones and smartphones with ruggedized handheld devices.

While 94% of executives are using a PDA or smart phone, 72% are using cell phones and 23% are currently using ruggedized handhelds, findings reveal that a significant shift may occur in mobile workforces everywhere. In addition, the survey made light of the fact that executives are looking to cut costs by going paperless, which would also contribute to growing concerns about environmental sustainability. Of executives surveyed, 38% are already paperless, 29% are transitioning to paperless operations, and 15% are planning to go paperless in the near future.

Despite the fact that most workers currently use PDAs or smartphones, the future looks bright for ruggedized mobile computers. What steps is your company taking to go paperless?

Often times, companies will deploy rugged mobile computers and prematurely retire them, not because the devices are physically damaged, but because their processors, software and data capture capabilities are thought to be inefficient or obsolete, costing companies unnecessary money. When the life cycle of a device decreases, reducing the ROI and ultimately the total cost of ownership.

However, there are many ways to future proof mobile devices so that they can fulfill their lifecycle, ultimately saving money. While choosing a rugged device is always good for physical longevity, it’s important to take emerging technologies into consideration.

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If you’ve ever taken your laptop outdoors on a sunny day, it instantly becomes apparent that the screen is unable to be read. Such is the same with a mobile computer. If your mobile computer is intended to be used primarily outdoors, sunlight-readable displays are a must. While some rugged computers come standard with an outdoor display screen, others offer outdoor visibility, some have hi-bright and anti-glare, and others even have a transflective, sunlight-readable display that makes use of ambient light in order to brighten the screen. While hi-bright screens are good, they take up a significant amount of the battery power, so it’s important to pair a hi-bright option with a high-capacity battery option.

Touchscreen displays are becoming quite popular as an option on rugged mobile computers, and come with tablet PC’s since they do not have a keyboard/mouse. Tablet PC touchscreens are offered via finger-touch, or via stylus, which allows for handwriting and signature capture directly on the screen.

Aside from touch and outdoor displays, the size of the display screen can vary and should be taken into consideration based on the intended application.

Resolution is also an important aspect of the screen. The higher the resolution, the more pixels can be displayed, and thus more can be shown on the monitor at once.

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