As announced by Microsoft, the date of January 14, 2020, will officially mark the end of support for Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5. With Windows Embedded CE 6.0 and Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld that ceased being supported in 2018 and 2019, Microsoft is discontinuing operating systems that have long been popular with rugged hand-held computers – which many distribution companies still use.

What does this entail? Never fear! Your current hand-held computers will keep functioning with Companion®. The most important is, we have a plan!

For a couple of years already, at CIS Group, in collaboration with partners like Honeywell, we have been preparing for this wave of technological changes! The most recent version of the Companion®2 Suite, now multi-platform, allows us to ensure a progressive migration from your hand-held computers to the most recent models – Android models! A wide range of devices is offered on the market, to suit all budgets. For the needs of DSD operations, a rugged device is appropriate, for example, the Honeywell CN80, or the Honeywell CT60.

From a software standpoint, the move to Android is good news in itself! Naturally, a lot of users are familiar with the platform. But to the eyes of developers, Android is a system that offers flexibility, high performance, and durability.

CIS Group is constantly committed to innovation, needless to say, a large array of new functionalities has been added to the Companion®2 Suite! Some examples are electronic capture of proofs of delivery; Buy-Sell management directly on the hand-held computer; bidirectional synchronization triggered automatically at the end of a customer visit; increasingly elaborate order algorithms; a dynamic inventory generator by-product; collection through credit card payment, etc.

We invite you to contact your account manager to learn more! Together you will be able to discuss and determine the best avenue to activate this technological move!