In 2013, our team had to decide which piece of hardware we were going to use to deploy our new data collection process. Our team serviced and maintained environmental equipment around automotive assembly plants. Technicians collected and verified a large amount of data that was key to maintaining the equipment and assuring regulatory compliance. Our system was moving from paper and clipboards to databases and tablets. We had already streamlined the backend so paper could be entered into a powerful database that gave us the feedback we needed to run an effective operation. We now had the opportunity to make that instantaneous to the technician and customer using the power of the brewing tablet revolution. We completed our pilot programs in 2009 and 2010 using the Panasonic Toughbook tablet, an awesome tool at the time.
panasonic toughbook tablet
Our first commissioned project was for a group that rapidly collected quality data from vehicles 4 times a year to use as benchmarking. The data points that they collect require them to move all over the plant floor and to different plants around the country. The system had to be solid, up, and flexible. We wanted a display bigger than a phone. At the time there were three choices iPad, Android Tablet, or Windows 8 tablet. We quickly eliminated Android as no one in the industry even had one on their desk and while it was flexible no one in our group was willing to champion its use. That was not the case for the Ipad. Most everyone thought that was the way to go. They had one, it was simple to use, it was lightweight and it was a hot item. As we investigated, a lot of what we needed was available on the iPad and MS office on iOS was improving all the time. We could deliver our database via the many form tools available or simply with safari. The hold backs were expandable memory, our databases would get huge over time and we cannot guarantee an internet connection traveling through the faraday cage that is a manufacturing facility. Additionally, with the launch of Windows 8 and the Surface line we could just move over an access database here, put a sync function in there, and we were online. I among others championed the idea of the Surface. The Surface did not present well, it was a boat anchor compared to the lightweight Ipad. I bought a case with a hand and shoulder strap to make the Surface look more appealing, it did not help, people commented that it was almost a weapon.
We had a presentation and I used the wireless beam feature on my Surface to show an excel sheet comparing the features of the two tablets, in that sheet was the development cost of getting both pieces of hardware ready. I explained since all the backend work had been completed to get the system on technician’s laptops all we had to do was copy it to the tablet, we would have some significant cost porting it to Apple. As compelling as that was, people could not get over the difference between the lightweight iPad and the Surface frying pan. Later while I was on the way to a presentation with a key decision maker, I said “they used to say nobody gets fired for buying an IBM and I am not saying quite that, but there is an evolution coming and I don’t know if it is the right thing to chase Apple through it”. I made my point, but I understood the unmistakable sleekness of the Ipad. We then walked in to another presentation with a high tech customer. The conference room was filled with Apple notebooks, a reflection of how high tech they were. The presentation started and at the podium the presenter hooked up his Macbook. Everyone from my company gave me the “look”. Then a funny thing happened, when his screen displayed over the projector, the background was the windows desktop. I watch through the presentation and during the Q&A I asked, “I know this is non sequitur but is the windows desktop ironic or are you actually using Windows on your Macbook.” He laughed, “it is a sore subject, a guy who no longer works here thought it was a great idea to buy them for the company. They did the pilot with business managers. When the engineers got them we could no longer access the equipment or needed software. Since the deal was done our only option was to boot windows. Apple makes great hardware as long as it is running Windows”.
Later that week I got the go ahead to buy the needed Surfaces and begin the process. That was November 2013, yesterday I just upgraded those first tablets to windows 10 and sent them out to another project. They seem even heavier now as I type this on my newest Surface. They have served their purpose well and continue to be useful. Looking back and comparing it to my wife’s Ipad of that same vintage, I know we made the right choice. It is amazing to think a world without everyday tablets was really only 6 or so years ago. Now in my new role I find myself on the horizon of a similar dilemma with AR Hardware. There are more than three choices and more at stake. Is there a choice today that will still be relevant in 5 years the way the Surface was for this project?