WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY FEATURE TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Today’s business communications solutions need to go way beyond the capabilities of paging systems, cordless phones, and two-way radios. Simon Longhurst, manager, OEM & Global Alliances, Spectralink, explains
O
rganisations need to deploy an enterprise grade wireless mobility system that meets
growing needs. It should also boost productivity, improve customer service and boost the retailer’s bottom line. The BYOD trend has increasingly demonstrated that consumer devices are not always the smartest choice for the specialised needs of in- building employees. Despite portability and the ability to access content on-the-go, consumer grade smartphones lack the security, voice quality, durability and integration needed for many critical operations. For example, as the online retail business has become more popular, goods that once sat at the back of centrally located shops are now held in suburban warehouses. These businesses have expanded their home delivery services and click- and-collect offerings and it is essential that these warehouses are equipped with suitable technology to maximise their potential in this ever-growing market. However, warehouses can be dangerous and unpredictable places, particularly for lone workers. With campuses sprawling over thousands if not millions of square metres, and multiple buildings, workers may find themselves out of sight and reach of colleagues for extended periods of time. By employing a specialist in-building wireless
mobility communications system, you can easily detect and mitigate situations where workers are in need of assistance or suspicious activity has been reported. Equipping employees with an in- building wireless mobile device means that they are contactable no matter where they are located, and even if they are operating machinery. As a result, any problems can be given immediate attention by the most relevant member of staff. However, it’s not as simple as ‘any mobile technology is better than no mobile technology’.
There are a number of considerations that must be taken into account when designing and implementing a wireless mobile safety strategy.
THINGS TO CONSIDER Firstly, it’s important to consider how you set-up your wireless mobility communication system to deliver the specific functionality that will help keep employees safe. This might be push-to-talk capabilities to support group calling, alternative text-based messaging options, or specialist apps and alarms that detect when the user is running, has fallen or is in a dangerous situation. A key consideration is how far your mobile solution needs to extend. It’s important to consider the greatest distance that employees will roam on a day-to-day basis, to make sure you don’t put the most isolated workers at risk through lack of connectivity. A warehouse, for example, is an unusually noisy
environment to work in, with a high number of isolated or hard to reach spots, such as loading bays, elevators and basements. These present a challenge when it comes to ensuring high voice call quality, but needn’t mean that you have to accept crackly lines and patchy signals. In fact, it’s crucial that you don’t, as delayed calls or miscommunicated messages could be costly and potentially dangerous for employees. Here, a DECT or Voice over WiFi network offers a
mobility solution that a traditional consumer mobile network simply cannot. In the majority of cases, these networks are privately owned and managed, giving you complete control over placement of base stations or access points - and therefore consistency of coverage throughout your entire facility. An added bonus is that these signals won’t interfere with sensitive machinery, thus ensuring that heightened safety precautions don’t come at the expense of productivity.
Spectralink
www.spectralink.com T: 0203 284 1536 /AUTOMATION Enter 207
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