Blog, Press Releases and Case Studies

When looking to invest in mobile technology, many companies are drawn towards consumer-grade tablets. This is no surprise, as they are upwards of half the price of a rugged, enterprise grade tablet. Companies may be willing to take the added expense of having to replace the outdated tablets every few years rather than pay the higher upfront cost of an enterprise grade tablet. However, simply comparing the initial cost of the devices can be deceiving. The upfront and replacement costs are not nearly as concerning as the costs of a consumer grade device failure. In fact, more than 90% of the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a consumer grade tablet comes after the initial purchase*.

In order for your business to get the maximum return on your rugged tablet investment, you need to make sure the solution truly meets the needs of your business. Did you ensure all needed add-ons are available with the solution you chose? Are others able to be added if your daily operations shift?

Many electronic devices claim things such as “water resistant” or “water proof.” However, how do you know if they are what they actually claim to be? That’s where IP ratings come in.

A rugged tablet manufacturer doesn't get to just include the word 'rugged' on their products and call it a day. Rugged tablets are put through strenuous testing and must meet certain performance guidelines in order to truly be considered rugged by industry standards. The rugged tablet industry has adopted testing standards developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the U.S. military (MIL-STD 810G), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), among other organizations. Tablets are tested against vibration and tumbling, extreme temperatures, humidity and liquids, and drops.

Not all work takes place in an office. Many businesses' daily operations occur in less-than-ideal conditions, especially dirty jobs in harsh industries. For frontline workers in mining, oil and gas, construction, or even agriculture, consumer grade devices just won't cut it. Rugged and sealed tablets are designed from the ground up to meet MIL-STD-810g, IP65, and C1D2 standards to ensure worker safety while reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.

For manufacturing and warehouse operations, being able to mount a rugged tablet to a forklift can greatly increase worker productivity. Before you purchase a rugged tablet and mounting system, there are some important things to take into account. Here are our top 5 considerations.

Having complete screen visibility is crucial for frontline workers, but an intense glare or a shattered screen can halt work on the spot. A shattered screen may take your tablet out of commission for days when it needs to be sent in for repair. That's why MobileDemand offers the ultimate addition to your rugged tablets: an anti-glare screen protector.

Say hello to the new and improved xTablet T8650. The innovative 8-inch rugged Windows tablet is known for being feature rich, rugged, value priced, and designed to enhance worker productivity. Today, it boasts several feature upgrades to help you get more work done in less time.

For warehouse operations, efficiency and productivity plays a huge role in customer satisfaction and improvement in the overall bottom line. Any extra time a worker wastes on an inefficient system is valuable time lost, meaning fewer picks or orders filled each day.

Many healthcare facilities are looking to enable their workers with mobile technology solutions. When choosing devices, it is important to understand the benefits of choosing enterprise devices, rather than consumer grade devices. Here are four of our top reasons for choosing enterprise devices in healthcare.

There are many benefits to mounting a rugged tablet to a forklift, truck, or other vehicle. If you decide to mount a tablet, you are faced with many questions, but there is one you must ask yourself: How are you going to supply power to your tablet?

From retail to hospitals and field services to supply chain, barcodes have been used since 1974 to increase efficiency and engagement. They enhance data management and are becoming more dynamic in their usage. There are multiple types of barcodes, however, so how do you know which is the best option for your business?

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused healthcare systems to learn more about isolation and how it affects patients and their quality of care. Not only are patients physically removed from their loved ones, the people they interact with, their care team, present themselves hidden behind sterile personal protective equipment (PPE) that hides nonverbal expressions that would normally offer patients comfort and assurance.

Today's consumers expect an increased level of service and overall enhanced shopping experience from all retailers. While online shopping is increasing in popularity, retailers need to give consumers a reason, outside of their product and service offerings, to come into their store.

