Digital transformation of workspaces has led to a drastic metamorphosis, virtually dissolving the need for having a physical office in the first place. As businesses embrace mobility, Android seems to be the most natural, convenient and affordable choice to get started with. And to manage these Android devices arises the need to have an Android MDM. With the wide range of Android MDM options available in the market, it can be certainly overwhelming to get started.
To break it down for small businesses or any business that wants to get started with an Android Mobile Device Management solution, we’ve listed the top 10 must-have MDM features you need. The obvious features such as security, device locking and unlocking are non-negotiable, but this list goes beyond the general ones and encompasses the features that you don’t think you need, but you really do!
Here’re the best 10 features of Android MDM that will boost productivity for your business
1. Over-the-air deployment
This is one of the most crucial features to have, especially if you care for your IT teams and optimise their productivity. Over-the-air deployment helps IT teams streamline policy applications over the air without physically manoeuvring the devices. The over the air deployment, driven primarily by Android Zero-touch helps IT teams to deploy policies to devices irrespective of the location, with minimum hassle.
2. Bulk policy application with groups
Along with policy application, it is critical to have a group or bulk policy application. With group policy applications, IT admins can push policies or policy changes to multiple devices in one go. The ability to create device groups, subgroups and user groups and subgroups can help immensely in reflecting policy changes on several devices at once.
3. Comprehensive Application management
Application management is one of the most important and basic offerings of Android Device Management which includes remote app publishing on enrolled devices. But the application management mentioned here goes well beyond the basic and covers installation, configuration, updates and uninstallation of not just apps available on the Google Play Store but also PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) and private enterprise applications.
4. Kiosk Mode
Ideal for the deployment of user-facing devices or digital signage, the kiosk mode of MDM helps businesses in retail, hospitality and frontline services to optimize the full potential of mobility. The kiosk mode can help push the devices into a single or multi-app mode, blocking the rest. There are no distractions and loopholes to employee efficiency; kiosk mode ensures device misuse is kept at bay.
5. Browser lockdown
Similar to kiosk mode, the browser lockdown feature helps businesses to lock their devices to a browser app. Furthermore, the browser lockdown mode enables the IT teams to leverage settings such as allowed websites, allowed URLs, browser privacy, history and profanity settings. Configuring the browser to the T involves blocking javascript, ads and popups, ensuring businesses can offer a seamless browsing experience to their users- be it customers or employees.
6. Geofencing
Real-time device location tracking for devices operating out in the fields or at multiple locations is essential but can be achieved via several location tracking apps and methodologies. However, geofencing is a must-have Android MDM feature in addition to real-time location tracking. Geofencing & Location Tracking involves applying virtual boundaries to physical locations, and every time a device enters or exits a geofence, an alert triggered can be incremental in facilitating IT productivity.
7. Remote troubleshooting
A key element of running any business smoothly for desirable outputs is maintaining all the moving parts- employee satisfaction, customer relations, or devices. Remote troubleshooting is imperative, especially in the era of hyper-remote working and increased field operations.
The chosen Android Mobile Device Management solution must offer extensive remote troubleshooting capabilities to ensure that devices are up and running all the time, the device downtime is low, and the troubleshooting cost is minimum.
Features such as remote device mirroring, remote device control, and integrated ticketing can help curb the troubleshooting costs incurred by conventional troubleshooting methods with a physical service center.
8. File sync
Two-way file sharing is a critical must-have for any Android Mobile Device Management (MDM), be it for any business type. While file-sharing can now happen in multiple ways- right from over a messenger or an email, ensuring file sync between the device and the IT dashboard without user intervention is critical, especially for unattended devices.
The file sync feature enables IT admins to push or retrieve files to and from a remote device. The file location can also be customized, and the files can be executed or deleted, making remote device operation as easy as it can get.
9. Remote OS updates
From the software side, one important element of device maintenance is to keep the device OSs running to the latest version. Automating device OS updates is good, but it is also necessary to test the app and devices’ behaviour before a massive OS update roll-out across the inventory.
Automating, scheduling and delaying device OS updates or versioning back if needed, is a must-have feature.
10. Task Automation
In large or small businesses, the IT teams have several responsibilities, including security, management and compliance maintenance. To ensure there is no room for error, automating IT processes can lighten the burden of IT teams and ensure a steady workflow. Automating recurring tasks undertaken by the IT teams, such as device rebooting, resetting and triggering alerts for battery, data, storage usage, and security compliance, is an Android MDM add-on that your IT team will be thankful for!
Bonus: Remote communication
We could have stopped the list at 10 but why would we, when we know that there is one more crucial feature that is not necessarily considered a part of Android Mobile Device Management, but we recommend it should be! A remote communication tool that works in sync with your Android MDM can be great for keeping the flow of communication and collaboration consistent across multiple stakeholders of your business, securing business information exchange, driving team productivity and also saving data costs.
Closing lines…
With the heavy proliferation of Android devices into business, to manage or not to manage is not really a question. How better you do it with the right Android MDM in your tow is the deciding factor of the success or failure of your mobility exercise.
