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.

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Wireless Technology: Security Challenge

DATA COMMUNICATIONVOICE COMMUNICATION

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Challenges – Speed and Reliability

• Bottleneck• Interfaces• Signal Strength• Physical Objects• Fast Change of Technology

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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

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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