Mike Estes, our Hardware Specialist here at DPS, is excited to announce that we now offer Cold Storage Solutions for our customers. These Cold Storage Solutions provide a level of efficiency that stands above standard units. Mike sat down and answered some questions about Cold Storage Solutions, to give us an idea of what makes them different and desirable.
Q: What needs are met by a Cold Storage Solution that standard units can’t offer?
A: Standard units aren’t designed to work in an extremely cold environment, like a freezer. Standard units are designed to go down to negative 4 degrees, when the standard freezer is negative 15 degrees. The Cold Storage Options – which include scanner guns, wireless access points, vehicle mount computers, wearable things like finger scanners and two way radios – they are all designed to withstand the temperature change going in and out of the freezer and warehouse. Certain models can go from 22 below to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: What happens when a standard unit freezes? Do you have to wait for it to thaw out, or is it just a goner?
A: Well, the keys can freeze up, the screen can fog, and that happening every time a worker walks into the freezer can eat up a lot of time. Not to mention, the standard devices will absorb moisture and condensation, which can either freeze inside of it or totally fry it. The Cold Storage Solutions are extra durable, so even if they get left in the freezer all day by mistake, they’ll still work. They are sealed and frost free. Special keyboards prevent icing and frozen keys, and a heated window prevents fogging.
Q: How cost effective are the Cold Storage Solutions?
A: You’re going to pay a little more for the Cold Storage devices, but they’re designed to work without the issues of a standard unit. It would save time, since the device wouldn’t freeze up. They’re also designed with different batteries, so they’re not draining while adjusting to the changing temperatures. From my perspective, you’re spending that money on something. It’s up to you whether it’s on someone sitting there and being inefficient while they wait for the device to work, or whether they have the tools they need to get the job done. If you have cold storage, and you want to be competitive in the industry, it’s something you have to do. You just can’t afford not to.