Top news highlights of HIMSS12 included the announcement of the government’s Meaningful Use Stage 2 rules. The announcement was the topic of keynote speaker Dr. Farzad Mostashari’s (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology) presentation.

Mobile technology was another top highlight of the conference; it was reported that mHIMSS tracks and sessions on subjects like smart phone usage in HIT, received standing room audiences. In a Healthcare Technology Online article, Editor in Chief Ken Congdon agreed that providing clinicians with the ability to perform more job duties at the point of care or while on the move, was a big HIMSS focus.

In “Here Come Tablets. Here Come Problems,” reporter Shara Tibken takes a look at the spread of tablet computers in the enterprise, especially popular consumer-grade devices like the Apple iPad. She highlights some of the challenges companies are facing after rushing massive deployments to their workforce and failing to take into account some important factors, such as a comprehensive deployment and mobile device management strategy, device functionality and information security concerns. Crucially, many companies also are discovering the devices in which they’ve invested aren’t made to hold up to the real-world conditions their employees face.

In the article, Tibken speaks to Maya Leibman, chief information officer for American Airlines, an early adopter of tablets for workers across the company. Leibman admits that the airline quickly discovered that taking a “one size fits all” approach created challenges for their workers.

“When you’re in a conference room, you might think, ‘this is great,’” Leibman says in the article. “But then you get out in the field and realize it doesn’t work in a driving snowstorm.”

Tablet computers have the potential to revolutionize the enterprise, as a tool that enables easy, real-time access to virtually unlimited data nearly anywhere, anytime. But, as with any other tool, you have to choose the right one for the job. As The Journal discusses, in their rush to deploy this popular new technology, many companies are failing to select the right device for the job.

The Journal lists lessons to be learned from five of the most common mistakes companies make when deploying tablets. Many of these mistakes center on failing to consider a few critical factors:

Where the tablet will be used. What works in the boardroom won’t necessarily work in the field, as The Journal points out, and it’s important to think about whether the tablet you are choosing will hold up to your workers’ real-world, day-to-day jobs. Popular consumer-grade tablets generally are made for “light use” at home and don’t offer the ruggedness that enterprise use demands – certainly important for field workers in extreme environments, but also for standing up to the everyday bumps, drops or falls of an office, retail store, hospital or school. Take a look at what kind of durability testing the device’s manufacturer conducts for drops, and its ingress protection ratings for resistance to dust and water.

How the tablet will be used. In the enterprise, tablets will undoubtedly be used to do more than merely watch videos and play Angry Birds. Before investing in a tablet deployment, verify that the devices will offer the functionality your business demands. If you plan to use your tablet to send and receive large amounts of data, images or video when off-site, consider a tablet that offers 4G mobile broadband for high-speed connectivity. For outdoor use, a daylight-viewable screen, a high level of water and dust resistance and a drop rating of at least 4ft are important. If the tablet will be used for data entry, look for a device offering a stylus and active digitizer, and signature capture and handwriting recognition functionalities. From an IT support standpoint, you should also look for a serviceable battery. Many consumer tablets require you to either completely replace your device if the battery dies, or at least send it in for service.

As The Journal points out, some applications are not yet available on the most popular tablet operating systems. Many other applications don’t work well over via a virtual desktop solution. You need to work with a vendor that can help you with selecting the right solutions; ideally someone that has created an enterprise application marketplace.

Whether the tablet will be manageable and secure. One of the most important considerations for tablet deployments is whether the data stored on the device will remain safe. Most tablets are not designed with security in mind, and choosing one of these devices for an enterprise deployment can have disastrous consequences. Panasonic’s Toughpad A1 tablet is unique in offering security embedded at the hardware level, combined with technologies like hardware and software encryption, enhanced VPN, dual factor authentication, trusted boot and device management. Unlike most tablets, the Toughpad is compliant with FIPS 140-2 for federal government use and is HIPAA ready for healthcare environments.

Another concern noted by The Journal is mobile device management – how much control IT administrators have over the tablets once they’re in workers’ hands. Solutions, from companies like Soti, ATS and AirWatch, allow IT managers to distribute applications in a one-to-many environment, secure devices from unauthorized use and other important tasks. Like the tablet itself, there is no “one size fits all” solution in this area, so do your homework and pick the best solution (or solutions) for your particular deployment.

