You would agree that frontline workers need devices tough enough to withstand the rigors of daily operations in some of the most demanding environments. But what about managing those devices? How do you ensure they’re secure, free from system crashes, and continuously driving productivity without constant manual intervention?
Zebra devices excel in durability but guaranteeing that they are running smoothly and free from productivity disruptions is necessary. So, how do you do all of this at scale without adding layers of complexity to your operations?
Let’s uncover how UEM for Zebra can simplify device management and unlock new levels of productivity and security for your workforce.
Why Zebra devices for frontline operations?
Zebra devices are built to handle the toughest working conditions. With rugged designs, long battery life, and advanced features like barcode scanning and real-time data collection, they’ve become a go-to choice for industries requiring reliability in the field. Whether it’s ensuring real-time inventory tracking in retail or improving accuracy in healthcare settings, Zebra devices provide the tools needed to get the job done.
Industries that rely on Zebra devices include:
- Retail & E-commerce: For inventory tracking, point-of-sale transactions, and customer service.
- Logistics & Warehousing: For real-time shipment tracking, barcode scanning, and managing logistics data.
- Healthcare: To track patient data, medication, and assets.
- Manufacturing: For asset management, quality control, and streamlined operations.
Zebra’s devices can improve operational efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance productivity for businesses in these sectors. But, without a centralized management solution, these devices become difficult to manage and secure.
Challenges in managing Zebra devices
Managing Zebra devices across multiple locations reveals just how challenging large-scale deployments can be.
1. Quick deployment
Devices need to be deployed quickly and efficiently, especially when shipped to remote field employees. Ensuring that each device is correctly configured to meet the company’s needs—without IT teams manually configuring each one—becomes a challenge.
2. Security risks
Devices that handle sensitive data, such as patient records or inventory details, need protection from unauthorized access, theft, or misuse. Ensuring data security on the field is critical, as any security breach can have far-reaching consequences.
3. Device uptime & compliance
For businesses that rely on Zebra devices for critical operations, ensuring that the devices are always operational is vital. Managing device compliance with internal policies and external regulations adds another layer of complexity.
4. Custom policy application
Zebra devices are designed for specialized tasks, often requiring deep customization. Managing these devices means applying policies that align with specific workflows, whether for logistics, healthcare, or retail. An OEM-level UEM is essential for enforcing custom policies at scale, ensuring each device functions precisely as intended without manual intervention.
Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) for Zebra: Why it’s a must-have
From deployment to ongoing monitoring, Zebra devices require careful oversight to ensure they remain functional, secure, and aligned with business goals. Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) offers a comprehensive approach to managing Zebra devices, addressing the unique challenges of frontline operations.
What makes UEM critical for Zebra devices?
- Unified control across locations – A UEM provides a single pane of glass for managing Zebra devices, allowing IT admins to oversee performance, enforce policies, and address issues across multiple sites—all from one dashboard.
- Scalability for growing operations – As businesses expand, so does their device fleet. UEM simplifies scaling by offering centralized tools to deploy, monitor, and manage thousands of devices without adding complexity.
- Customizable configurations – Every business has unique requirements for their Zebra devices. UEM enables tailored configurations, ensuring devices align with specific workflows and organizational policies.
- Always-on security – Protecting sensitive data requires more than ad-hoc solutions. UEM ensures consistent enforcement of security protocols, like encryption, access control, and real-time monitoring, to keep devices and data safe.
- Proactive device management – UEM allows IT teams to automate updates, track device health, and resolve issues before they impact productivity.
- Enhanced worker productivity – By managing apps, content, and workflows efficiently, UEM ensures frontline workers have everything they need to stay focused and productive.
With its ability to address these core needs, UEM is the foundation of effective Zebra device management. And when it comes to UEM solutions, Scalefusion goes above and beyond to offer a seamless experience. Let’s see how Scalefusion makes managing Zebra devices simpler, smarter, and more secure.
Scalefusion UEM: The perfect companion for Zebra devices
Scalefusion UEM is designed to tackle all the abovementioned challenges by offering a simple, effective, and secure way to manage Zebra devices across any organization. With its intuitive interface and comprehensive management features, Scalefusion helps streamline Zebra device management, ensuring security, compliance, and efficient operations.
1. Ease of enrollment
Scalefusion offers Zero-touch enrollment for Zebra devices, enabling IT teams to set up devices remotely and with minimal effort. Through ROM-based onboarding and OEM Config, devices can be pre-configured and shipped directly to the end-user, reducing the time and effort spent on manual configurations.
