5 Reasons to Implement Mobile Device Management

When it comes to managing a fleet of devices, things can get tricky. Consider the number of upgrades that need to be performed in order to keep device performance on top and keep each device secure to limit risk of data breach. It’s a lot of work.  Many organizations think mobile device management (MDM) is an enterprise-level need at an enterprise-level price.  Not true!  With MDM the focus is on efficiency and reducing the amount of labor that goes in to troubleshooting, upgrading and monitoring every working mobile device.  Developers like SOTI understand how difficult it can be to manage handheld devices in a busy warehouse, distribution center, manufacturing facility or field service operation, so they’ve put a lot of thought into making the process of managing them easier for you.

The value of MDM
Thinking beyond the per unit annual subscription price for remote management software, here are 5 reasons why you should consider it for your business:

1. Reduce IT Burden
For IT, managing mobile devices is a small part of their overall responsibilities.  Like any role, it’s always a boon to be able to optimize tasks while improving accuracy and controlling costs.  MDM is no different.

When IT is up to their elbows in service tickets and projects that need to get started, the burden of upgrading a fleet of devices means a lot more of their time.  Without remote capabilities, it’s a multi-step process to execute:

1. Locate the device (both on site and field units)
2. Bring the device to the IT department
3. Turn on the device
4. Perform the update
5. Return each device to the respective user
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for each individual device

In addition to the time it takes to locate and bring in each unit to perform the update, IT has to spend time with each ‘touch’ from start to finish. With remote device management, repetitive tasks are reduced because devices are located through the software; the software then communicates with each device simultaneously and performs the updates without having to see or touch a single one.  The same is true for units that come back from repair; it’s a seamless process to partition each device and get them back up and running. 

2.  Increase User Productivity
As with the time consumed by IT staff when software and environment updates need to be made to your fleet of mobile computers, users are also impacted in the form of downtime. 

New device deployment: For many users, getting a new mobile device can be intimidating.  But when you implement MDM, it’s faster and easier to set up the device for the user without the user having to wait around to get apps loaded.

Field Devices: When a remote user submits a helpdesk request, or if a unit is due for an update or regular maintenance, the ability to manage the ticket without having to turn in the device means users will be up and running more quickly.  This reduces shipping costs, labor costs and downtime.  Over a one-year period, it could mean significant savings.

3.  Reduce IT Risk Exposure
Mobile computing device operating systems are vulnerable to risk.  Currently, those running on Windows Embedded Handheld or Windows CE will be even more vulnerable once Microsoft ends extended support and discontinues regular updates.  With MDM software, risks are reduced on a broader scale and updates are performed more quickly and efficiently because they are broadcast out to all devices at once.  Go one step further with the ability to track down devices, monitor usage and have greater visibility all around.  MDM is especially helpful to businesses with BYOD policies in place with the ability to keep corporate data separate personal apps. This can prevent vulnerabilities in personal apps from risking the security of business data.

4.  Maintain Better Control of Device Spending
Let’s face it, all the screens IT is responsible for managing can be overwhelming and costly to maintain. There’s nothing worse than inadvertently overspending due to difficulty keeping track of every piece of equipment employees are using; not to mention units not in use or have gone missing.  When adding up the cost of maintaining an inventory of assets (including associated costs like software licenses, regular maintenance or accessories and telecom charges), you don’t want to miscalculate the budget. MDM optimizes spending through better business intelligence.  Your IT team will know where devices are, what devices are not being used and unnecessary spending (time and money) will immediately be reduced.

5.  It’s Never too Late to Implement MDM
If you’re thinking you’ll have to purchase new devices in order to put mobile device management into practice, think again!  MDM software can work with your existing mobile computing devices without the burden of additional purchases. This can also aid in overall business growth due to the nature of MDM and the simplicity of managing equipment both on-premises and in remote locations without having to worry about extraneous costs to maintain them.

If your IT staff is ready to revolutionize the way they currently manage user mobile devices, contact us today to talk with one of our technical engineers and we’ll help you calculate the ROI of adopting MDM for your organization.

4136B Jersey Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Phone (423) 855-1822 | Fax (423) 499-6317

sales@barcominc.com