Construction Technology: Year of The iPad

There is no question that Apple, www.apple.com has ushered in a new age of portable devices.  With the launch of the iPad this year, more and more companies are empowering their employees with the new mobile device.  While the iPad is not a fit for all construction companies, it does have the industry discussing the use of tablets out in the field.

Since the launch of the iPad in April, needs for construction companies have relatively stayed the same.  Contractors still require timely communication with field employees; access to realtime information including, payroll, daily logs, work orders and schedules.  Prior to April of this year there were solutions available to contractors that could help accomplish all of these items; how is the iPad any different?

Prior to iPad's launch, field employees had to work with limited graphical displays of mobile phones.  Trying to find the right solution was tough.  The alternative to a tiny mobile device was the laptop which is bulky and comes with a relatively high expense.  The great power of the iPad is its ability to deliver a full desktop experience regardless of location.

The iPad paired with the right web solution can provide realtime access to information from remote time keeping and field reporting, to service management.  hh2 Web Services has seen the continually growing trend of mobile solutions in the construction marketplace and recently announced full iPad integration for Sage STE Service Management with the release of hh2 Field Service.  hh2 plans to release other remote applications supported under the Apple iPad platform.

Construction companies are acknowledging the lower cost of entry when compared to other tablet devices on the market.  Although, there have been some concerns in the field regarding the iPad's durability and glare issues.  For more information on how to address these issues, refer to my prior blog entry "iPad Built for Construction" 

With the technology advancement of the iPad, construction companies will have greater options when it comes to remote time entry, field reporting and service management.

Jason Morrison
hh2 Web Services
www.hh2.com

iPad Built for Construction

Just like the iPhone being used in the construction industry, the question most often that comes up is "what kind of abuse can it take"?  Is the iPad worth the investment to construction companies looking for a mobile field solution?  Just how durable is the iPad on the job?

I have now owned my iPad for a few months since it was first released.  After seeing several durability tests performed online, it was apparent that the iPad with it's large screen is more acceptable to damage.  Small drops on to pavement showed glass damage to the screen.  The durability of the iPad was not near the same as the iPhone when dropped from the same distance on to a hard surface.

The following video demonstrates the durability of the device from a small drop:



The device clearly does not hold up to any hard surface drops. The alternative is to use a durable case such as the new Otterbox Defender series for the iPad.  Using the case now turns the the iPad into a valuable field solution that can hold up to the daily abuse on a construction site.

This next video reviews the Otterbox Defender case for iPad:



The case appears to be solid  and the price of $89 is relatively inexpensive for this type of solution.  You can see in this next video a much better outcome when using a durable case like the Otterbox:



Drops from the same level using a durable case prove that the iPad can hold up to a beating on the job.  Always protect your investment. With proper care these devices can last a long time and prove to be a great tool out in the field.


Jason Morrison
hh2 Web Services
www.hh2.com