News

Background

Special Events Group (SEG) is a leading provider of technical support for large-scale special events, offering technical services and equipment for set and stage design, event concepts and much more. With offices in Bulgaria and in Austria, they are a trendsetter for new and creative ideas in the event industry throughout all of Europe.

Challenge

In the age of mobile devices, event attendees expect convenient access to power outlets where they can charge their personal phones, tablets and laptops during the event, exhibition or conference. Many special event companies offer a table with power strips as a courtesy to meet this need. The SEG Team, however, noticed that the “charging table” was always crowded and devices left unattended were at risk of theft. They saw an opportunity to bring a unique experience to conference attendees by offering a secure place to charge and store devices while not in use.

Solution

The PC Locs FUYL Tower is a Charging Station with 15 individually-lockable compartments that works just like a hotel safe. Inside each locker is one AC outlet and one 2.4 amp USB port, making it possible for attendees to charge more than one device at a time. FUYL Tower users are able to lock their chosen compartment with a 4-digit, user-defined pin number, making it easy for the user to remember their code. By providing a secure Charging Station inside the venue, attendees are able to lock up their devices and walk away for worry-free charging.

SEG even takes it a step further by creating custom graphics for the outside of the FUYL Tower so that it fits seamlessly within the brand of the event. Product flexibility (and durability) allow SEG to use the same Charging Station at all of their events throughout Europe. And since European countries speak many different languages, they’re able to localize the sign on the top of the station that reads “Charge Your Devices Here” to match the main language spoken at that particular event.

To learn more about how PC Locs products are transforming device management for other businesses around the globe, click here.

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To download a PDF of this white paper, click here.

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We all know about smart cars, smart cities, smartphones, and smart speakers, but did you know there are also “smart egg trays” and “smart umbrellas”? If you’ve always wanted to be notified when you’re running low on eggs or find out from your umbrella when it’s raining outside, these smart devices might just be for you. For us, these new products are a sign that the term “smart” has quickly become one of the most popular consumer marketing buzzwords of the digital age.

It’s no wonder that the smart label is so widespread. Who isn’t on the lookout for things that make life easier? If something is smart, the perception is that it will take away the responsibility of figuring out what needs to be done. So-called smart devices and technologies are supposed to determine what you want and do it for you.

The Buzz around Smart Charging

Charging is the latest in the long list of tech to be given the “smart” or “intelligent” label. The idea behind it is that the charging system is controlling and monitoring the charging process. Sounds pretty cool right? However, just because something sounds cool, doesn’t mean that it’s necessary. In the case of fancy internet-connected egg trays, do you really need an expensive carton to tell you to buy eggs when you can clearly see for yourself every time you open the fridge? In the case of smart charging, most devices already have built-in software that regulates charging to ensure devices aren’t overcharged. As PC Magazine explains, “The one thing all the experts agree upon is that smartphones are smart enough that they do not let an overload happen. Extra protection chips inside make sure that can’t happen in a tablet or smartphone or even a laptop. Once the internal Lithium-ion battery hits 100 percent of its capacity, charging stops.”¹

You may also think that a solution that offers intelligent charging automatically senses the power needs of each device. Be aware. Few smart charging systems actually do this. Rather, they sense the average power need for a bank or row of devices and direct power to the bank most “in need.” Which sounds useful in theory, but if you really think about your day-to-day workflow, it isn’t all that helpful. Read on to find out why.

Programmable Power Management

As an efficient alternative, PC Locs offers the remote control ECO Safe Charge™ Power Management System. This intelligent programmable power management system can charge multiple laptops and power other electrical equipment safely. In our carts, the devices can be programmed for a certain amount of time, and if the device has built-in software, it won’t overcharge. If the device just needs a quick pick me up in the middle of the day, it will charge just as fast in its cart. You control how long you want your devices charged, and ECO Safe Charge will supply as much power as the device needs, regardless of how much of a charge it currently has.

Top Five Benefits of ECO Safe Charge

Check out the five advantages this technology offers that are not only pretty cool; they’re also useful and put control where it belongs, in your hands.