How much the tablet costs in total. One of the most common mistakes organizations make in tablet deployments is to go with the lowest sticker price, and failing to consider the devices’ total cost of ownership. When factors like repair, support, replacement and downtime are factored in, a tablet’s true cost (like any computing device) will always be much higher than the purchase price. Ensure that the tablet you choose will stand up to the job and be a worthy investment in the long run.

These are just a few key factors – every industry, and every organization, will have its own individual needs that must be considered for a tablet deployment. To learn more about choosing the right tool for your job, take a look at these articles:

• Tablets in the enterprise need to be built for the enterprise
• They’ve Arrived: Tablets for the Army
• Tablets: A ‘Game Changer’ for Retailers
• Constantly Changing Utilities Industry Requires Next Generation Technology
• iPad Creates Challenges for Healthcare IT Executives
• The Future of Tablets in the Automotive Market
• Taking Construction Mobile

As the report from The Journal shows, tablet deployment in the enterprise is a hot topic, and one that is becoming more important as companies consider the potential this technology has to reshape the way business is done. To learn more about deploying tablets in enterprise, government, health care and educational organizations, join Panasonic and technology leaders from around the country at the TabTimes Tablet Strategy Conference on April 27. More than a dozen speakers at the first-of-its-kind business conference will help decision makers define, select and deploy the right tablets, apps and security for their organization, with the goal of making smart business decisions that guarantee increased employee productivity and maximum ROI. For more information or to register, visit http://tabletstrategy.com/.  Otherwise, let us know how we can help you make an informed decision on your future tablet implementations.

• Federal agencies must not dispose of used electronics in landfill or incinerators
• Agencies must send electronics that are no longer functioning to third-party recyclers
• Agencies should donate used electronics to other agencies, schools and state and local governments, or sell them
• Agencies  should encourage people who buy or received donated federal electronics to eventually recycle the products

Despite the fact that the federal government is the nation’s largest consumer of electronics, according to GSA Administrator, Martha Johnson, only about 4% of federal agencies and divisions dispose of used computers and cellphones in landfills now, and about 60% of agencies recycle them.

Rapid changes in technology, including the constant cycle of new product introductions and upgrade options have resulted in a surplus of electronic waste, and all indications lead us to believe that this will only continue as further technological inventions enter the market.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 2.37 million tons of e-waste is generated in the United States each year.  Recycling these electronics allows them to be reused in a different form, and also prevents sometimes hazardous materials from entering the waste stream.

Well before the GSA issued their bulletin, consumers have discovered the importance and benefits of e-recycling.  The most significant benefits include:

• Cleaner environment:  Landfills, where most waste is deposited, spread hazardous toxins throughout the land masses they occupy.   The toxins degrade the ground water that is desperately important to both the land and the people who occupy the surrounding areas.  E-cycling saves space in these landfills and prevents the spread of toxins that cause irreparable damage to our previous environment.

• Health benefits:  Many electronics are made-up of different types of plastics, leads, and other chemicals that become harmful to our health when they are dumped, as they seep into the air, and eventually, our lungs.  E-cycling eliminates these health threats.

In order to make this process more efficient, many manufacturers have implemented services and programs to help their customers more easily, and safely, recycle their used electronic devices.  For Panasonic, an eco-friendly company striving to protect the environment worldwide, this type of e-cycling is engrained in their operations.   Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers generally outlast their warranties, providing their owners with significant ROI and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than with many other computers, so it only makes sense that the company would provide services to help organizations recycle, reuse, or donate their computers as they work to upgrade their systems.

As part of Panasonic’s total mobile computing solution, and in an effort to become the number one “Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry” by 2018, the company offers redeployment options for organizations that wish to remarket, reuse, or recycle their Toughbook computers.

• Recycle: As a service to all individual consumers and organizational customers, Panasonic offers a plan for recycling of Toughbook® mobile computers that have reached the end of their lifecycle in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. The process works the same for all customers and is free of charge.

• Remarket (Trade-in): This service provides organizations with credit for their currently owned Toughbook® mobile computers that can be used toward the purchase of new Toughbook units. Once the trade-in value is determined, Panasonic applies the proper credit and issues a report on the value of units to the organization. Large and small organizations can trade in their Toughbook computers, which may be refurbished and resold, used for parts or recycled in an eco-friendly manner by Panasonic. Panasonic works with the organization to collect the units and ensure all data is wiped from the hard drive. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPEAT standards are also followed to assure minimal environmental impact.

