Warning: Do Not Let Technology Drive Your Workflows
2011 was a huge year for tablets and saw a multitude of both consumer and business-focused devices hit the market, and 2012 is sure to be no different. With more tablets to choose from than ever before, it’s essential for businesses to examine their workflows and find a solution that truly fits their environment, not the other way around. In other words, do not let technology drive your workflows.
Unfortunately, for some time now, technology has been dictating our workflows. For example, in a hospital setting, a 100 lbs. cart may be essential during a full round of medication administration. However, during one-off or single medication administration, it means extra work for the nurse who has haul along the entire cart because the barcode scanner is attached, creating unnecessary, physically-demanding and time-consuming work.
In a retail environment, a sales associate may use a tablet to show a customer different products, a handheld barcode scanner to check inventory or a magnetic stripe reader attached to a smartphone to process transactions. Each device is another piece of equipment for the sales associate to carry around, meaning they don’t have the flexibility of fewer devices to manage, and the process becomes more time-consuming and less efficient and mobile.
No one is happier than we are that businesses are getting excited about tablets, but it’s essential that before they jump on the bandwagon, they really educate themselves on the different types out there and find a solution that works best with the workflow it’s being incorporated into. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work; instead, many businesses need custom-fit solutions that are specifically designed for their environments and powerful enough to support their unique workflows.
Mike Stinson
VP Marketing
Motion Computing