Panasonic Announces New Toughbook Devices

Electronic technology company Panasonic recently announced two new tablet additions to its Toughbook family of products set to be highlighted, among a number of new technologies, at the ongoing 106th annual National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show.

Panasonic’s new Toughpad tablets, the FZ-A2 Fully Rugged 10.1” Android tablet and the FZ-Q2 2-in-1 are tablet solutions for retailers of various sizes and provide applications ranging from warehouse operations management to line-busting customer service to retail kiosks.

Brian Rowley, VP of marketing and product planning at Panasonic, was quoted as saying in a release: “The retail warehouse and back-office environments continue to evolve as brick-and-mortar and online stores blend. Workers equipped with versatile mobile devices can tell customers where their merchandise is and when it should arrive, accurately service and bill, load trucks and move goods in the warehouse more efficiently whether by hand or by forklift. Mobile devices that deliver enterprise-grade performance and security, as well as flexible form factors and mounting options, help optimize workflows and improve efficiencies for retailers, effectively reducing costs and heightening productivity.”

The FZ-A2 offers enterprise-grade features, such as the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system with Android for Work’s Enterprise Security built in. The FZ-A2 tablet is highly portable, weighing in at just two pounds. This tablet comes with an integrated barcode reader, a Smart Card Reader, an additional USB for peripheral device connections and an optional forklift or vehicle mount.

The 12.5” FZ-Q2 is for the mobile retail worker and comes with a full-sized, attachable keyboard. Optional cradles and mounts are additionally available for forklift mounting in retail warehouse environments, light vehicle use or for desktop mobile POS solutions.

Additionally, Panasonic will highlight its rugged devices for retail, including Toughpad FZ-N1, FZ-X1, FZ-E1 and FZ-F1 Handhelds at the NRF Big Show.