Getac and the Future of Rugged Technology and the Deskless Workforce

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[00:00:27] Denodo.com. Welcome back to the Tech Talks Daily Podcast. Now, when most people think about technology, they picture office workers, laptops, and AI tools inside meeting rooms. But today, I want to step into a very different world. One where technology has to survive rain,

[00:00:50] dust, drops, extreme temperatures, poor connectivity, and real-world frontline pressure. And my guest today is Alex Gittins from GTAC. And today's conversation completely changed the way I think about rugged technology. Because rugged devices are far, far more than just tablets wrapped in rubber cases. They're actually mission-critical tools that are powering utilities, transport,

[00:01:20] manufacturing, defence, emergency services, and the deskless workforce keeping society running every single day. And now, AI is transforming that world too, bringing intelligence directly to the edge where decisions need to happen in real time. It's quite a unique episode, this one, and one that I learned so much from. But enough from me. Let me introduce you to Alex right now.

[00:01:47] So thank you for joining me on the podcast today. Can you tell everyone listening a little about who you are and what you do? Hi Neil. Yeah, thanks for having me. My name's Alex Gittins. I'm a sales director for GTAC. I work across the UK and the Nordics. That's, I guess, the area of my responsibility. Yeah, so my role effectively is to lead ourselves, strategy, and work with customers across sectors such

[00:02:13] as defence, utilities, manufacturing, transport, logistics, and the public sector. I think at its simplest, help organisations equip their field-based workforce with technology that is fit for the environments they operate in. So that could be engineers maintaining critical infrastructure, technicians working in harsh weather, or, you know, defence users operating in challenging

[00:02:37] environments. Effectively, it's, you know, teams who need reliable hardware platforms to be able to access critical data and applications and communications while they're out in the field. Yeah, so that's me. It's a pleasure to have you join me today. And GTAC, for people hearing about you for the first time, is a rugged technology company, background in defence. And as a rugged tech company, when I say these words out loud, what is a rugged tech company? What makes your devices

[00:03:07] rugged? And what makes you different from other types of so-called rugged devices that have rubber bumpers around them? For anyone listening, hearing about all this for the first time, tell me more about them. Yeah, so GTAC has an interesting background. We started off in defence, and that effectively has helped shape all the products that we produce today. So I think working with military and defence,

[00:03:30] that really sets a high bar. Those environments that demand a lot of reliability, a lot of durability, devices need to be secure. And effectively, at its simplest, devices need to perform in the harshest conditions. Obviously, with defence and military, if you can't rely on your device, that can have serious operational consequences. So that's a heritage that's influenced GTAC. That's what continues to

[00:03:57] influence the design of our products today. Effectively, the key is to continue to have a focus on building devices that can handle real-world challenges, real-world operational conditions. So that's anything from drops and bumps, vibration, rain, dust, high temperatures, low temperatures, and out in the field working extremely long days. What's really interesting is that the same principles

[00:04:25] apply in all our sectors, really. So even though we started off in defence, utilities, emergency services, manufacturing, transport, they all have people working in similar environments where effectively their consumer devices will struggle. So that defence heritage, again, has helped, you know, shape that technology as used by so many people across the sectors today.

[00:04:53] And I'm curious, when you talk to people and they hear about GTAC for the very first time there, what's the biggest misconception that people have about rugged devices? Yeah, I think you alluded to it in the previous question. Does rugged just mean a device in a bumper case? Well, no, not to us. A true ruggedness starts at the design stage. You know, our devices are not standard tablets or laptops placed inside a protective case.

[00:05:18] They are rugged devices engineered from the inside out to perform, you know, in the harshest environment. So for us, that means the chassis, the screen, the ports, the batteries, the thermal design, connectivity and all the accessories associated to our devices. They're all designed to work together. And it also means that all of those components have been tested in the harshest conditions. They're tested in environments where we know users will be using our devices.

[00:05:48] So the difference is really important. A consumer device with a rugged case may protect against some basic damage, but it doesn't necessarily solve bigger operational issues. Can they read the screen in bright sunlight? Can it be used in wet conditions? Can the battery support a full shift? Can it connect reliably in the field every time? Can it be mounted into a vehicle? And then probably outside of the device, can it be repaired quickly?

[00:06:16] And can you deploy that device for a long time and, you know, have a long device lifecycle? So that's really the GTAC true rugged technology difference. A rugged case protector device. Our platform effectively protects the operation that our users, you know, conducting. Well, I love busting myths and misconceptions on this podcast. And hopefully once and for all, we can dispel that myth that rugged devices are just iPads and tablets with rugged cases.

