Now that barcode and QR scanning apps are widely available and
popular, the possibility of employees using their own devices for
warehouse data collection
arises. Companies debate whether to invest in purchasing and setting up
mobile computers and scanning devices that are specifically made for
warehouse data collection or to allow their employees to use their own
phones, tablets, and computers with work-related apps installed where
applicable. There are pros and cons on both sides of the BYOD issue.
Pros
Employees are familiar with their own devices. They would need to learn
to use the app and device in a work related way, but there is less of a
learning curve. This means they would learn the workplace-related tasks
more efficiently.
The costs of the personal devices would be carried by the employee;
there would be some costs for setting up the devices to connect to the
database and writing or purchasing applicable applications, but the
devices themselves would not be a cost. Employees are more likely to
keep their own devices up to date so the costs of technology upgrades
would be passed along.
IT no longer has to maintain a lot of hardware; maintenance of the
mobile devices is up to the employee. The software needed to work a
system like this is cloud-based, and the cloud provider will maintain
it. This frees IT to work on developing and implementing the rest of the
technology in the company.
Cons
Privacy and security are a concern on both sides of the
employer/employee relationship. Employers may not want employees taking
information home with them, and if the employees are using their own
devices, that is difficult to avoid. This raises very real security
concerns. Personal devices may not have adequate antivirus protection
and may be vulnerable to hackers. Devices that leave the facility
are more likely to be lost or stolen. On the other side of the
equation, employees may not want to let their workplace have eyes in
their personal devices, and may be very leery about allowing work that
far into their personal life.
Employees’ devices may not be compatible with the employer’s system
(though there are many network applications that claim to be compatible
with most devices). Employees that do not use smartphones, or who are
happy with their current device and are told they need a different one
that will fit the network, may be unhappy with the requirement to buy a
piece of expensive equipment for work. The gains in productivity from
using familiar devices may be lost in distractibility; personal devices
are usually set up so that emails, Facebook and Twitter feeds, texts and
other personal applications pop up constantly. If the devices are being
used for work, the employer can’t require employees to leave them in
their locker or desk. And since the device is a personal possession, the
employer can’t tell them not to have those applications on their
device.
While the initial idea of not having to purchase devices may be
tempting, the security and productivity concerns may outweigh those
temporary gains. Should you decide to invest in hardware solutions for
your company, Radley Corporation has the expertise to evaluate,
recommend, install, configure and support your hardware needs
whatever your industry and environment. Radley data collection offers
mobile capability for Windows and Android devices, as well as
traditional handheld terminals and a web-based user interface.
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