• Reuse: Panasonic offers this service to help organizations reallocate their out-of-warranty Toughbook® mobile computers by donating them to a non-profit group. This environmentally friendly option is provided by Panasonic for the cost of shipping and the processing fees that ensures all data is wiped from the hard drive. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPEAT standards are also followed to assure minimal environmental impact.

Toughbook computers are not the only products that Panasonic encourages its customers to recycle.  Additional recycling programs exists for batteries, toners, cell phones, televisions, and countless other Panasonic products.  You may learn about all of these services here.

Let Panasonic help you recycle your Toughbook mobile computers today!  Tell us what your organization has done in the past with your used electronics!

In today’s market, mobility is playing an important role for organizations at all employee levels. According to IDC’s recent report – Worldwide Mobile Worker Population 2011-2015 Forecast – the world’s mobile worker population will reach 1.3 billion by 2015, representing 37.2 percent of the total workforce. With emergence of this trend, IT management is tasked with providing the best mobile-computing tools that will withstand wear and tear, as well as provide reliable wireless connectivity in order to meet key requirements for today’s mobile worker.

In a recent blog post, we discussed key mobile computing needs for road warriors.

One real-life example of an organization meeting the needs of its management team is Operative Media Inc., a media and advertising solutions company. For advertising executives, constant travel between client meetings is a usual occurrence. Without a dependable solution, the company’s team experienced high failure rates and ownership costs associated with the standard laptops. Additionally, the laptops were a burden to travel with due to their heavy weight and weak battery life. Senior managers were going through a laptop every year – a major IT expense.

The company realized it needed a laptop ready for business use that was lightweight with significant battery life, yet rugged enough to survive regular travel. Operative founder Lorne Brown discovered Panasonic’s Toughbook line of mobile computers and purchased a business-rugged device for himself. He was impressed with the Toughbook line’s durability, long battery life and lightweight features, which allowed him to remain productive and connected while on the road.

With Brown’s positive experience, the company began to gradually roll out Panasonic’s Toughbook F8 to its mobile executives in order to gather feedback from each user. As in Brown’s experience, Operative’s management team was impressed with the durability, performance and six-hour battery life.

In addition, the team activated Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In. The company chose Verizon Wireless for the carrier’s comprehensive mobile-broadband coverage and reliable connectivity. Because of this, executives are now able to work seamlessly during travel without having to pay for mobile “hotspots,” ultimately saving the company thousands of dollars in additional fees.

Since deploying the Toughbook F8s, Operative has not had a single hardware failure. IT support expenses have reduced due to the device’s reliability, allowing IT managers to focus on other strategic projects. Employee satisfaction was a big motivator when deploying the laptops, and the company has been using the devices as an employee performance incentive since the feedback has been so favorable. Overall, the Toughbook F8 has been the ideal mobile device for the Operative team.

How will your company’s executives benefit from Panasonic’s business-rugged line of mobile computers? Read the full Operative case study online here.

SEER Technology has two offerings. The AccuSense Chemical Recognition System gives first responders the capability to detect and identify multiple unknown chemicals, and their concentrations, in a field deployable unit with simple, one button operation. AccuSense has applications for HAZMAT, public safety, industrial settings and the military. For instance, for industrial chemical manufacturers responding to a chemical spill incident, AccuSense provides the capability to assess, quickly and accurately, the potential danger from chemical gas exposure, thus enabling the implementation of response protocols to protect workers and the surrounding population. By wirelessly communicating detection data from the deployed AccuSense instrument back to a remote PC displaying analysis results, the AccuSense system protects first responders from unnecessary exposure to harmful chemical compounds. Additionally, it can be used for day-to-day workplace safety monitoring, fence line monitoring to pinpoint the source of unknown vapors being reported as well as process monitoring to help ensure there are no leaks.

SEER also offers the NAViSEER Personnel Tracking System. This system allows organizations to “see” personnel deployed in GPS denied environments such as buildings, urban and natural canyons, tunnels and foliage canopies. The NAViSEER Personnel Tracking System combines a device worn on a person’s back with SEER3D visualization software running on a remote PC. SEER3D presents the deployed person as an avatar moving through a 3D model of the involved geography. This technology has numerous applications within correctional facilities, as well as for the military, mining operations and secured facilities such nuclear power plants, national laboratories, airports and refineries.

