A retail store can be a harsh environment for a tablet computer. Employees - and even customers - get their hands on these toys, and may not use the same care as with their personal devices. And tablets are expected to stand up to constant use over an extended workday, often lasting twelve hours or longer. That's why more and more manufacturers are targeting the retail environment with rugged tablet computers, focusing on the mobile space.

Brick and mortar retailers that use or want to use mobile solutions such as tablets know that consumer-grade products may not stand up to the rigors of the business environment. And the return-on-investment (ROI) might not be justified if the device breaks sooner than expected. So in the spirit of enterprise-grade, durable products, here are some of the benefits of rugged tablet computers, and just a few of the new players in this fast growing space.

Advantages of rugged tablet computers for retail.

Depending on the type of retail environment, durable tablet PCs may fill multiple roles in a point of sale (POS) system. Some stores, including kiosks and more portable environments, will use mobile devices almost exclusively. Others may augment desktop computers and other point of sale hardware with these portable tablets. Here are some of the reasons to add a rugged tablet computer to your arsenal.

Replace pen and paper.

The business community has talked about going paperless for many years, but the retail store presents a unique opportunity for both owners and customers. Instead of printing a receipt, requiring the customer to sign the piece of paper, and printing an additional copy for the customer, why not move the whole process to a rugged tablet computers?

Handwriting recognition capabilities on mobile devices have improved immensely, and by recording a customer signature digitally, time and resources are saved. Most consumers are happy with an electronic receipt, and for those requesting a hard copy, the thermal printer can serve as a backup.

Help employees sell

The State of Retailing Online Report found that 30 percent of respondents planned to provide store associates with tablets to enhance and improve the selling process. Instead of keeping employees tethered to desktop computers or other information sources, why not give them a rugged tablet computer and set them free to serve customers anywhere in the store.

Many tablet computers offer WiFi and options for mobile broadband, giving retailers the option of tapping into an in-store network. And the opportunities are endless when it comes to sales processes. Videos, product demos, searches for out-of-stock merchandise. Tablets help workers immediately solve problems for customers. And a satisfied consumer is often ready to buy.

Expedite customer checkout

With today's rushed consumer, once they make a selection in a retail store, they want to purchase and get on to the next thing. That's where rugged tablet computers can make a big splash. By adding POS software and magnetic stripe credit card readers, the tablet computer is elevated to the status of a portable cash register.

Need some examples?

Retail giant Nordstrom announced plans earlier this year to get about 5,000 mobile check-out devices into the hands of their employees at 116 clothing stores around the country. These Internet-enabled tablets would fill the dual role of allowing workers to search available stock and complete credit card transactions without forcing customers to stand in line at cash registers.

Another prominent example is the use of the Apple iPod Touch as a POS system at Apple Stores all over the world. Employees are freed from the tether of desktop POS hardware and software and can complete the transaction wherever the customer is.

New rugged tablet computers in the marketplace

Here are some of the recent entries based on the Android operating system, filling the need in retail stores for rugged tablet computers.

Available in early 2012, the Panasonic Toughpad™ family of Android rugged tablets is targeted toward retail, logistics and transportation professionals. These enterprise-grade devices are available with either a 10" or 7" screen, depending on the application. The smaller size tablet fits the bill when portability is the critical factor and screen real estate may be less important for the user.

The Toughpad™ offers a stylus and active digitizer, meaning that handwriting is recognized much more clearly and the screen only registers the input from the electronic pen. Unlike passive digitizer touchscreens, if your hand or fingers accidentally rub against the screen, the input isn't recognized.

Another industry heavyweight, Motorola has released the ET1 tablet which also runs on Android software. According to Luis Llamas, Motorola's Director of Mobile Computing Product Management, the company sought to create "(a tablet) that looked and felt like a consumer device, but had enterprise-class durability."

Including a Gorilla Glass 7-inch color display designed to withstand drops and bumps, the WiFi-enabled rugged tablet computer supports mobile payments using an optional magnetic stripe reader. And the device offers expansion capabilities for accessories such as mobile printers, bar code scanners, and near field communications (NFC).

More security for the tablet solution

In addition to securing the data transmitted to and from the tablet via wireless, retailers may be looking for a way to physically lock down the device. Especially for those businesses focusing on the self-service market via kiosks, offering customers a connection that doesn't require a human's presence may be the perfect solution. “The self-service market is exploding thanks to the innovation of the iPad,” says Greg Carlson, president and CEO of Block and Company, the parent company of MMF Kiosk.

And that's where the Rhino Elite Series tablet comes into play. Designed for the iPad 1 and iPad 2, this lockable enclosure can be mounted on a table stand and accommodates an additional cable lock for added security. The enclosure won't interfere with wireless connections from the device, includes a cut-out for the power cord so the device stays powered at all times, and has an opening for a magnetic stripe credit card reader.

For both consumers and retail professionals, tablet computing is here to stay. As manufacturers create more rugged tablet computers and other products to enhance the use of tablets like the ones described above, tablet devices are likely to play an even bigger part in the retail environment.

For related articles:

Secure Mobile Payments With Portable Credit Card Readers

Mobile Payments 101: Integrating Mobile Into a Retail Environment