Digital transformation is a business imperative for industrial organizations, as evidenced by the substantial market segment growth in this sector. Market and Markets predict the digital transformation market will reach over $3 trillion by 2030 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24.2% from 2023 to 2030.

Yet, mobile solutions for enterprise applications do not always deliver the results industrial organizations need. Here are some key deliverables for successful digital transformation using mobile devices in industrial applications:

1. Reduced downtime

Mobile device downtime can be costly due to the loss of productivity while the issue is resolved. VDC research indicates that IT departments take an average of 70 minutes to address each mobile device trouble ticket, and these device issues cause workers to lose 74 minutes of productivity.

Reliable mobile device systems are critical to prevent this loss in productivity. This means that devices should be rugged enough to resist breakage in harsh conditions, have sufficient battery life to last an entire shift, and have the means to predict failure in order to help minimize the time lost seeking a replacement device during a shift.

2. A unified mobility platform

Many organizations deploy disparate mobile solutions across different functions of their business. A variety of devices from different vendors requires companies to support a range of operating systems and migration paths for upgrading devices. This can result in a complex IT infrastructure and a myriad of applications with siloed provisioning and support.

A single device capable of meeting the needs of a wide range of industrial applications enables companies to standardize their mobile computing solutions and streamline their IT infrastructure across the organization. Using a durable, stable, unified mobility platform also creates an ecosystem for shared access to data by all stakeholders.

3. Reliable deployment

Deploying new mobile devices can be disruptive to operational tasks. It takes time to configure new devices for their intended use, and the more manual this process is, the more prone to human error. Every delay in commissioning a new device reduces productivity and has the potential to make workers wary of the latest technology.

Industrial organizations need a deployment process that automates the configuration of devices to their intended use. By allowing IT teams validate, provision and configure software remotely for mobile devices, companies can save time and money on IT deployments and reduce time normally spent on manually provisioning device deployments.

4. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a significant concern for any organization pursuing digital transformation. IBM research shows that the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was US$4.45 million. The proliferation of mobile devices across a company’s operation makes it imperative for these devices to offer the highest levels of security.

The ideal cybersecurity approach for mobile solutions is to embed leading security practices into the software design and development process. This foundation should be supported with a high cadence of OS and security patch updates. Single-sign-on, biometric authentication, and multi-factor authentication are additional features that help maintain a high level of protection.

Conclusion

Industrial organizations are pursuing digital transformation for increased productivity and efficiency. Mobile devices are a critical element of that transformation, but these mobile computing solutions must meet the specific needs of the sector.

Honeywell’s CT47 ultra-rugged mobile computer is a multi-use device designed for the challenges of industrial applications. These devices can be coupled with Honeywell’s Mobility Edge™, a durable, stable, and secure platform that enables seamless evolution of mobile computing devices and software. This platform helps organizations to accelerate device deployment, optimize business performance, extend device lifecycle, and strengthen device security.

Learn how the CT47 mobile computer can create workflow optimization opportunities by contacting a Honeywell solutions expert today.