In order for these proprietary software and hardware solutions to be used, they must be paired with a laptop. The company began researching various laptop options and finally decided on Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers. Because nearly all the applications for these solutions take place outside the four walls of an office, the company needed a mobile computer that could handle the bumps and drops that come with deploying a computer in the field. Additionally, the Toughbook laptop features a standard serial port, which has been phased out by most laptop manufacturers. This was critical as a serial port is the only way to connect both the NAViSEER and AccuSense to a computer. Panasonic assured SEER Technology that the serial port is crucial for most Toughbook users, and there are no plans to eliminate it from future Toughbook computers. Finally, because both SEER solutions involve multiple hardware components, the Toughbook laptop’s built-in handle allows for greatly improved portability.

So far, in various testing scenarios, the Toughbook mobile computer has been a tremendous success. SEER reports the Toughbook computers have performed flawlessly, without a single computer failure, which, in these applications, could mean the difference between life and death. Both these solutions have been extremely well received across numerous industries where personnel safety is of the utmost importance. This year, both products will move out of their testing phase and will be available for purchase, with initial deployments happening in the spring. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as these solutions roll out worldwide.

You can find more information about applications for Toughbook computers online.

Photo credit: (from left to right) Christina Friberg, Matthew C. Sanger, Ginessa Mahar

From high-altitude surveying in heat-stricken Nevada, to underwater excavation along the Jersey Shore, there’s no question that the work of an archaeologist requires constant digging and screening for artifacts in sometimes extreme environments.

Ginessa Mahar, a lab supervisor at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and her colleagues spend their time surveying sites with geophysical equipment and excavating 5000-year-old artifacts. The excavations can take weeks at a time. In one of her recent projects researching the Late Archaic period (3000 B.C. – 1000 B.C.) on a Sea Island in Georgia, Mahar and her team detected fire pits, storage pits, living surfaces, subsurface ditches and mounds, and otherwise disturbed soils. These surveys allow the team to better understand the area, providing data about the site’s layout while helping to guide their excavations.

The use of technology has increased in archaeological projects, as it improves the efficiency of mapping sites, studying remains and gaining information about a particular finding. With limited time on site and varying weather conditions, it’s critical that the technology used is suited for the changing conditions Mahar and her team find themselves in.

When Mahar first used mobile computers in the field, she deployed a consumer-grade device to track information and run necessary software. “We tend to carry a lot of information with us and it’s nice to have all that information readily available,” stated Mahar. Unfortunately, in a short amount of time, the consumer-grade devices proved unable to withstand the environment of an excavation site. The computers’ battery was not able to hold an adequate charge throughout the day and the screen’s glossy characteristic made it difficult to view data, even under shade. Also, as is typical in environments of this nature, the devices were dropped and exposed to inclement weather, rendering the laptops inoperable.

Ultimately, Mahar and her colleagues realized they needed a more rugged device to deliver the reliability the archaeologists’ needed. Additionally, a sunlight viewable screen and sufficient battery life was a necessity among the team.

The team decided they needed the Panasonic Toughbook 30, a fully-rugged device able to keep up in the most extreme environments. Since the team had faced issues with durability and reliability in the past, the Toughbook 30’s military-grade certifications ensured the laptop could survive just about anything on an excavation site.

Since receiving the two Toughbook 30s six years ago, Mahar and her colleagues were able to increase their efficiency while in the field. Because of the Toughbook 30’s dependability, they now record, download and evaluate data from soil probes and gradiometers while in the field, avoiding the need to drive back and forth to the lab at the end of each day’s work.

Photo Credit: Diana Rosenthal

Mahar uses the Toughbook computers paired with specific programs while in the field. Remote sensing, which allows her to analyze underground components prior to digging, provides viable information that is instantly downloaded onto the Toughbook 30. This makes it possible for these archaeologists to learn in real-time if the excavation site is suitable to execute a dig. The Toughbook 30’s touchscreen also allows the team to utilize software programs, making mapping and data input much easier.

With a focus on geophysical techniques in the southeast – the study of soil resistivity and gradiometry – Mahar is constantly submersed in tropical, maritime environments. The Toughbook 30’s reliability gives Mahar, the team and the museum’s IT department piece-of-mind while excavating on site.

