Page 14 - FCW, March 2017

EN TE RP RISE
OUTL K
Mobile Workforce
Rugged Tablets Drive Government
Mobile Workforce Evolution
Purpose-built Tablets Offer Flexibility for Home-to-Office-to-Field Work
Tablets such as Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy were once considered the future
of computing. These devices are easier to carry around, yet similar in function to PCs. But recently
smartphones have become a ubiquitous appendage of younger generations
and tablets seem to be falling out of favor. In addition, laptops are making a comeback, fueled by the rise of hybrid PCs, computers with a keyboard that can swivel to turn a notebook into a tablet.
While tablets are becoming less popular with consumers, it is not the case in the government market. While smartphones are becoming widespread, tablet demand is
increasing across the government.
“It’s the complete opposite of what’s happening in the consumer arena,” says Joe Lewin, director of government sales for DT Research. “Government
is going to be the mobility leader in replacing desktops and laptops.”
Some agencies embrace tablets more thoroughly than others. Military organizations such as the U.S. Navy and Army have started widely deploying tablets. The Defense Department has made support for mobility central to
its overall approach to IT. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) says mobility is a key component to evolving the Joint Information Environment (JIE), “and will enable an agile deployment environment for new and innovative
applications to support Mission Partner and warfighter requirements,” in its 2015-2020 strategic plan.
Through a mobile workforce evolution, DISA believes the workforce will move from a traditional personal information management (PIM) desktop approach where e-mail, contacts, and calendars rule, to a “mobile first” initiative where new business processes and applications are created with mobility as a primary use case. Other government agencies are doing the same.
Several factors are contributing to the jump in tablet demand. Wireless networks have become faster and more robust. Encryption technologies also allow safe data transmission over those networks. The ability to instantly view and share data means field-based capture of data and analysis is now much more relevant to what agencies need from their workers.
There is also a wider range of tablets from which to choose, unlike the one-form-fits-all of a few years ago. Two-in-one rugged tablets from companies like DT Research, have detachable keyboards that allow for full, office-to-field based desktop functionality. The detached tablet helps field workers capture data. That spectrum of capabilities attracts a wide range of groups, from those more comfortable with office-based computing to those who like their computers fully mobile.
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