Managing Total Cost of Ownership of Mobile Devices

An incredibly important factor that should never be overlooked by any company that has an enterprise mobile strategy is the TCO, or total cost of ownership, associated with each mobile device that is used in the field. The TCO is about much more than the upfront cost of a smartphone, notebook, tablet, or other portable device. It’s also the cost of repairs, upgrades, peripherals (if applicable), and downtime. By estimating a TCO for every device, your company can make smarter buying decisions when it comes to device deployment.

Device Failure: Your TCO’s Worst Enemy

When it comes to which factor most impacts the total cost associated with any enterprise mobile device is device failure in the field. This is because the result is three-pronged: according to research by VDC, each device failure brings with it a productivity loss in the field, internal time spent diagnosing or repairing the problem, and time required to redeploy. Between these three factors, each device failure can cause anywhere from 180 to 260 minutes in total downtime.  Use this calculator tool to estimate your savings by using an outsourced managed mobility services provider.

Rugged Devices: The Solution?

It’s no secret that consumer products aren’t built to last. Between the increasingly slim and sleek hardware designs and planned obsolescence, they are not always ideal long-term mobile solutions. Rugged devices are designed to take more of a beating from environmental factors. They are an alternative with a higher upfront cost, but a lower TCO over time. In fact, across every different mobile device type, the total cost over five years is thousands of dollars cheaper for rugged enterprise mobile devices versus consumer products. In other words, sometimes the best way to save money long-term is to spend more of it up front.

However, rugged mobile devices have their own flaws. Because of the quick pace of progress a rugged mobile device may not have the processing power for more current mobile applications. They are also typically not as focused on UX as consumer devices. For less environmentally-intensive fields, BYOD policies can be better alternatives. This is because many employees are more productive when they use a device they are already familiar with.

When planning a mobile deployment for your business, weigh the projected cost over several years for each device against its intended use.  Also consider the environmental  conditions it will likely find itself subjected to on a regular basis.

To estimate how much you can save by using a Managed Mobility Services provider: click here

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