A mobile device refresh is a new opportunity for your business to improve user experiences, digitise workflows, and reaffirm the value of your mobile technology.
In this blog, Will Hamilton-Davies expands on a conversation with Ian Robinson about mobile device refreshes. Robinson has experience executing device upgrades, developed while consulting for Accenture, and operating as a Business Solutions Lead at Royal Mail.
1) Inviting Feedback From Frontline Workers
2) Durability & Performance
3) Technology Team: What Is Your Refresh Strategy?
4) Enterprise Device Accessories
Inviting Feedback From Frontline Workers
In Ian Robinson’s interview for MiTEQ’s Leaders in TEQ video series, Ian suggested that employees not consulted on a mobile device upgrade are more likely to disengage from new systems, break them, or find ways to circumnavigate processes. According to a study by Computerworld, 50% of workers would prefer to choose the mobile device that they use at work.
For these reasons, it is paramount that business leaders invite contributions from frontline staff – around how they are experiencing existing systems and devices – before deciding on new mobile technology solutions.
Robinson suggests that business leaders spend time listening to multiple frontline workers about their experience with existing technology, paying particular attention to comments relating to three elements:
- Size – are devices portable? Can they fit inside a pocket?
- Weight – are workers finding it challenging to use devices over an extended time?
- Battery – are devices lasting an entire shift? Is time wasted, information lost, or batteries or charging devices being swapped?
Mobile devices sometimes need to cope with more unpredictable and enduring environments, like construction sites. In addition to comments about size, weight, and battery, business leaders can pay attention to details relating to:
- Durability – are screens being smashed or devices being broken because of water?
- Performance – is it simple for workers to access the information they need to complete tasks quickly?
Technology Team: What Is Your Refresh Strategy?
Once criteria around mobile device size, weight, and durability have been decided, business leaders can use their broader refresh strategy to inform further requirements.
Regardless of whether you are using consumer or enterprise-graded hardware, the operating system needs to be configured in a way that is optimised for your workers. The benefit of Android devices – such as those manufactured by Zebra Technologies – is that they can be configured based on how individual users engage with devices. For devices used solely within the four walls of your operation, operating systems can be locked down and restricted to allow access only to task-critical applications. For businesses taking a “device-for-life” approach, operating systems can be configured to function almost identically to a personal device, with a work mode that can be switched off at the end of a shift while maintaining enterprise-grade security.
At this point, some important questions to consider would be:
- What are the expectations for your device?
- How is a worker expected to engage with your device?
- Is connectivity likely to be patchy or problematic?
- Can tools be utilised to aid device deployment, development, or maintenance?
If you are wondering how to enable Android Enterprise successfully, please contact the MiTEQ team.
Enterprise Device Accessories
Once frontline workers have been consulted and a refresh strategy has been solidified on behalf of your technology team, it is time to consider device accessories. This concerns everything from mounting solutions for forklifts and carts to carry cases for agile workers utilising rugged tablets. These accessories can be critical for ensuring positive user experiences and should be considered part of your broader device deployment strategy.
Outside of hardware accessories, you must consider which managed services will make device management easiest. MiTEQ can deliver comprehensive repair, support, and enrolment services.
MiTEQ: Experts In Mobile Technology Enablement
Our team has successfully executed decades’ worth of technology rollouts. We currently support the management of thousands of mobile devices, hundreds of thousands of mobile workers, and soon-to-be millions of intelligently tagged mobile assets.
We can help you successfully navigate a mobile device upgrade, supplying you with fully provisioned, best-in-class, ready-to-use devices and offering managed services, repairs, rentals, and refurbishments as accessory service offerings.
We welcome you to reach out, even if only to sense-check your rollout strategy.