Enterprise mobility deployments have become more complex. In industrial applications, new operating systems like Android are supplanting older, legacy Windows-based platforms. Companies now use a wide variety of form factors (handheld, vehicle-mount, tablet, wearable) combined with both fixed and mobile printers. Often these solutions are deployed across multiple locations. In field service or delivery applications, the end users work remotely and may not report to a central location for days or weeks.
For the IT department, mobility has meant that resources are being stretched thin. It is more difficult to provision and update these devices, and when problems occur it can be a logistical nightmare to try to retrieve the device and get a replacement to the end user.
Complete Mobile Visibility
That’s where mobile device management (MDM) solutions can provide tremendous value. Using an MDM platform, IT can centrally deploy and update devices, and prevent unnecessary downtime by addressing mobile device problems before a catastrophic failure.
With solutions like Zebra’s Asset Visibility Service (AVS), Operational Visibility Service (OVS), and Printer Profile Manager, you will be able to see the status of all of your devices within one location and across several locations from a single interface.
In this way, IT staff are able to catch “maintenance required” statuses before devices break down due to neglected maintenance. Zebra’s AVS solution, for example, provides easy to understand, color-coded status information to make it simple to see which devices are working properly, and which may need attention.
Support staff can view the status of any device at any time, and receive alerts if there are network errors, communication problems, and hardware or software failures. This leads to better lifecycle management of the device fleet.
Reduce Costs, Labor
Managing a dispersed fleet of mobile technology can strain a corporate IT department – and in most companies, those departments are already struggling to keep up with organizational demands. Using an MDM solution allows companies to create a single, centralized portal to manage the mobile ecosystem. IT staff have visibility into the status of all mobile devices, and can support and maintain the solutions no matter where they are located.
This reduces IT costs and minimizes the need for on-site staff. In addition, because these MDM solutions enable remote support, there will be fewer instances when a device has to be physically sent back to the IT department or an off-site repair depot.
Keep Devices Secure
Mobile devices are increasingly the target of cybercriminals looking for entry points into the corporate network – whether they are trying to steal data, or take over devices or accounts from which to launch other types of cyber attacks.
In the past, keeping mobile devices secure was a challenge, because IT had to physically handle each device to load patches, updates, and ensure employees were following corporate security policies with regard to passwords and applications.
With MDM solutions, the IT department can make sure each device has the proper security software installed, and issue updates to all devices simultaneously. MDM also makes it easier to enforce corporate security policies by making it simple to determine that passwords and encryption are being correctly utilized, and that employees are not downloading third-party applications. If devices are lost or stolen, they can be remotely locked down or wiped of sensitive data.
As mobile technology becomes more pervasive throughout the enterprise, IT departments will need a way to efficiently and remotely manage these deployments. MDM solutions provide the advanced capabilities and security required to keep a modern mobility infrastructure running safely and reliably.
To learn more about how MDM solutions can benefit your enterprise, download this free ebook or contact Imprint Enterprises today.
