Smartphone or MDE device?
Complicated with limited functions
Just a few years ago, MDEs were exclusively geared towards mobile data capture. Compared to the large touchscreens of smartphones, the handling of MDEs took some getting used to and common apps could only be used to a limited extent. In areas with lower requirements for robustness and scanning performance, the decision to use smartphones was therefore obvious.
However, the trend is currently moving in the opposite direction for various reasons.
Speed and ergonomics
As fast as a single barcode can be scanned with a smartphone, the differences to MDEs can be decisive when used frequently. An independent study by the manufacturer Zebra compared common tasks performed with smartphones and MDEs with a physical scanner button:
- 25% - 40% faster barcode scanning
- 23% - 48% less muscle movement required
- 30% - 60% less demands on the whole body posture
Key factors were the positioning of the scanning module at the top of the device for easy aiming and scanning, the ergonomic balance that allows for quick grasping and aiming at barcodes and less dependence on the device screen due to the integrated target marking of the MDEs. In comparison, the smartphones required constant visual control of the screen to capture the barcodes in the field of view and offered ergonomically poorer handling.
