Think every solid state drive (SSD) used for storage is the same? Think again. All solid state drives aren’t created equal, and industrial-grade options are your better bet. Here’s why.
Support for Product Longevity
Industrial SSD manufacturers are interested in long-term relationships with their customers. They want the customers who purchase from them once to do so again. Consequently, they make storage device longevity a priority and provide ongoing support to customers to make their products last and to help them get the most value out of their investments.
Consumer solid state drive manufacturers on the other hand don’t have a vested interest in maintaining relationships with customers. As such, companies on the consumer side offer little, if any, ongoing support for storage drives they sell.
Bill of Material
The bill of material (BOM) is a list of materials, components, and assemblies required to build a product. Industrial SSD manufacturers lock their BOMs down to the part number, so that there is consistency in the controllers, flash, firmware, and other components. Consumer SSD manufacturers don’t necessarily lock BOMs.
Engineering Support
Industrial solid state drive manufacturers employ engineers who can assist with problems end users may experience. This paves the way for faster turnaround when product support is required.
Manufacturers of consumer devices may or may not provide assistance to end users when they experience difficulty. Some don’t address problems at all, instead referring end users to their vendors or distributors for assistance.
Flash Caliber
Flash caliber is critical to the overall quality and functionality of every solid state drive employed for storage. Manufacturers of industrial SSDs sign a contract that guarantees end users a solid state drive with an original, industrial-grade flash. The caliber and longevity of consumer-grade flash components are inferior to those of true industrial-grade flash components. Consumer SSD manufacturers aren’t obligated to utilize any particular flash component and may choose to manufacture solid state drives not suited for industrial use.
Market Focus
Manufacturers of industrial-grade solid state drives focus entirely on the industrial SSD market, so their products are a better fit for, and are always of the caliber required by, industrial SSD users. Companies that produce consumer devices may feature a blend of consumer and light industrial products, but their offerings don’t really fit the demands of the majority of industrial SSD users.
Customization Options
Industrial solid state drive manufacturers have the ability to customize the functions, features, and form factors of their products through non-recurring engineering (NRE) research. Those that deal primarily on the consumer side may not possess such a capability and may subcontract design to other entities, potentially compromising quality control.
End User Notifications
It is a regular practice among industrial solid state drive manufacturers to issue official end of life (EOL) notifications that a certain product is no longer available. These companies also issue product change notifications (PCNs) to let customers know that an alteration to their product, a software upgrade, or a design adjustment has been made. Consumer-grade solid state drive manufacturers don’t follow this practice, causing interference with customers’ planning and possibly leaving them in a technology jam.
Industrial SSDs themselves differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, in every case, the above-mentioned factors make it imperative that you work with an industrial-grade SSD provider to satisfy your storage device needs.
For more information about purchasing hardware, checkout our POS Systems Buyer’s Guide and our Guide to Receipt Printers and Their Uses.
