5 Ways A Retail Business Can Leverage With A Rugged Device

In the highly competitive world of retail, staying ahead of the competition is essential for success. With new competition popping up all the time, an established business needs to continuously innovate and improve their operations to keep up. 

This means adopting new technologies, improving customer service, and finding ways to increase productivity and efficiency. Retail businesses that fail to keep up risk falling behind and losing market share to their competitors.

If you’re running a retail business, you know how important it is to stay ahead of the competition. Rugged devices are designed to withstand harsh environments and accidental drops, making them ideal for a business that requires durable and reliable devices. 

With rugged devices, you can streamline inventory management, increase mobility and efficiency, improve customer service, enhance security, and reduce downtime and maintenance costs. By incorporating rugged devices into your operations, you can stay ahead of the competition and provide your customers with the best possible experience.

In the retail industry, inventory management is crucial to keep track of stock levels, prices and products. To ensure the accuracy of the inventory, retail employees need reliable mobile devices that provide proper support through their software itself.

Management

Using rugged devices, a business can install inventory management software that provides accurate and up-to-date information on stock levels, prices and products.

A rugged device offers a range of functionality and flexibility that enables a business to streamline their inventory management processes, reduce errors and increase efficiency.

Barcode Scanning Technology

A rugged device can be equipped with barcode scanners that allow retail workers to scan product codes quickly and accurately. This speeds up the processes, reduces the risk of human error, and ensures that the inventory data is accurate and up-to-date.

Real-time Communication

Another example is the real-time communication functionality that a rugged device provides. With built-in 4G or Wi-Fi capabilities, rugged devices enable retail workers to communicate instantly with each other and with the central system.

This helps to reduce delays, increase efficiency and ensure that inventory data is updated in real-time. Whether you’re in the office or out, rugged devices ensure that you don’t have to worry about field communication.

In the retail industry, mobility and efficiency are essential to keep up with the fast-paced environment. Employees need a rugged device that can withstand difficult environments and provide the necessary functionality and ruggedized protection to perform a wide range of tasks. 

Real-time Data

Using rugged devices, retail workers can access real-time inventory data, perform transactions, and communicate with other workers and the central system from anywhere in the store. This improves mobility and allows workers to be more efficient and productive. Therefore, anyone can provide the technical support needed no matter the range.

Ability to Multitask

One example of how rugged devices can improve mobility and efficiency is through their ability to handle multiple tasks. A rugged device can perform a variety of functions, including barcode scanning, data entry, and printing. This eliminates the need for workers to carry multiple devices, increasing mobility and reducing the risk of errors.

Durability and Reliability

Another example is durability and reliability. Rugged devices are designed to withstand harsh environments and accidental drops, making them ideal for use in the retail industry. With their robust design and reliable performance, those in the retail industry can ensure that their devices are always available when needed, increasing efficiency and productivity.

One example of devices that allow for mobility are rugged smartphones such as the CONKER SX50. Running on an Android operating system, this smartphone is lightweight and can endure tough conditions that allows employees to stay productive wherever they need to go. It also has an IP rating (Ingress Protection) of 67 which makes it a device that is resistant against dust, fine materials, and other small particles.

In the retail industry, customer service is crucial to building a loyal customer base and driving sales. To provide excellent customer service, a business will need a device that is reliable and efficient.

Quick Response to Customers

Rugged devices improve customer service by allowing workers to provide quick and accurate responses to customer inquiries, easy payment processing, and offer personalised services. Their ability to access real-time data by staying connected to the Internet of Things (IOT) allows them to provide solutions as quickly as possible.

Personalised Services

One example of how a rugged device can improve customer service is through their ability to retrieve customer data securely. With built-in security features, rugged devices ensure that customer data is kept secure and confidential.

This allows retail workers to access customer information quickly and easily, making it possible to offer personalised services to customers.

Another example is the real-time solution that these devices provide. With built-in 4G or Wi-Fi capabilities, a rugged device can enable retail workers to communicate instantly with each other and with the central system. This helps to reduce delays, increase efficiency and ensure that customer service is provided promptly.

