Context:
A pharmaceutical client approached us with a request to source tablets for doing audit checklists on their production lines. The initial reference of Zebra tablets was L10 XSLATE, which are military-grade. Tablets of this grade are designed to withstand harsh environments and provide greater longevity. However, they are more expensive and often irreparable.
Our Support:
Upon further discussion with our client, we identified a gap between their needs and their initial choice. We analyzed the situation through 3 different angles: the market, the needs of our client, and the manufacturer.
1) The market
The initial reference they requested had low availability. At the current state of the market, it is difficult to find refurbished models of this tablet at the needed quantity. Moreover, the aftermarket is not very large, which makes replacement parts equally hard to find and very high in price. Note that the components in this tablet are hardened rather than modular, making repairs difficult.
2) The needs of our client
Military-grade tablets are often used in combat zones yet our client is a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Since they are meant to be used in a clean area, there is no need for our client to have military-grade equipment.
3) The manufacturer
During our analysis, we found that the Zebra had announced the end of life of the L10 XSLATE tablets. However, our client wished to use these tablets for a new project. Launching a new project with obsolete tablets would require additional future investment in replacement devices in a few years.
Our analysis
A needs analysis revealed that the tablets needed to:
Our team recommended a model that better fit their use case: the Zebra ET51 and ET56 tablets. These are enterprise-grade, with lower durability levels than military-grade but stronger than consumer tablets and compatible with the specifications required. We also handled the sourcing of the refurbished tablets, providing our clients a cost savings of 24% and a carbon footprint reduction of 1 ton of CO2eq. We solved an immediate need while proactively addressing possible obsolescence-related challenges in the future.
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