RF Guns vs Android Smartphones for picking and warehouse operations.

An RF Gun is a rugged enterprise device such as a Zebra MC 67 or Intermec CK 3.

One of the questions that we get asked a lot of the time is, couldn't I just use a phone device to do the same thing with the camera or a Bluetooth scanner?

​​Here are some points to take into account when making a decision:

• A professional barcode scanner works 2 - 4 times faster than a mobile phone, since a smartphone takes a lot of time focusing and identifying the barcode.
• RF PDA units have integrated barcode scanners with many years of proven experience working in the field. This means they will scan barcodes in conditions such as poor lighting, dirt / dust and other obstacles.
• The ability to scan 2D barcodes and have all barcode formats readable. This means barcode formats such as GS-1, to UPC, to SSCC, to ITF-14 and to Code 128 and Code 39 will all scan with an RF Gun.
• You can work with gloves while using a professional RF scanner.
• Most RF guns are protecte from drops and are water resistant. Most RF guns are IP 65 rated. Let's face it, you drop a phone or tablet the screen will break.
• It is simply more comfortable to hold a PDA unit and use it continuously for a few hours, while the same is not necessarily true about mobile phones. Also, accessories such as pistol grips, belt clips are standard with an RF gun type unit.
• Flexibility of operating systems offered by an RF Gun unit. Most RF gun units now have the option to come in Windows Mobile or Android.

The majority of our customers who have implemented rugged RF scanners get a return of investment on each unit for approximately five years. There is no doubt that an iOS or Android phone are cheaper, but the total cost of ownership will always be more over a five year period due to costly repairs and breakages. This is why you see Zebra and Honeywell coming out with devices that run the Android environment, as the rugged device is the only type of device which will stand up to the warehouse environment.
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