Over the past few years, I have received hundreds of calls and have reviewed ten times as many customer orders in which the specified hardware required further scrutiny. The reason it’s important for me to engage the users that place these orders or call directly is because most software is hardware-specific and will only work with product that has been tested, approved and recommended by a given provider. By finding out how the customer is using the product and whether or not software is prevalent, I am able to properly educate the user on what will/will not work for them.
Learn 5 Tips for Selecting the Correct Hardware:
1. Identify whether this hardware is something you currently use.
It’s important that you have a solid familiarity with the product you are/will be using. If the product in question is something you have implemented and utilized successfully in the past, you know it works and there’s no need to further scrutinize it.
2. Determine if the hardware in question will integrate with your software.
Will the piece of hardware need to interface directly with your software? If so, has it been used by you or someone else in your company before? You will want to find out if there are configuration or installation instructions you must follow in order to have a successful install.
3. Contact your software provider for further instructions.
If you aren’t sure whether the hardware is supported, you will want to contact the owner of the software, which could be a developer on staff, your IT department, a 3rd party systems integrator or the software manufacturer.
4. Make sure that you order exactly what is recommended.
It’s essential to find out what specific hardware is supported by the software you are using. It’s always good to ask for the make(s) and model(s) supported, the preferred interface, along with any other options the hardware should include.
5. Obtain any installation instructions from your software provider before receiving the product.
While you are speaking with the software contact, make sure to find out what is required of you or the installer to ensure a successful installation. It could be a particular driver, custom firmware, a specific barcode programming sequence or back end instructions for connecting your device with the software.
Whether it be Signature Capture Pads, Barcode Scanners, Barcode Printers, Mag Stripe Readers, Receipt Printers or Mobile Computers, it will always be important to center your decision on the software being utilized. By doing so, you can guarantee yourself a great user experience with a proven solution.
If you have any questions about what hardware would work best with your software application, feel free to give us a call at 800-830-9523 or email info@L-Tron.com.
About the Author:
Jeremy Miller is L-Tron’s Industrial Automation and Advantech Product Specialist. Jeremy is highly trained and brings over 10 years of experience in the industrial control,data acquisition and test & measurement markets. Jeremy holds Advantech certifications in: Industrial Platform, Industrial Operator Panel, Automation Controller &I/O, Industrial Communication, & Automation Software. Jeremy can be reached at (800)-830-9523 ext 126; jeremy.miller@L-Tron.com