[00:06:46] If anyone ever looks at you and says that, just point them back to this episode. Maybe we can stop them talking about that once and for all. But I mean, who are the people using the devices day to day, right here, right now? Obviously, you can't share too many names, but what kind of people are using these devices? It's a really broad range of users, but there's a common theme throughout. There are people working away from their desk. Typically, they're not working in a building.

[00:07:12] They're often out in the world working in, you know, the most demanding conditions. So that could be, I've got a background in utility. So it could be utility engineers, defense personnel. It could be manufacturing technicians, transport operators, logistic teams. Emergency services is a really critical sector for us as well. And then you've got, you know, a broad range of field service engineers, inspection teams or public sector workers as well.

[00:07:39] So they're often people keeping essential services running. They need access to information at the point of work. They need to capture data accurately, communicate with colleagues, complete workflows, you know, and make critical decisions out in the field. So to do that, they need a, you know, a solid foundation in their hardware to make sure that they can do that every time and not have a worry that, you know, devices are going to fail or not be up to the job.

[00:08:10] So, yeah, it's effectively anybody that's keeping critical services moving. And when we're talking about your users, they're keeping those critical services moving, working out there in the wild, not shackled to a desk. I'm curious. So much has changed in the last few years. How are their roles changing right now and their demands and expectations? Are you able to share any practical real world use cases that will just bring to life everything we're talking about here? Yeah, absolutely.

[00:08:39] I think the key theme is that everyone's job is becoming a lot more digitally enabled. Everything they do lives within applications or web-based platforms, which is a huge difference to how it was five or 10 years ago, when actually many of these roles that we service today were still heavily paper-based. Or they relied on really basic mobile access. So now the devices are a key component of the toolkit, basically.

[00:09:09] That GTAC is a foundation for all of these advances in applications and programs. You know, that has to fall onto hardware that you can rely on. So real world example, a utility engineer might receive work orders now digitally across GIS mapping solutions. They might have to complete safety checks, capture photos, update asset records. They will need to update and close a job while still in the field.

[00:09:39] Manufacturing technicians, they might need to use rugged devices for diagnostics, inspection workflows, maintenance records. And then people that are in vehicles, transport logistics users, you know, they're using the device to receive real-time data, route information or, you know, capture proof of delivery, for example.

[00:10:00] So the role is changing from simply completing tasks to, you know, capturing and being able to update data in the field. So that's helping those users make more informed decisions. And it means that they can feed information back to, you know, a centralized head office or command center where that information can be made to make informed decisions a lot quicker. So that creates huge benefits.

[00:10:28] But technology only creates huge benefits if it's reliable enough, again, to support the users, you know, out there in those harshest environments. And I suspect many people listening underestimate the scale of the market that you serve. Because anybody listening to our conversation today, scrolling down their LinkedIn news feed, they could be forgiven for thinking that, hey, everyone's got a desk job. But there's a stat that I always use here, and it's quite a mind-blowing stat, really.

[00:10:54] 80% of the global workforce that accounts for 2.7 billion people in the world are deskless. They don't sit in an office at a desk every day. And, I mean, for these people, everyone's also talking about AI. But what does AI actually mean for field workers, people out there keeping these critical services moving? Yeah, there's a lot of hype around AI right now.

[00:11:17] But I think practically all our end users, you know, those guys and girls that are not at the desk, yeah, it has to be super practical. It has to have meaning. Effectively, it has to make their job easier or safer or more efficient or faster.

[00:11:33] So for us, what we're seeing is that could mean helping diagnose faults, summarizing job information, identifying assets, you know, that might have damage, you know, using image recognition,

[00:11:49] helping end users to be guided through inspections or flagging safety concerns, for example, or just completely reducing the amount of a manual admin that these end users have to complete. So effectively, I think the key theme is used in the right way. It should be making a lot of these users a lot more efficient at what they do, not take their jobs away, but make, you know, make what they do, you know, more efficient.

[00:12:17] So, again, sort of in the engineering utility world, as an example that we see is instead of an engineer spending time, you know, typing lots of notes after a job, AI could help structure that information using other information sources. So short, you know, pictures or short video. So instead of searching through paper-based manuals, AI can be used to bring to the surface the correct procedure, you know, within seconds.

[00:12:44] And then through the information that it's capturing over time, AI can be used to, you know, identify patterns or repeat challenges. So enabling these users to use their, you know, GTAC device to capture all this extra data now, not just, you know, not just user input. So the camera, voice, it could be sensor data. That's where we're really seeing AI make a, you know, huge, a huge difference.

