By Richard Eicher Jr, CEO, Skycore LLC

Founded in 2003, Skycore LLC is a mobile value added service provider (VASP) specializing in mobile multimedia delivery technologies and applications for mobile operators, enterprises, brands and their agencies.


You may even have used a mobile shopping app for scanning a UPC barcode to compare prices of products online. We are now seeing smartphone scanning technology being effectively deployed in the workplace as employees are given tablets and smartphones or bringing their own device to work (BYOD).

Merchants, educators and enterprises are beginning to roll out iOS and Android devices for AIDC applications. Because traditional mobile scanners used for AIDC can cost as much as $1,500 or more, smartphones and tablets with or without ruggedized cases offer a low cost, easily replaceable and customizable alternative. In many cases, these alternative devices are more convenient and offer more utility than traditional AIDC hardware. And they are already in your pocket! As employees are exposed to the user interfaces of Android and iOS devices, the training required for commercial applications can potentially be much lower.

Rugged and purpose-built mobile computers won’t go away – they are critical for many applications, and especially for harsh, rugged environments. Instead, what we will see are many new opportunities for businesses to collect data and increase productivity based on the low price, convenience and ready availability of smartphones. For the AIDC industry as a whole, we see the expansion of value-added services into these new areas.

What is holding up adoption in the Enterprise?