Furthermore, rugged devices are designed to provide a solution to extreme conditions, making them ideal for use in the retail industry. With the reliability and durability of rugged devices, a business can ensure that their customer service processes are not disrupted by device limitations or failures.

In the retail industry, safety and security are top priorities. When it comes to business, you need to ensure that your devices are reliable enough to protect customer data and business operations.

Keeping Data Secure

With their robust hardware and rugged design, rugged devices are able to provide IP ratings, indicating how resistant they are to dust, water, and other hazards. This means that even if the device is dropped, exposed to extreme temperatures, or submerged in water, it will continue to function and keep data safe.

Mobile devices such as rugged tablets like the CONKER NS82 are designed to withstand the harshest environments, making them ideal for use in the retail industry. This device has an IP rating of 65, providing ruggedized solutions and protection to a business.

Some businesses might be looking for Android rugged devices, in which the CONKER SX82 will be the perfect rugged device.

Moreover, rugged devices come with built-in security features that protect against data breaches, hacking, and malware attacks. A retail company can have peace of mind knowing that their sensitive data is kept safe with rugged devices.

For example, rugged devices can use advanced encryption protocols to ensure that data stays protected during transmission.

In addition, rugged devices can use remote locking and wiping features that allow a business to remotely disable or erase data from lost or stolen devices. This ensures that confidential information is not accessed by unauthorised users.

Managing Software Remotely

Rugged devices also have the power to manage OS updates and patches remotely. This is particularly useful for retail businesses that operate across multiple locations. With the ability to update and manage devices remotely, retail businesses can ensure that all devices are running the latest software and are protected against known vulnerabilities.

In the retail industry, downtime and maintenance costs can be a major challenge. When devices fail, it can lead to lost productivity, reduced efficiency, and ultimately, lost revenue.

Rugged devices are designed to be durable and reliable, even in the harshest environments. This means that they are less likely to fail, reducing downtime and the need for maintenance.

For example, the CONKER NS6 is a smartphone that has a rugged hardware and IP65 rating allows it to endure drops, extreme temperatures, exposure to water, and dust resistance, ensuring that they continue to function even in challenging conditions.

In contrast, consumer devices like regular smartphones and tablets are not designed for use in tough environments and extreme conditions. They lack the durability and reliability of rugged devices, making them more prone to failure and requiring frequent repairs and replacements. This often happens to a business that implements the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) system.

The use of consumer devices in retail environments can cause the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to skyrocket. With consumer devices, maintenance costs, repairs, and replacements can quickly add up, resulting in higher expenses for retail businesses.

On the other hand, rugged mobile devices have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance, reducing the TCO and providing a more cost-effective solution for retail businesses. They come with the specifications needed such as an IP rating and MIL-STD and the hardware that allows them to last as long as they should.

Additionally, a rugged device comes with the ability to remotely manage and troubleshoot devices, reducing the need for onsite maintenance and repairs. A business can save time and money by quickly diagnosing and resolving issues remotely, without needing to send a technician onsite.

CONKER is a UK-based technology company that produces a rugged range of devices designed to withstand tough environments, with a high ingress protection rating. Our products are specifically designed for use in industries such as logistics, construction, and retail.

CONKER devices are built to last, with features such as reinforced screens, our durable hardware can withstand drops, dust, and water. With a high ingress protection rating, our devices are protected from water and dust ingress, ensuring they continue to operate even in the harshest environments.

Our devices are also equipped with a range of features that make them highly versatile and user-friendly. For example, they offer devices with built-in barcode scanners, RFID readers, and fingerprint scanners, which allow for easy and efficient data collection.

In addition, CONKER devices are highly customizable, with the ability to run a range of different operating systems and software. This means that businesses can tailor their devices to suit their specific needs, making them highly efficient and effective.

Overall, CONKER offers a reliable and durable solution for businesses looking to streamline their operations and improve their efficiency to ensure their devices can withstand the toughest environments.

To find the ideal rugged device for your business, get in touch with us today.