Tips for Managing Mobile Devices in the Field

A total mobility solution is more than hardware, software, and support. It must also include management.

When enterprises consider deploying tools for their field service technicians, mobile hardware and software solutions are top of mind. Mobile devices, handheld computers, smartphones and tablets deployed with best-in-class software allow technicians to automate processes for greater productivity and elevate service to meet consumers’ increasing expectations for convenience and instant access to data. This means that technicians have tools at their fingertips that help them communicate with customers, troubleshoot on-site calls for faster repairs and diagnoses, improve efficiency, and settle payment without delay.

However, a critical piece of a field service operator’s tech stack also includes a plan for managing mobile devices. How can IT deploy devices? Who is responsible for ensuring employees follow company policies? How will enterprises protect data if a device becomes lost or stolen? These questions can be challenging for enterprises to solve. However, you can help them answer them by deploying mobile device management solutions.

MDM for Managing Mobile Devices

Mobile device management (MDM) solutions are an effective way for enterprises to diagnose, monitor, and manage fleets of mobile devices from one centralized location.

It’s rarely practical to have technicians bring devices to an IT admin to update the software on their devices. With MDM, admins provision and manage devices to keep them secure and help ensure optimal productivity and usability for the technician.

Choosing the right solution, however, depends upon the operating systems of devices within a fleet and whether they are issued by the company or owned by the employees. In general, here’s a breakdown of the three most common solutions for managing mobile devices:

• MDM (mobile device management) solutions are predominantly used for iOS and Android operating systems on tablets and smartphones and allow for complete device, application, and security management when devices are issued by the enterprise.
• EMM (enterprise mobility management) solutions provide everything that MDM offers but expand upon those capabilities to allow technicians to use their own devices to connect to company resources.
• UEM (unified endpoint management) solutions help solve challenges across the enterprise when cross-platform devices and multiple device types, including desktops and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, need to be managed from a single console.

7 Benefits of Providing Technology for Managing Mobile Devices

The global mobile device management market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.9 percent, reaching an estimated USD 17.79 billion by 2028. For solutions providers, this means there is an increased opportunity to sell MDM solutions as a value-added service for existing and new accounts.

Here are the top benefits driving adoption in your market:

• Increased Security: Unencrypted data is a liability for enterprises. In field service management, where technicians are always on the move, MDM ensures device encryption protects data in transit and on the device and allows remotely locking or wiping of lost or stolen devices.
• Minimized Downtime: Field service businesses know that efficiency is directly tied to optimal profitability. If a device is down due to outdated apps, a technician is out of commission until it is fixed. Deploying MDM for managing mobile devices allows them to be updated and any preventative maintenance to be deployed so that when technicians are in the field, their devices are optimally working.
• Higher Productivity through Application Control: MDM solutions can prevent devices from downloading unauthorized applications or stop particular applications from running during working hours. This helps keep employees free from personal distractions and focused on the job at hand.
• Remote Access and Device Tracking: These critical benefits allow managing all enrolled devices from a single console. IT admins can monitor uptime, usage, location, updates, and more, to ensure that all devices are working as well as the first day they were provisioned.
• Enables Auto Backup: When managing mobile devices, auto backup is an MDM feature that allows a service provider or admin to back up data to the cloud or an on-premise server. This ensures that if a device crashes or is lost, the data is still accessible.
• Corporate Compliance: Most enterprises have policies around device usage, whether the device is company-issued or owned by the employee. With MDM, devices can be monitored to ensure that usage complies with these policies. Additionally, this can apply to local and national laws and regulations like GDPR.

Managing Mobile Devices Is Key to Field Service Productivity

Today, a total mobility solution is more than hardware, software, and support. It also includes mobile device management. Resources for managing mobile devices are critical for field service operators that want to increase security, reduce downtime, and ensure optimal productivity.

Help your clients implement an MDM solution that will get them the most value from their investment in mobility.