1. Reduces the possibility of blowing a circuit when a Cart or Station filled with devices is plugged into a single outlet.
2. The ECO-TIMER™ functions can reduce your energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions, extend the life of device batteries and reduce your power bills.
3. Unlike “smart” charging the PC Locs power management system can manage multiple carts on the same circuit.
4. It’s programmable, so there isn’t the constant trickle charge using electricity.
5. You can control from a distance by remote control. For example, if you have a cart plugged in your classroom, and you know students are going to be retrieving their own devices, you can hit the off button on the remote to turn off power. When the students return their devices, you can hit the on button with so the devices will start charging again.

ECO-TIMER Scenarios

Although there are many possibilities for how to set up the ECO-TIMER functions based on your specific needs, here are a few popular scenarios.

• Scenario 1: You have smaller devices (tablets and Chromebooks), and you want them all to be as charged as they can be. Set our cart mode to SAFE-ON and all your devices will be charging 24/7.
• Scenario 2: If you don’t like the idea of putting a constant charge to your devices all the time, you can change the mode to ECO-TIMER-ALL, then set your charge time for up to 4 hours, allowing your devices to rest for the remainder of the day.
• Scenario 3a: You have higher current devices, and all of them charging at the same time can overload an electrical circuit. You can change the mode to ECO-TIMER-CYCLE where your cart is divided into quarters, and you charge just one-quarter of your devices at a time for a duration you can set.
• Scenario 3b: You have a location where you have multiple carts and only one electrical circuit. You can change all carts to ECO-TIMER-CYCLE, and each cart will only draw one-quarter of its total capacity allowing you to charge up to four carts worth of devices on just one circuit (overnight, of course).
• Bonus: All of these functions are controlled with a remote so that you can change modes from across the room.

Don’t fall for the hype; when used as a buzzword, remember that “smart” doesn’t always mean superior. You probably don’t need an umbrella to tell you it’s raining and you definitely don’t need so-called “smart” charging to properly charge your devices.

 

1 Charging Your Phone Overnight: Battery Myths Debunked – PC Mag

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The use of mobile devices in healthcare is rising. Healthcare providers are looking for ways to provide faster, more personalised care to their patients and improve communications within their facilities. And it’s working; mobile devices are improving patient satisfaction scores and improving communication between teammates.

To the average person, the consequence of a stolen laptop or tablet is likely the cost of replacing the lost device. The device may even be insured, and if contacts, photos, documents and other data are properly stored on the cloud, they can be downloaded onto a new device with ease. To businesses, however, the aftermath of a data breach can be devastating. Healthcare institutions are especially vulnerable, as a stolen laptop or tablet could cost millions in lawsuits and fines.

In 2013, four laptops containing unencrypted files were stolen from an administration office at Advocate Health Care, an Illinois-based health system. Another laptop containing the data of over 2,000 patients was stolen from an employee’s vehicle. Because of this massive data breach, the healthcare system had to pay US$5.5 million dollars to the OCR (Office for Civil Rights).

In 2016, North Memorial Health Care paid US$1.55 million to settle federal complaints that it mishandled patient data that had been stored on an employee’s laptop. This laptop was stolen out of the employee’s car in 2011.

In 2015, New York City’s Senior Health Partners notified 2,700 of its members that their personal information may have been exposed when a laptop and mobile phone were stolen from a nurse employed by one of their partners. The laptop was encrypted; however, the encryption key was in the computer bag with the laptop when it was stolen–a major issue in this case.

The use of mobile devices in hospitals is growing at an exponential rate. In a recent healthcare study conducted by Vanson Bourne, nearly all 600 IT decision makers throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Netherlands reported their organisations are either implementing, or plan to implement, a mobile device initiative in the near future. These mobile device initiatives include a variety of use cases, such as giving iPhones to nurses and doctors to facilitate better communication, providing patients with iPads for entertainment, and leveraging iPads at registration. The survey found mobile devices are most commonly used in nurses stations, administrative offices, and patient rooms as a means to improve the patient experience.

With the use of mobile devices growing so rapidly, the need to protect these devices (and their data) is more important than ever. The risk of data breaches in healthcare can be devastating. All of these breaches could have been avoided. One very effective way for hospitals and healthcare systems to avoid having devices stolen is to deploy a mobile device storage system and set up MDM software like JAMF. Healthcare administrators can rest assured that all of their devices containing sensitive patient data are locked and stored away and will be charged for use the next day. PC Locs offers multiple device charging solutions that not only securely store mobile devices but charge them as well. See our products here.