Learn more about the Toughbook 31, the successor to the Toughbook 30 used by archaeologists at the American Museum of Natural History. Also, find out more about Mahar’s toolkit in an interview she did with WIRED magazine.

According to Strategy Analytics, a total of 66.9 million tablets shipped worldwide in 2011. This represents a 260 percent growth from 18.6 million tablets shipped in 2010. In the automotive space, tablets can be especially useful for service advisors and service bay technicians. Service advisors can use tablets to interact with customers in the shop front and provide up to date information on parts availability and vehicle status as well as present visual displays of design options. Service bay technicians utilize tablets on the shop floor to aid in vehicle diagnostics and workflow management.

However, there are several considerations that automotive shops must take into consideration for tablet computing including ergonomics, battery life, durability and security. If an automotive professional is going to carry a device all day, it needs to be lightweight and easy to hold for long periods of time. Panasonic has designed a variety of “hand-free” ergonomic straps and dome hand support system that cradle the hand for comfortable long-term use.  Batteries should last around 10 hours and also come with field serviceable batteries that can be replaced. We also recommend that automotive professionals look for tablets with MIL-STD-810G ratings for drops as well as ingress protection ratings for resistance to dust and water. Enterprise-class mobile computing requires an enhanced level of device security that isn’t available in today’s consumer tablets.

Some rugged tablets offer an easy-to-use dual touchscreen functionality, which helps workers go from using touch to capture signatures or select data with a stylus.  Tablets that are ideal for service advisors will be supported by an eco-system that includes an enterprise-focused app store, peripherals, developer tools and development support.

You can find more information on tablets for the automotive market in a Panasonic webinar presented by Ward’s Auto online here. You can ask questions in the webinar console or leave comments in the section below.

While the CEO is looking at mobile implementation as a way to expand the business model, the CFO is tasked with determining if investing in new technology will reduce costs or produce revenue. There are three areas that should be addressed to solidify CEO and CFO buy in: Return on Investment (ROI), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and management expectations.

Demonstrate the ROI

Recently, Mobile Enterprise released a white paper “CEO and CFO Buy-In: The Key to All Successful Mobile Projects,” which outlined the business proposition when dealing with CEOs and CFOs.  This principle acknowledges that streamlining processes and increasing employee communication boosts productivity, period. For field employees, the ability to receive immediate assignments and GPS directions, access to real-time data entry and the capability to take and quote orders onsite saves the company time and allows more customers to be serviced. While efficiency is a great selling point, the CEO and CFO also want to understand how the technology will produce ROI through productivity gains, lower costs, higher profit margins and increased employee and customer satisfaction.

Customer satisfaction is an example of a “soft benefit” that is harder to quantify. However, a recent report, “Mobile and Tablet Shopping Demystified: Adoption and the ROI Business Case,” by researchers at the Aberdeen Group noted that the number one external pressure for mobile adoption is rapidly changing customer expectations (at 47%). The ability for enterprises to deliver real-time quotes and purchasing information increases sales and caters to customers’ short attention spans and need for individualized attention quickly.C

Address Total Cost of Ownership Concerns

While increased productivity looks great on paper, there are other support concerns that should be addressed.  Mobile devices grant freedom to the workforce but they also must be updated, require IT support and occasionally need parts replaced. The CFO is likely to be more astute to these life cycle costs than the CEO, but both will want to know what the overall deployment of the product will cost.  Short term warranties (2 years or less), short battery life, broadband support fees for managing external wireless cards and high failure rates all negatively affect TCO and can literally halt business. In fact, PCMag.com recently reported a study that found a 15 percent failure rate for consumer-grade business laptops.

ArborMetrics Solutions, Inc., a nationwide vegetation management company, was looking for a mobile option that addressed these risks and discovered a perfect solution when it deployed Panasonic Toughbook 19 computers to its workforce. Toughbook mobile computers are cost effective for ArborMetrics with long deployments, low failure rates, exceptional battery life and an extended warranty. Management at ArborMetrics also commented that the company has won new contracts with the implementation of its efficient and reliable mobile capabilities.

Consider Mobile Implementation and Management

Computerworld described a study by Enterprise Device Alliance, which states only 16% of organizations reported using mobile device management tools last year. However, this figure is expected to increase to 50% by the end of 2012. Mobile can be a security nightmare as well as a headache for the IT department.  Before the CFO and CEO can sign on the dotted line, they must know that the new system is compatible with company standards, meets the organization’s security needs and is supported internally and externally. Opus Research recently did a survey of 200 C-level executives and found that 60% lacked a defined strategy for managing mobile users.  Panasonic and its partners often work with IT to not only help implement the technology smoothly, but also to keep production running smoothly with superior support.