Firstline workers all over the world, spanning countless environments and workflows in industries such as manufacturing, retail, restaurants, and more, are using MobileDemand rugged tablets and cases to achieve more. Many of these devices get passed from one person to the next as shifts change throughout the day. Now, more than ever, it is highly recommended that organizations adopt processes for routine cleaning and disinfecting devices for the health and safety of employees and customers.

As the world begins to open up in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are facing new challenges in everyday operations. Even as we find some normalcy, these businesses will ultimately function differently from what we were used to, pre-pandemic.

With businesses and healthcare offices slowly beginning to allow customers back in, many organizations are making the choice to implement 'health' checks for their employees and customers or patients upon entrance to the facility. These screenings may include checking temperature and pulse oximetry, as well as a questionnaire about general health, recent travel, or potential exposure.

Following ruggedness, mobility is one of the most important requirements for companies investing in a rugged tablet for their workplace; but sometimes workers need their tablet to become stationary. Having the option to easily switch from handheld to mounted can increase worker efficiency and productivity in a number of industries including field service, manufacturing, retail, and so many more. That's why MobileDemand offers mounting options for every rugged tablet and case we offer.

Rugged tablets are extremely popular for frontline workers due to their ease of mobility. But sometimes, even the most mobile of workers need to be stationary. The ability to quickly switch from being mobile to stationary can increase productivity by leaps and bounds. If you are considering mounting a tablet, there is a lot to think about, so here are our top questions to ask yourself before making a mounting decision.

MobileDemand is pleased to announce the donation of 50,000 surgical masks and 14,000 face shields to Corridor-area hospitals and healthcare providers.

Microsoft recently phased out their Surface Go tablet to make enhancements for the newly launched Surface Go 2. MobileDemand’s rugged Surface Go 2 xCase will accommodate this updated version of the popular tablet. The Go 2 has an additional .5 inches of screen size, and the bezel has been thinned out, keeping the dimensions the same as the original and maintaining the 3:2 aspect ratio.

For today's modern enterprises, staying connected is crucial. Operating at the level of reliability Verizon connectivity provides is what frontline workers expect. Verizon Wireless has certified the proven rugged xTablets T1150 and T1180 making it easier than ever to work from anywhere.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, May 11, 2020 – MobileDemand is pleased to announce the donation of 300 rugged iPad cases to The County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services (DHS). The donation is through a partnership with the Annenberg Foundation, Brilliant Corners and MobileDemand. The 300 iPads and rugged iPad cases will be used in DHS hospitals, including Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, to facilitate patient-family and patient-medical staff communication during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – Jan 13, 2020 – In retail, keeping the right products flowing from the manufacturer to the consumer is critical to ensuring a superior customer experience. MobileDemand’s versatile, rugged mobile computing solutions are helping cooperative food wholesalers like AWG and retailers such as Fareway Meat and Grocery to streamline their store operations and stay competitive. MobileDemand rugged cases with barcode scanning and payment system add-ons encase the Microsoft Surface Pro, Microsoft Surface Go, and Apple iPads at several retailers with great success.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Jan. 12, 2020 – Taking measurements of boxes is a standard part of shipping and logistics operations and today’s automated systems have required boxes and pallets to be moved to fixed and stationary scanners for measurements. MobileDemand® xDIM™ Mobile Dimensioning Software performs accurate measurements by the operator in a mobile fashion where the package sits, maximizing operational efficiencies. With the new enhancements being introduced at the 2020 NRF Show this week, xDIM’s patented technology will more accurately and quickly capture dimensional and volume data, as well as provide rich data via its cloud-based dashboard.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa– January 7, 2020. MobileDemand, provider of rugged productivity enhancing mobility systems to firstline workers, today announced the xTablet Flex 10B, its third-generation Flex 10 rugged Windows®-based tablet. Built upon the foundation of its proven rugged predecessors in the Flex 10 series, the Flex 10B feature-rich tablet has the latest power and performance upgrades to help users maximize workforce efficiencies. With this launch, MobileDemand is enabling businesses to protect their investment and improve their bottom line with a budget-friendly industrial tablet.