If you’d like to learn about how to avoid potential financial disaster for your healthcare system, contact PC Locs here and a rep will reach out with the right options for your needs.

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Rolling out mobile devices across your organisation? You’ve probably already done a lot of heavy lifting – selecting devices, developing apps, and strategising the outcomes. You’re ready to launch… right? Would it surprise you to know that 73% of the best-planned programs are missing a critical component? One of the most important steps is deciding how to charge and secure devices when not in use. Uncharged devices will lead to lost productivity and slower adoption of new processes. Lost and broken devices can create substantial budget overruns. Research shows that 41% of data breaches are due to lost or stolen devices—which can lead to crippling fines–bringing the success of your program to a screeching halt.

And that’s where PC Locs comes in. We are the experts in mobile device deployments. Our charging stations seamlessly integrate into your workflow, so you can forget about charging and security and focus on your goals. Charging Stations provide a centralised point for storage, so staff members always know where to find charged devices. And innovative product features increase your staff’s productivity. All of these factors lead to a successful program that will have a positive impact on your bottom line.

Our expert problem solvers will walk you through the best solution to meet your needs. So be one of the forward-thinking companies who have considered the logistical hurdles ahead.

Click here to contact PC Locs today.

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At PC Locs, we are dedicated to designing and manufacturing the highest quality of multi device charging stations for mobile device deployments. At the end of the day, our mission is to make life easier for schools and organisations implementing mobile device technology. If your school or organisation has a number of devices to manage, charge and deploy, you know how difficult it can be to find a charging solution that works–everything can get out of hand very quickly. Cords can get tangled, devices become lost or stolen, a limited number of outlets can lead to a counter-intuitive technology plan. With 73% of businesses failing to find a proper charging station for their technology, these problems are more common than you think! To make things easier for you, we’ve come up with a list of solutions to give you our ‘Best Charging Stations and Carts for Multiple Devices.’

1. Carrier Charging Stations

Limited on space? No worries – with our Carrier Charging Stations, you can make any wall or desk a secure charging station for 10 to 15 devices. This charging station also comes equipped with our Large Baskets, making deployment of devices up to 15” faster, safer and easier. And for devices up to 17”, swap out the Baskets with the included Racks to easily accommodate larger devices. Still not convinced? The externally accessible power outlet means that you can charge your devices while they’re safely locked away and secured, giving you back classroom and work time. Check out the station for more details here.

2. FUYL Tower 15

Towering over its competitors, the FUYL Tower 15 takes charging, securing, storing and device management to new heights.

Your devices are an investment, so what is your organisation doing to keep them accessible and secure? The FUYL Tower 15 is an Intelligent Asset Management System™ that charges, stores, secures and manages assets for most mobile devices in 15 individually-lockable compartments. This charging locker has 15 compartments all equipped with a power outlet and a 2.4 amp USB port, so you can charge almost any device, including iPads, tablets, laptops, mobile phones, Chromebooks and more. Additional equipment such as a Network Kit (with individual RJ45 ports and cables in each compartment) can be added to your tower. Learn more about the station here.

3. Revolution 32 Charging Cabinet

This charging cabinet can accommodate 32 devices up to 17 inches, with or without a case while taking up 50% less floor space than a traditional charging cart. For 1:1 classrooms that are tight on space but need to charge, store and secure a greater amount of devices, the Revolution 32 Charging Cabinet is just the right solution. And with ECO Safe Charge Power Management, you can easily charge 32 devices in the same amount of time as just one. If you prefer to also have baskets with your charging station, you can easily swap out the device rack with Large Baskets. Learn more here.

4. Carrier Carts

These charging carts come in 3 configurations-Carrier 20 Cart, Carrier 30 Cart and Carrier 40 Cart. They are designed to store, charge, secure and transport 20, 30 or 40 devices. These are truly universal charging carts that can accommodate just about and devices up to 15 inch. They feature the Large Baskets making device deployment faster, safer and easier compared to a traditional cabinet style charging cart. If you’re looking to manage larger than 15 inch devices, the baskets can be replaced with device rack to accommodate devices up to 17 inch. Learn more about these carts, follow the links for the Carrier 20, the Carrier 30 or the Carrier 40.

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While these are four great options for your mobile deployment program, we have countless more on our website. Follow this link to explore all of our devices.

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