The Benefits of Investing in Rugged Mobile Devices

For many of today’s digital workers, mobile devices are as integral to our work as laptops.

Deskless workers account for the majority of the global workforce, and out in the field, a smartphone is a far more versatile and portable option than a PC.

However, commercial mobile devices have many limitations for workers and businesses. The average phone has just over 10 hours of battery life. It also lacks the resilience to withstand extreme temperatures or survive bumps and knocks, and at most has a lifespan of just 2-4 years.

Commercial devices are also ill-equipped, as they lack the required tools and software and subsequently need to be set up and modified before they can be deployed.

What’s more, for field engineers who are constantly on the move, it’s crucial they have devices that can give them access to the information and software they’d use in the office.

Rugged mobile devices are an increasingly popular alternative to commercial phones. But are they worth the extra investment? Here are a few of their key benefits:

1.Enhanced durability in adverse conditions

Rugged mobile devices are designed with resilience in mind. Made with military-grade protection and subject to rigorous testing to ensure their durability, a ruggedised device from a reputable manufacturer can withstand rough handling and frequent use in the field.

With bright screens, longer-lasting batteries and tough, durable exteriors, these devices are built to function in adverse weather conditions like heavy rain, snow and ice. As a result, they can easily shrug off the water, dust, dirt and sand that would damage a commercial device.

Rugged mobiles can also operate in extreme temperatures, from freezing cold (-20°C) to scolding heat (40°C), and withstand some of the most common issues that plague traditional phones, such as screen damage (67%), touch-screen problems (24%), charger point damage (22%) and water damage (21%).

So what does this mean for your workforce? With durable and reliable devices, your teams will have access to all of the essential tools and communication they need to be productive – regardless of the conditions or environment they’re operating in.

2.Ease of deployment

Another key benefit of rugged devices is the fact they can be deployed straight out of the box.

Many manufacturers will pre-configure devices with the industry-specific software, features and tools your business needs, saving time that would have been spent on setup installation and enabling you to deploy them immediately.

With the right provider, you can also get rapid access to replacements or repairs within 24 hours, further helping to minimise downtime and maximise efficiency among your teams.

3.Long-term cost efficiency

While rugged mobile devices will cost more than a commercial smartphone in the short term, their longevity and resilience make them a cost-effective option for your business in the long term.

Yes, a traditional device may be cheaper to purchase initially, but you’ll find yourself spending more to repair (and eventually replace) these devices when they come up against difficult conditions.

This, coupled with their shorter lifespan and diminishing battery life, will also impact your workforce’s ability to be productive. As a result, it’s no surprise to learn that the average lifespan of an enterprise smartphone is just 2.54 years.

In contrast, a rugged mobile device can have a lifespan of over 5 years, meaning the initial cost of investing in the device will offset the repair and replacement costs you’ll encounter with a cheaper commercial phone.

4.Increase engineer productivity

With their enhanced durability, ease of deployment, reliability and resilience, rugged devices can empower field engineers to be more productive in their work more of the time.

Equipping your engineers with tough, resilient devices that can operate in diverse conditions will leave them less prone to downtime, as they’ll need repairs or replacements less frequently.

A lack of mobile connectivity impacts 7 out of 10 hybrid workers, while Wi-Fi and connectivity issues are among the biggest concerns with commercial smartphones.

Being able to rely upon resilient technology will free up your teams to focus on their most crucial tasks without fear of disruption. What’s more, with the knowledge that any issues can be addressed quickly, your operational efficiency will be boosted.

5.Enhanced communication and collaboration

Real-time communication is crucial for field engineers. It’s essential for ensuring productivity among teams and, most importantly, it’s what today’s clients and customers have come to expect, with 72% of customers now expecting ‘immediate’ service.

Extreme weather conditions, adverse environments, poor battery life – all these factors can hinder your employees and their ability to communicate, collaborate and deliver rapid responses.

Rugged mobile devices can provide your teams with stronger and more reliable connectivity, thanks to their ability to function continuously and for longer periods in challenging environments.

6.Improved device security features

When your teams are out in the field and accessing potentially sensitive business or customer information, you want their devices to be secured and protected, should the worst happen.

The cost of losing personal or company information can be severe, and bring with it financial penalties and even reputational damage.

The number of attacks on mobile devices is also on the rise, with research finding that there were 33.8 million incidents in 2023, a 50% increase from the previous year.

With rugged devices that make use of advanced security features (like Samsung Knox), you can ensure this data is safe.

You can also utilise unified device management and monitoring tools to make sure every device is up-to-date with the latest security tools, and rapidly identify potential issues before they’re able to escalate into threats.

How Virgin Media O₂ Business and Samsung can help

Virgin Media O₂ Business, in partnership with Samsung, can support you by streamlining the deployment of rugged devices, ensuring they have all of the software and capabilities your teams need to take into the field.

Our devices are subject to military-grade testing to ensure their resilience and can be easily integrated with your mobile device management platforms.

They can also be repaired and replaced easily, minimising the impact of downtime and freeing your teams up to focus on their core responsibilities.

With Virgin Media O₂ Business and Samsung, you can be confident that your employees have the reliable performance and continuous connectivity they need, no matter the conditions they’re operating in.