[00:13:11] Capturing all that information and making sense of it locally at the edge on that device in, you know, in real time. And I think that's the real, that's the real key and that's the real sort of advancement that we see in this space. And from everything that you're seeing and hearing here, I'm curious, are there any industries that are adopting AI the fastest at the moment? Is it those engineering and utility companies or is it a different area? Yeah, I think so. I think it is engineers and those utility organizations.

[00:13:41] I think actually before AI became the buzzword, these organizations are, you know, using a lot of this advanced technology and compute power in the background to, you know, to crunch numbers, to analyze information and, you know, make faster predictions. Like utilities is a good example because these are organizations that are managing critical national infrastructure. They have the largest asset bases.

[00:14:07] They're under regulation pressure and effectively they have the largest field workforces that need better information and ways to crunch that information and make better informed decisions at the point of work. I think manufacturing is another strong area because it can, it can support with AI inspection, particularly around maintenance and quality control and operational efficiency.

[00:14:33] So things that maybe were missed previously because it's just requiring end user input. Those applications being powered by that AI brain now are helping to bring those challenges and operational issues to light a lot quicker. So, yeah, again, it's really broad.

[00:14:50] I think every week my team and us as a business globally, we come across new applications and we're working with our customers to identify areas of business where we can really bring this to life and make, you know, AI work for them. And Edge AI, which is running AI models directly on local devices like smartphones or those rugged devices that you create there. Why is Edge AI so important to your customers?

[00:15:17] Super important to our customers, Neil, because, again, our customers, our teams that we're supporting are often out in the field. They're remote. They're potentially in areas of low or poor quality connectivity. And their users are often at the most risk. I still have to make informed decisions.

[00:15:38] So being able to have that compute power at the edge on the device and not having to send information back centrally to be crunched, to be turned into a decision. It makes, you know, it makes their jobs safer. It makes them be able to complete those jobs faster and ultimately make them more efficient.

[00:15:59] So, yeah, with a range of devices now in our portfolio, it means that processing can happen directly on the device close to where the work is being done. And again, that reduces the latency. It improves operational resilience, supports the offline working that a lot of these users will have to conduct. And also it can help to protect sensitive data as well.

[00:16:23] So, you know, if there's risk of sending confidential or critical data over a network, actually with a device that's being set up securely, all of that compute, all of that information crunching can be done, you know, on that device and completely take that risk away. So, yeah, it's super important. Agile AI effectively brings intelligence closer to work, closer to the asset, and makes that user to be able to, you know, make a decision a lot quicker.

[00:16:53] And I think one thing that would unite yourself, me, your customers, and every single person listening is just how much how we work has changed in the last three to five years. And I'm curious, is there anything that your customers are asking for now that they weren't asking for three to five years ago? Yeah, I think the biggest change is that hardware providers are being invited into those conversations a lot earlier.

[00:17:20] I think three to five years ago, we were the last organization, you know, we were the last guys to be called. Oh, we've built this, we've designed this solution. Oh, we need a device. Have you got respect? And now what we're finding is that we are being brought into those conversations a lot earlier on and being part of designing that full solution. So customers have shifted away from device specification. They want to understand the full solution.

[00:17:47] And they want to make sure that they're working with a hardware provider that has the resilience and that, you know, can be trusted to provide the ultimate foundation.

[00:17:59] So I think that's one of the biggest changes, you know, they recognize that they need a technology partner and devices that can support modern workflows, which includes everything that we just discussed around AI, but cloud applications, video mapping, collaboration tools, you know, and a whole array of enterprise solutions. So again, yeah, they need the right partner that can provide the foundation to, you know, support all of that.

[00:18:26] Yeah, the conversation is definitely shifted from which device should we buy to how do we enable our field-based workforce properly and, you know, and future-proof that over the next three to five years. And to have that conversation, the likes of GTAC need to invite it to be part of that conversation a lot earlier. Yeah.

[00:18:46] And if I was to ask you to look in my virtual crystal ball into the future, what do you think that future field worker who relies on a rugged device seamlessly working alongside edge AI, what's that future look like for those people? How do you see their roles evolving and the need for technology evolving too? Yeah, I think they're just going to continue to be, you know, better connected as infrastructure advances, as networks improves, you know, that's key. Data can flow quicker and decisions can be made faster.

[00:19:15] So a future field worker is going to be better still connected, better informed, and will continue to be even more supported by technology. They're still going to need practical tools that work in tough environments. I think the way that they interact with that technology will definitely change. I guess some sort of, you know, localized examples of that, we see a lot more voice input.

