Selection of a fit-for-purpose technology
No specific technology is a silver bullet when it comes to performant connectivity solutions for heavy industry. Only after a clear understanding of a site’s specific environmental and application requirements, as well as a deep understanding of the real-world performance of available technologies, can a wireless technology (or technologies) be selected to solve those challenges.
Planning the support of the technology
Selecting the right technologies to meet the unique challenges of heavy industry doesn’t end at finding solutions that meet the environmental and application requirements. Supportability is a critical component to proper technology integration.
With environments that change rapidly, a ‘self-forming, self-healing’ network that minimizes required infrastructure redesign and redeployment might be the right solution. In another environment, a more deterministic technology may be more appropriate.
In many cases, a hybrid of the two is right. In any case, ensuring optimal performance of the applications, along with cost effectiveness and scalability over the life of the solution is critical.
Planning the future
Technology selection can potentially act as a barrier-to-entry for your next technology upgrade. The decision to transition to a substitute technology might result in a partial or, in the worst case, a complete network downtime whilst the technology is being upgraded.
With proper planning, an alternative consists in the selection of an open, hybrid technology that will support your immediate needs as well as any potential technology change. Discover how Drummond managed to upgrade their wireless network without any network downtime.
Product cost vs total cost of ownership
Whilst experience proves that price remains a critical selection factor for most, technology total cost of ownership, as related to lifespan, maintenance and upgrade, can easily be overlooked. Neglecting these aspects of the technology choice will certainly impact performance, capability, and overall costs of your operations. Choosing the right technology partner as a technology agnostic systems integrator can help you work through all of these potential challenges, and deliver the performance you require.
The 3D-P solution reduces barriers to entry and delivers performance. Our integrated solutions deliver significantly reduced lifetime costs, particularly in regard to introduction of new applications, as the challenges that inevitably arise are readily solved by the proven and tested technologies, domain specific integration tools and integration processes that are delivered as part of our overall network solutions.