How to Manage Devices in a Museum

Museums are facing a significant decline in footfall. According to The Economist, attendance at the world’s biggest art museums has plummeted. One of the reasons could be almost every piece of information is now accessible with a single click on our mobile devices. To maintain interest and curiosity among people, museums are looking towards offering a digital angle to their operations, services, or offerings to stay competitive, enhance efficiency, and meet the evolving needs of their visitors or audience by using various devices. This integration of devices makes exhibits more accessible and engaging.  

This article will touch base on the adoption of digital devices in museums, the challenges in managing them, and how mobile device management (MDM) for museums can help to maintain or even increase visitor engagement.

Types of Digital Devices Used in Museums

• Interactive Tablets: Used for providing detailed information about exhibits, interactive displays for museums, informative guides, and educational games.
• Museum Kiosks: Serve as digital directories, ticketing systems, and information points for visitors.
• Digital Signage: Used for displaying dynamic content such as exhibit information, visitor announcements, and promotional material.
• Augmented Reality (AR) Devices: Enhance exhibits by overlaying digital content onto physical displays, offering a more immersive experience.
• Handheld Devices and Audio Guides: Provide audio tours and additional information, often synchronized with the visitor’s location within the museum.

Challenges Faced in Managing Museum Devices

While museums embrace technology to enhance visitor experiences and stay competitive, managing numerous devices with different features can be challenging. This often leads to inefficiencies and a poor visitor experience. Some of the key challenges include: 

Updating Apps & Content

For a better user experience, the device must be user-friendly and accessible to visitors of all ages and backgrounds. The apps and content on these devices must be tailored to different exhibits and visitors’ interests to enhance engagement. Individual provisioning of the devices used in museums with appropriate apps and content is difficult and not cost or resource-effective. 

Consistent Branding Across Devices

It is essential to maintain a consistent and appealing brand identity across all devices. Ensuring that every device reflects the museum’s branding, from splash screens to app interfaces, can be complex and time-consuming. This requires a lot of attention to detail and regular updates to keep the branding fresh and aligned with the museum’s evolving image and marketing campaigns. 

Maintenance and Updates

To ensure that the visitors have a seamless experience while using the devices, it is important that these devices are up-to-date with the latest software. Pushing OS updates manually can be time-consuming and disruptive to user experience, so automated updates within a maintenance window are necessary to upkeep device performance. Routine checks and maintenance are also required to ensure that devices are operating properly and providing a seamless visitor experience.

Security Risks

Devices used in public spaces are sometimes vulnerable to theft and misuse. It is crucial to imply physical security measures and digital safeguards. Museums face significant security threats, including unauthorized access, malware attacks, and data breaches, which can disrupt operations and compromise sensitive information. Robust security protocols must be in place to mitigate these risks and protect the museum’s technological assets.

MDM as a Solution to Manage Devices in a Museum

An MDM solution for museums helps mitigate these challenges. An MDM is a centralized platform for managing various mobile devices, including tablets, kiosks, and others. It integrates security, monitoring, and maintenance, simplifying the remote and bulk device management process.

Here are some of the key features that an MDM solution offers to museums embarking on the digital transformation journey: 

Remote Device Enrollment and Provisioning  

MDM makes way for bulk device enrollment via methods such as zero-touch, IMEI-based, and over-the-air enrollment. This allows IT admins to enroll, configure, and provision multiple devices simultaneously, helping save manual IT efforts. Remote configuration helps in device provisioning without the need for physical access. This is particularly useful for large museums with numerous devices spread across multiple locations. Additionally, custom branding can be seamlessly integrated into all devices, ensuring a consistent and professional appearance that enhances the museum’s brand identity. 

Comprehensive App and Content Management

Museums can efficiently manage and distribute applications and content across all their devices using an MDM. This includes installing relevant public or private apps, content, and presentations remotely. This helps ensure all devices have the latest content and applications, enhancing the visitor experience with up-to-date information.

Kiosk Mode 

Devices can be customized to run in kiosk mode settings to match specific exhibit requirements. Also, kiosk mode settings enhance exhibit interactivity and accessibility, increasing visitor engagement.

Remote Troubleshooting

Remote troubleshooting allows issues to be diagnosed and resolved from a central location. In museums, this can help minimize device downtime. Also, it eliminates the need for IT admins to travel to the site, saving both time and cost. By addressing technical problems quickly, museums can maintain the functionality of interactive exhibits and digital guides.

Automated OS Update & Patch Management

Automated OS updates can be scheduled during off-peak hours to keep devices up-to-date without disrupting visitors. Patch management guarantees that devices are consistently shielded from the most recent security vulnerabilities. Automating patch management helps maintain all devices on the latest OS versions. 

Remote monitoring and maintenance 

Remote monitoring and maintenance allow museums to ensure optimal device performance with minimal on-site intervention. Features such as scheduled alerts for low battery, device resets, and reboots during closing hours help maintain device functionality. This approach ensures that devices are always ready for visitors, reducing downtime and enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Benefits of MDM for Museum Device Management

Improved Visitor Experience 

With MDM, museums can implement self-check-in kiosks for visitors, streamlining the entry process and reducing queues. Additionally, by locking a browser in incognito mode, any information visitors input remains private and isn’t stored on the kiosk, enhancing security. 

Enhanced staff productivity 

MDM also helps maintain consistent device performance, ensuring all devices are regularly updated and properly configured, resulting in fewer technical issues. Utilizing kiosk mode ensures staff devices are dedicated solely to museum-related tasks, eliminating distractions from other applications. This focused approach enhances staff productivity, allowing them to efficiently manage visitor inquiries and provide enhanced assistance throughout the museum. 

Operational Efficiency

MDM unites device management tasks into one platform, reducing complexity and administrative burden. Automated updates and remote troubleshooting reduce device downtime, ensuring they are always operational. Regular maintenance can be scheduled and monitored centrally, too, ensuring all devices receive the attention they need without manual checks.

Enhanced Security

Mobile device management for museums ensures all the data collected and stored on devices is encrypted and securely managed. This helps protect visitors’ information and complies with data protection regulations. Also, with features like geofencing and location tracking, administrators can make sure that the devices are secure and within the museum premises.

Manage Museum Devices with Scalefusion MDM

Effective device management is important for modern museums to provide engaging and seamless visitor experiences. Museums looking to enhance their digital offerings should consider adopting Scalefusion MDM solution to stay ahead in the digital age.

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