3 Things to Consider When Buying Hardware for Your Irrigation Software

By David Crary  

It can be overwhelming purchasing the correct hardware for your irrigation software.  I own a field service software company and it’s overwhelming for me to decide on which hardware is best for my company.  There are a few key factors, however, that every business owner should consider when shopping for hardware:

1. Ram and Versions – One of the most important questions to ask when purchasing hardware for your field service business is will it work with my software?  The newest and coolest devices and computers are great, but if they can’t handle your software, they are pretty useless for your company.
   
   You want to understand how much RAM or data you would need from your hardware to run the irrigation software program efficiently.  We at HindSite always suggest you ask your software provider what the requirements are to run their program.  Most devices nowadays are capable of running large amounts of data, so more focus should be on which versions or brands the software can run on.
   
   
2. Price – Obviously price will probably be one of the top things on your mind when looking to purchase hardware.  The question becomes, how much do you really need to spend to have efficient working hardware?
   
   For instance, HindSite is capable of working on both Apple devices and Android devices.  There are, however, Android tablets that are less expensive than an iPad.  Therefore, we recommend our customers purchase the Android device, simply because it is less expensive and can handle our software just as well as an iPad.
   
   
3. Protection – Devices and hardware are expensive.  One of the most important things to do after hardware is purchased is to protect it.  There are a few different ways to protect devices and computers.
   
   You will want to consider how to backup your data in case anything happens to the hardware.  When you purchase hardware, you should purchase a program or device that is capable of backing up your information.
   
   You will also want to look in to covers or cases to protect the hardware that will be out in the field.  I can’t think of a more frustrating scenario then buying a new device, getting the device set up and ready to work, and having a tech drop it in a puddle or on a driveway.  Along the lines of cases and covers, also comes insurance for the device.  Insurance may be worth the extra cost to ensure that if a device is lost, broken, stolen, etc, you will not be paying the full price to replace it.

Hardware and technology is always changing, and this is both a positive and negative thing.  With constant changes, you are able to have more options with each new piece of technology, but you also have hurdles to overcome to ensure they will work efficiently with your company.  Consider the above list when it comes time for you to buy hardware for your field service business.

Once your hardware is purchased, you will want to make sure your technicians do not have any issues out in the field.  Download our Quick and Dirty Technology Checklist to keep your new hardware efficient and effective.