More and more companies are starting to run their workforces from powerful consumer-grade tablets, like iPads®, that meet their on-the-go business needs. Unfortunately, consumer grade tablets aren’t designed for rough-and-tumble industries like beverage distribution, warehousing, or logistics. That’s where MobileDemand is filling the gap, with a steady cadence of product launches focused on ruggedizing consumer grade tablets and improving productivity.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – September 10, 2019. MobileDemand launches another series of rugged cases, delivering productivity in the enterprise through built-to-be rugged tablets and innovative rugged cases. Rugged cases by MobileDemand enhance the capability of consumer and light enterprise grade tablets, such as Apple® iPad™ and Microsoft® Surface™ devices, converting them into highly productive tools for front-line workers. Announced today, the company has created two robust, rugged cases for the Apple iPad Mini and Apple iPad Pro 11” with patented features and utility to allow their users to get more done, faster and more accurately.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Aug 20, 2019 – Inc. magazine recently revealed that MobileDemand is No. 4761 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - JULY 23, 2019 - MobileDemand is leading the way in delivering productivity in the enterprise through rugged mobile devices in both built-to-be rugged tablets and innovative rugged cases. The rugged cases enhance the capability of consumer and light enterprise grade tablets, such as Microsoft® Surface™ and Apple® iPad™ devices. Announced today, the company has created two robust, rugged cases for the Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Go with patented features and utility. These breakthrough cases include options to allow users to scan barcodes, take mobile payments with a credit card reader or payment device, build a 3D model of a scene or object, and mount the device to almost anything one can imagine. The Microsoft Surface devices, with the new MobileDemand cases, turn into mobile computing multi-function tool to get more done with the mobile workforce in retail enterprises, as well as logistics, supply chain, industrial, healthcare, field service and field sales applications.

Hiawatha, IA, April 3, 2019 – This week marks the launch of a new patent-pending technology, xDIM™ Mobile Dimensioning software, for use on mobile devices. It’s engineered to measure package dimensions using a specialized 3D camera and then uploaded to a cloud-based dashboard. This will provide companies in warehousing, logistics, supply chain management, shipping and receiving, and courier industries with a more efficient solution for managing packages and arm them with a more rapid return on investment.

Cedar Rapids, IA – March 6, 2019 - MobileDemand’s best-selling high-performance rugged tablet just got even better. Our customer favorite T1600 has been upgraded, now selling as the xTablet T1680, when rugged mobility is required for the job. Built around the latest 8th generation Intel® Core™ i5-8250U Processor with double the cache, means you get a 125% increase in performance. We’ve also doubled both the RAM and solid-state drive storage, while providing the newest generation of WWAN and WLAN/BT. The 8M camera (standard) on the back will produce higher resolution images than ever before.

Consumer tablets come to market extremely fast and leave even faster. While useful, and sometimes even vital, for the operation of many businesses, it’s costly to have to replace outdated technology every few years. Rugged tablets help ease that trouble.

When it comes to working out in the field, nothing is more frustrating than when you have technology that won’t work, or worse, breaks. Fortunately, rugged tablets are not only able to get the job done, they won’t crack under the pressure.

Business is dynamic and everchanging. It can be difficult to find the perfect solution to a problem. While most companies just give you their product and expect you to make it work, MobileDemand takes a different approach.

With so many companies shouting the benefits of their tablets, it can be difficult to know what is actually true and what is a bit of a stretch. Since the first touch screen broke, everything has slowly become more rugged. But what makes a true rugged tablet rugged?

Rugged tablets and forklifts work in tandem to elevate productivity. Sure, ruggedized laptops are useful in their own space, but they’re not really built for kind of punishment a forklift can dish out. Here are just a few advantages of this versatile, mountable solution.

Warehouses are only as efficient as their employees, and their employees are only as efficient as the tools they're given. Forklifts and pallet jacks have aided in moving product quicker, but what helps move it more accurately? While pencil and paper may be the age-old technique, what if there was a better way?