Technical requirements and important details to consider when buying a cell phone for construction
They are in use in all weathers and are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear. The demands placed on construction site cell phones are particularly high. Some technical details are also important for operations. Find out here what you should consider when choosing a construction site cell phone for your employees.
Construction site cell phones can be used for important tasks. Your employees can use it to record the construction status, document defects, create schedules and record working hours. If you use a construction site app, you can immediately assign entries, recorded times and photos to the corresponding projects.
Certain requirements must be met for the app to run smoothly on the smartphone. This is not a problem with a current Android or iOS device. But construction site cell phones have to prove themselves in a very tough environment. This is why the demands on the hardware are particularly high: the equipment must be extremely robust so that it remains operational every day on the construction site.
We’ll tell you which smartphone we recommend for use on construction sites at the end of the article.
The advantage of construction site cell phones: They fit in every pocket and employees always have them with them
It is advantageous for your employees if the construction site app runs on their regular work cell phone, as they don’t need any additional equipment. Employees have their cell phone with them anyway – also because it has a handy format and fits in every pocket. There are a number of smartphones on the market that meet these special requirements. They are robust and at the same time technically sophisticated.
Construction site cell phones are exposed to these dangers every day
Where there’s planing, there’s chipping. That’s just the way it is in construction. That’s why construction site cell phones have to work even under difficult conditions.
A smartphone is exposed to particular dangers on the construction site, for which it must be designed.
Your cell phone must withstand these dangers on the construction site
- Dirt: The cell phone must be as insensitive to dirt as possible.
- Dust: Even the finest construction dust must not penetrate the cell phone.
- Water: The cell phone needs adequate splash protection.
- Dirty hands: The Equipment must also be easy to use.
- Fluctuating temperatures: The cell phone must run reliably in winter cold and summer heat.
This also happens often: The construction site cell phone falls out of the pocket and lands on a hard surface. These are major challenges for cell phones. That’s why construction site smartphones need to be robust and able to withstand a lot.
Equipment must run reliably – regardless of the weather outside.
They also need technical equipment that optimally supports their tasks on the construction site. A construction site smartphone needs a good camera so that your employees can use it to document construction progress and record construction defects.
5 things a construction site cell phone must be able to do
1. so that apps run: The construction site cell phone needs good GPS reception
For construction site software to function optimally on the move, a construction site cell phone needs the best possible reception. Network coverage is not equally good everywhere in Germany, but the cell phone also has an influence on how good the wireless connection is. As a rule, the input in the app also works offline. The app then saves the data the first time it makes contact with a network. However, if data is to be recorded on the construction site using GPS data, good reception is essential. The connection speed also depends on a good wireless connection. Especially in regions with poor cell phone reception, a smartphone with good radio characteristics is therefore important.
Would you like to be able to automatically assign images and other data to a construction site? This is no problem with a GPS component in the app. A good radio signal should also be available for this, especially when it comes to photos. However, if the network is too weak, you can also select the construction site stored in the app yourself and assign data such as photos. After all, photos taken by your employees on the construction site are legal proof and are therefore extremely important.
2. IP68: The construction site cell phone needs protection against foreign bodies and dirt
Nowadays, many cell phones are offered with a so-called IP protection class. As a reminder, the IP protection class indicates the suitability of electrical equipment for various environmental conditions. It defines the protection of active parts against contact, ingress of foreign bodies and water as well as shock resistance. This standard is of interest to all cell phone users – but it is essential for use on construction sites. The first digit of the IP code indicates protection against foreign bodies and contact. The second digit stands for protection against water. For use on construction sites, the cell phone should have at least IP68. This means it is optimally protected against dirt and water.
3. it can hold even more: this is how much memory a construction site cell phone should have
Other technical requirements are: a 4 GB RAM and a hard disk memory of 64 GB. This is important so that images and data can be saved. The chip should also be as up-to-date as possible.
4. two numbers: Dual SIM in the construction site cell phone is a real plus for employees
Some cell phones offer users the option of using two SIM cards. Dual SIM is particularly interesting for employees who are provided with a smartphone by their employer. If you equip employees with a cell phone with dual SIM, acceptance is usually greater and they only need one device that they can use for work and, if they wish, also for private use. They don’t need an additional cell phone, but they also don’t have to use their private data volume for company business. Companies cannot require employees to use their private cell phone with a dual SIM anyway.
The construction site software naturally also works without dual SIM, so this is not a requirement. But it is a nice addition that makes many employees happy.
5. updateable: The operating system of the construction site cell phone should be as up-to-date as possible
You can use construction site cell phones for much longer than you might expect. Construction companies often use their equipment for four years or more. As a rule, they are still physically in good condition – but the operating system can no longer be updated. This is because the software continues to develop technically and offers ever better recording options. If the operating system remains stuck on an old Tier because platforms no longer support very old Android versions, you will have to replace the smartphone after a certain period of time. Therefore, choose a model with the latest possible Tier of Android that will be supported for a long time. The equipment itself can withstand a lot – and usually lasts much longer than normal cell phones. The same basically applies to iOS. iOS is even much more stringent and supports Tier versions for much longer than Android. But because there are no special iOS outdoor phones, iOS equipment is rarely used on construction sites.
Our device recommendation for a good construction site cell phone
Some manufacturers offer smartphones that have also proven themselves for daily use on construction sites. We therefore currently recommend the following equipment:
Samsung Galaxy XCover
A robust cell phone with a very good price-performance ratio. The technical features and large memory make it suitable for use on the construction site. Thanks to its non-slip cover, it sits securely in the hand.
Image credits: gpointstudio/iStock via Getty Images; avtk/iStock via Getty Images; lolostock/iStock via GettyImages
