1 Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006 Industrial Experience of Wireless Applications: Drivers, Productivity Impact, and Challenges Nabil K. Al-Dabal Saudi Aramco
Mar 26, 2015
1Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Industrial Experience of Wireless Applications: Drivers, Productivity Impact, and Challenges
Nabil K. Al-DabalSaudi Aramco
2Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Shed light on the implementation of wireless technology, its business value and productivity impact
Purpose
3Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Main WLAN Users - Industry
• Healthcare• Education
• Retail• Government• Manufacturing• Etc.
4Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Main WLAN Users – End Users
• Functional Areas of IT• Executive Management• Sales• Frequent Travelers• Telecommuting• Frequent Meetings &
Conferences
• Working Outdoor• Remote Areas• Large Warehouse• Taking Inventory• Instant Access to
Server-Based Information
5Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Important IT Technology Drivers in Saudi Aramco
• Fast deployment to meet urgent business and security requirements
• Meet community requirements• Network access wherever needed• Link buildings not connected to network• Simple & rapid installation• Scalability• Mobility
6Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Systematic Process To Investing in Wireless LANs
• Which Job Functions and Applications?• What is the gain?• What are the Risks?• What are the Benefits?• Will the Benefits Outweigh the Cost?• What is the Attitude of the End-Users?
7Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Benefits of Wireless LANs - Time Savings
• Productivity is linked to Time Saved– Time is money– More output for less input
• Examples– Responding to emails– Decision to maintain machinery/equipment– Decision to subscribe appropriate medicine
8Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Benefits of Wireless LANs - Flexibility
• Users Access to Data from Variety of Areas– Traditional areas– Non-traditional areas
• Congested and Unmanned Areas– Oil rigs and refineries– Remote areas
• Freedom and Convenience• Emergencies
9Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Benefits of Wireless LANs – Quality and Quantity of Work
• Quality and Quantity of Data– Accuracy of data– Timeliness of data– Quantity of data (wireless barcode)
10Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Benefits of Wireless LANs – Welfare & Social
• Personal– Feel of permanent control– Competitive edge
• Stress and anxiety– Reduction in uncertainties– Feel of comfort and convenience
• Improve Family Life
11Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Factors Affecting WLAN Productivity Benefits
• Number of Potential Users (% of Total Employees)
• Suitability to Function of End Users• Quality of Training provided to Users• Quality and Reliability of Wireless and other IT
Infrastructures• Suitability and Quality of Wireless Devices Used
12Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Productivity Gains vs. Time P
RO
DU
CT
IVIT
Y
TIME
Average Productivity Prior to Using Wireless LAN
Productivity Curve After Implementing Wireless LAN
Learning
Period
13Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Deriving Economical Models to Implement Wireless Application
Economical Model
BenefitsTotal Cost vs.
• Capital Cost, Direct• Capital Cost, Support• Maintenance Cost• Others
• No. of Users• % Utilization• Productivity Improvement• Others
14Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Typical Economical Model to Implement Wireless Application
Productivity Improvement vs. Payback Period(Based on 10% Utilization of 40 Users and 48 Months of
Useful Life)
01020304050607080
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%Anticipated Productivity Improvement
Payb
ack P
eri
od
(M
on
ths)
Normal IndustricalApplication
Intrensically SafeEnvironment
d
48 Months
15Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Wireless Technology: Security Challenge
DATA COMMUNICATIONVOICE COMMUNICATION
16Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Challenges – Speed and Reliability
• Bottleneck• Interfaces• Signal Strength• Physical Objects• Fast Change of Technology
17Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Do We Need to be Concerned?
By 2006 to 2007, Wireless on broadband technologies will be “good
enough” to be considered required components of most applications and It will be difficult to buy a non wireless
device.
Gartner Symposium and ITXP 2004
18Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Summary
• Although tangible benefits are difficult to quantify, there is enough evidence to suggest that wireless implementation is a worthwhile investment in may types of organizations
• It is advisable that organizations start considering wireless way of working, as other competitors have already started harvesting the benefits.
19Wireless Middle East Forum: 29-30 January 2006
Thank You