ABC's of Advancing to Android

Not a week goes by that I don't get into a discussion with a client about the migration path to Android for their rugged mobile devices. Clients hear about it all the time, either within their own organization or when talking with friends or colleagues at other companies, and they ask me a hundred questions. Do I really need to move to Android? How long does it take to make the switch? When should I start thinking about it? 

As you can imagine, there's not a single answer to each of those questions. Each company has a different projected path and timeline for their migration. It depends on variables that are rarely able to be controlled, especially by whomever is asking the question. The best advice I can give, and I give it often, is to start talking about it now, and to start making decisions as soon as you can. There's no time like the present. We're not getting any younger, and Android isn't going away anytime soon. 

That being said, I do have a few ABC's of Advancing to Android that are worth considering: 

A is for Acceptance 

The first step in advancing to Android is to accept that it needs to be done. This acceptance needs to happen throughout the organization. We need buy-in from everyone from management to entry level workers that this is the right move. Without this there will be internal fighting and push back which can either delay or derail the entire migration plan. Therefore it's best to work on getting everyone on board as soon as possible to make sure everyone knows why the migration needs to happen and why it needs to happen now. The sooner this company-wide acceptance happens the better, because once everyone is on board, things can really start to accelerate. 

B is for Be Prepared 

Once the company accepts that this change needs to happen then it's time to prepare. This can take days or it can take months, it depends entirely on the urgency that the change needs to occur and the current software being used. With the end of Windows having been on the horizon for years, a lot of software companies have already made the move to Android, offering solutions that will work in both OS environments. However, some software is still only compatible with Windows. Sometimes this can result in making larger decisions about the underlying WMS or ERP software itself that is being used and can force even larger changes that might have been on the books but never took off on their own. Nevertheless, being more prepared will make the entire process easier and faster for everyone involved. 

C is for Cost 

As with any upgrade, migrating to Android will have a cost associated with it. This can be the largest stumbling block of them all to overcome. Most companies see this kind of upgrade as a cost that they can't afford when in reality it's an investment opportunity that they can't afford to miss. Windows isn't going to make a comeback, it's being retired for good by Microsoft and there's nothing anyone can do about it. The sooner a company migrates to Android the less costly it will be in the long run. In every case, waiting will either cost more money or more time, meaning migrating now will actually cost a company less than it would if they waited. Making progress always comes at a price, but the payoff of making the change will make that investment back in no time. 

Of course there are many more steps and pieces involved, but these are the first three that need to be discussed at each and every management meeting. Android is the future, and the longer a company waits the worse off they're going to be when the time finally comes to make the change. It's always better to be ahead of the curve than behind, so start planning things out now to avoid scrambling and making bad decisions in a hurry later on. Trust me, it'll be worth it.

---

Andrew Hall is a barcode expert with over six years of experience in the AIDC industry. He has worked with clients of all sizes and on projects large and small and would be happy to discuss what he can do to make your life at work easier. His number is 847-995-1010 x141, his email is ahall@smg3.com, and his Twitter handle is @AndrewSMG3 for more information.