[00:19:38] We see a lot more image and video capture and using an AI to create some analysis or make decisions based on that information that those users are capturing, which will effectively drive more data-assisted diagnostics, automation. Yeah. Everything is just going to be more AI driven. So they're just going to be more supported. They're not just going to be receiving jobs, right, or actions or orders.

[00:20:07] They will be capturing valuable data, validating information in the field, feeding insight back to the organization that ultimately can make better centralized decisions on how they move their business forward or how they serve their customers or how they keep their people safer. So the winners definitely over the next three to five years will be organizations that recognize that technology just continues to be an enabler rather than a burden or barrier.

[00:20:37] So, you know, the whole user adoption and how technology is introduced is really key. But yeah, the future worker will be, future field worker will definitely be more digitally supported rather than, you know, overloaded, I would say. I think everything is going the right way to make them feel a lot more supported. It's not going to be sort of drowning in too much data, too much technology.

[00:21:02] And as someone who has worked in a unique area of the tech industry, you must have a few war stories and tales that you've picked up along the way. So looking back, I mean, is there a funny career story you could share or maybe a thank you to someone that's influenced you in your career or maybe someone you'd like to have breakfast or lunch with? I'll give you a wide scope here. But when you look back at your career, anything you'd like to share there? You know, that's not something I actually thought about.

[00:21:29] I think I'm influenced by really understanding the real world operational challenges that my customers face. You know, I'm a real believer that we can only create value with our technology once we understand that. So I think in my world, it's really easy to get drawn into specs, features, products, comparisons, price, you know, all of that sort of stuff.

[00:21:56] But the more time that I spend with customers and my colleagues, customers in different sectors, you know, and that's super inspirational when you have the opportunity and I have the opportunity now to dip into completely new worlds that I haven't previously been part of. But the more time you spend with those customers, the more you realize the real question is, you know, what is stopping your people from doing their job effectively?

[00:22:22] So I think that mindset has helped shape the way I think about sales and leadership, customer engagement. Yeah, it's for me starting with the operational challenge and understanding the work that people do, the challenges that they have, and then, you know, working to build a solution around that. So, yeah, I think that's what influences me at work.

[00:22:45] I guess from a personal background, my dad was a professional athlete, played football, you know, super disciplined in terms of his training and preparation. And I've no doubt that that's ingrained deeply somewhere within me, you know, and I like to think the way I go about my business, you know, takes, you know, takes from some of that, I think, you know, in a way that we prepare, the way that we do things the right way.

[00:23:11] He used to say to me, fail to prepare to fail, you know, and that's right in sport and that's right in business as well, I think. So, yeah. Yeah, I think that's a beautiful moment to finish on. But for anybody listening wanting to dig a little bit deeper on anything we talked about today, especially those rugged devices and services you're providing, and keep up to speed with some of the news that's coming out of GTAC there, where would you like me to point everyone listening? We've got a fantastic website, as you'd expect, gtac.com.

[00:23:40] We've got some fantastic case studies and stories on there from our customers across all the sectors that we've discussed today, Neil. So, yeah, if you want to find out more, you know, that's the place to start. Awesome. Well, I want to add links to everything you mentioned there, including some of those big stories, because I think it really helps bring to life that incredibly valuable role that you're performing there and serving a community. And let's be honest, as I said earlier, 80% of the global workforce is deskless. So it's a massive market that you're serving.

[00:24:10] And just a big thank you for bringing that to life today. Thank you. Thanks, Neil. Thanks for having me. Cheers. There's so much noise around AI right now, but Alex brought the discussion back to reality. For field workers, AI only matters if it makes their job safer, faster and easier. And whether that is diagnosing faults in remote locations, analysing images on a device or reducing paperwork or helping engineers make decisions without relying on cloud connectivity.

[00:24:39] This is AI solving very real operational challenges. And it also reminded me how often maybe we're all guilty of overlooking the 2.7 billion deskless workers around the world because they rely on technology in completely different ways to office based teams. And I, for one, salute these workers who don't need gimmicks. They need technology they can trust when conditions are at their worst.

[00:25:07] And for me, this is why conversations like this matter. Because the future of work is not only being built inside offices and data centres. It's also being built out there in the field on factory floors, inside vehicles and in environments where reliability still matters more than hype. So, as always, over to you, techtalksnetwork.com. You can leave me an audio message, a DM, browse through 4,000 interviews across eight of my podcasts.

[00:25:37] I'd love to hear from you there. But that's it for today. So, I'll be back again tomorrow, bright and early. Don't be late. I'll hopefully speak with you then. Bye for now.