Steris Corporation experienced this when it equipped its field employees with Panasonic Toughbook notebooks, allowing for more efficient work flow, real-time data entry and on-site customer signature capture.  The company has received a high level of support, including a “hot-swap program” that allows a damaged Toughbook laptop to be exchanged for a fully-functional device within 24 hours or less.

Mobile devices provide field service workers the ability and freedom to service clients better and more efficiently – all in real time. However, at the C-level, concerns vary from overall implementation costs to confusion regarding strategy and management.  As these executives become more involved with purchasing decisions, it’s imperative to address these issues thoroughly to achieve buy-in, in high places.

As we enter this new age of mobile computing, how are you conquering C-level concerns?

Safety messaging is a growth application for digital signage. The medium allows for visual messages to be delivered quickly and clearly, often in multiple languages. In fact, the 9/11 Commission report recommended that notification systems be part of a public safety security solution. Hundreds of colleges and universities are already relying upon digital signage solutions to improve campus communications, especially in emergency situations, where mass communication in real-time is essential.

How do you decide whether to integrate digital signage into your communications strategy? Here are some considerations:

• ROI: An investment in digital signage solutions can replace multiple forms of traditional paper-based communication methods. These digital services eliminate expensive printing costs as content can be digitally updated, often using more engaging visual content and multiple languages. Take, for example, the age-old FBI “Most Wanted” poster. These posters have gone digital and now updates to the list can be made in a central location and then published to locations across the country.

• Durability and Reliability: Agencies require equipment that can withstand the elements of the outdoors to ensure that announcements are delivered effectively without experiencing failure due to exposure of every day natural impacts. Professional displays such as Panasonic’s LFP30 and LFT30 Seriesare built to endure these types of conditions with a rugged design that is highly dustproof and water resistant, making them optimal for outdoor use. These displays, combined with end-to-end software and hardware integration, make this an ideal solution for the mission critical requirements of the public sector industry.
• Central Management: Advanced digital signage solutions enable communications agencies to centrally manage the content that’s displayed across their network. This simplifies not only the communication of messages, but also the diagnostics and repair. For example, remote monitoring identifies specific failure points within the network so that technicians can be quickly deployed.

Digital signage can help public sector organizations reach a mass audience with engaging, informative content that in emergencies can be the difference between life and death. Panasonic Digital Signage Solutions offer a wide range of technologies that enhance your messaging capabilities including hardware, software, installation and support. As applications evolve, Panasonic is committed to partnering with organizations to better serve the public good.

Tell us about some ways you think your public safety agencies could benefit from and use digital signage!

The EZ-Tech solution consists of a Panasonic Toughbook mobile computer loaded with diagnostic software and the vehicle interface cables. Navistar selected the fully-rugged Toughbook line because it was durable enough to withstand the service bay environment and would deliver strong return on investment. In addition, Navistar is able to remotely manage the software and push updates out to its dealer network.

Navistar recognized early on that it needed to work with a partner to manage the product orders, billing and administrative functions of the program. The company partnered with Bizco Technologies, a full service technology firm, to develop an online portal that allows dealers to purchase product directly. Navistar also works with Panasonic’s National Service Center, Heartland, where the devices are configured, imaged and shipped directly to the dealer – reducing the burden on a dealer’s IT department.

One of Navistar’s dealers, Diamond International, has been part of the EZ-Tech program and a Toughbook customer for 15 years. Diamond International, a full line International dealer, has Toughbook 29s, 30s and 52s running a suite of International software deployed in its service bays. On average, Diamond issues 50-75 repair tickets a day with at least 50-60 trucks on the lot to service. Toughbook computers are ideal devices for Diamond due to their drop/shock protection and ability to stand up to the dusty and dirty environment of the service bay. Port durability is also important as the USB ports are frequently used to connect vehicle-interface modules.

Through the EZ-Tech program, Navistar has deployed more than 3,500 Toughbook units to its dealers worldwide. Navistar and its partners have created a system that proves a centralized approach to service technology offers dealerships high-end solutions without the burden of management costs.

Click here to read the full Navistar case study.