To further simplify enrollment, Zebra StageNow, a dedicated staging tool, allows IT teams to create provisioning profiles effortlessly. By leveraging StageNow, businesses can automate device enrollment into Scalefusion, ensuring quick and hassle-free deployment. This approach is especially beneficial for large-scale rollouts, ensuring devices are ready for use right out of the box.
2. Application management
Ensuring business relevance is key to maintaining a productive workforce. Scalefusion allows IT admins to manage and configure apps on Zebra devices remotely.
- App installation & updates: IT teams can install, update, or uninstall both public and private apps on Zebra devices, ensuring the device is equipped only with the necessary business tools.
- App configuration: IT admins can configure apps remotely, managing user access and permissions for seamless app usage without requiring any intervention from the end-user.
3. Content management
For content management, Scalefusion provides FileDock, a native app that allows businesses to manage and share files with their remote workforce securely. IT admins can upload files, folders, and presentations, and control access to these resources directly from the Scalefusion dashboard.
4. Device lockdown and kiosk mode
Zebra devices are often used in highly specific business contexts, which means employees should only access apps that are relevant to their tasks. Scalefusion’s kiosk mode is ideal for such use cases.
- Single-app kiosk mode: Restrict devices to a single business-critical app or browser.
- Multi-app kiosk mode: Allow access to a set of pre-approved apps, ensuring a tailored, distraction-free user experience.
5. Advanced monitoring and reporting
Scalefusion DeepDive provides IT teams with real-time analytics, ensuring Zebra devices remain secure, compliant, and operational. IT admins can track policy enforcement, monitor security configurations, and analyze device usage trends—all from a centralized dashboard.
Comprehensive reports help streamline operations by offering insights into policy application, user activity, device uptime, and connectivity history. IT teams can monitor USB access, battery health, and location tracking while also generating reports on compliance, scheduled tasks, and remote troubleshooting sessions.
6. Geofencing and location tracking
Scalefusion makes it easy to monitor Zebra devices with built-in geofencing and real-time location tracking. Businesses can define virtual boundaries and receive instant alerts if a device moves beyond the designated area. This feature is especially useful for logistics, field services, and retail industries where asset tracking is critical. IT admins can monitor device locations directly from the Scalefusion dashboard, ensuring better security, preventing unauthorized movement, and optimizing workforce efficiency.
7. Automated tasks and compliance alerts
Scalefusion Workflows simplify device management by automating routine tasks and enforcing compliance policies without manual intervention. IT teams can set location-based rules, monitor data usage, and schedule security incident reports to ensure continuous compliance. Additionally, businesses can schedule tasks like clearing files or broadcasting messages, ensuring devices stay updated and aligned with company policies.
Comprehensive security for Zebra devices
Protecting mobile devices is a critical challenge, and Zebra devices are no exception. Scalefusion addresses this with an extensive range of security features, ensuring the safety of both devices and the data they carry.
1. Data loss prevention (DLP) & restricted access
Scalefusion ensures that sensitive business data is protected through policies like data encryption, restricting data sharing, and preventing unauthorized peripheral access (such as USB ports or SD card slots).
2. Password policies & user authentication
To further secure Zebra devices, IT admins can enforce passcode policies, ensuring strong passwords are set up on each device. For added security, Certificate Management allows for seamless user authentication, ensuring only authorized personnel can access critical data.
3. Device lockdown & factory reset protection
If a Zebra device is lost or stolen, Scalefusion enables complete device lockdown, preventing unauthorized access. Factory Reset Protection ensures that even if a device is reset, it can only be accessed using predefined credentials, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.
4. VPN for secure network access
Zebra devices often operate in environments where network security is a concern. Scalefusion allows businesses to enforce VPN (Virtual Private Network) connections, tunneling all device traffic through a trusted network and safeguarding the device against malware and other security threats.
Enhancing productivity with remote troubleshooting
Managing Zebra devices remotely requires quickly resolving issues without physical access to the device. Scalefusion offers Remote Troubleshooting features that make issue resolution faster and more cost-effective.
- Remote Cast & Control: IT admins can mirror the device’s screen, take control, and perform necessary actions, including syncing files or resolving software issues, directly from the Scalefusion dashboard.
- ITSM integration: Scalefusion integrates with ITSM (IT Service Management) platforms to create support tickets and track device-related issues, improving the overall troubleshooting process.
Why Scalefusion for Zebra devices?
Scalefusion simplifies Zebra device management with a unified platform that handles deployment, security, and monitoring with ease. It equips businesses with the tools to manage their device fleet efficiently, ensuring productivity, security, and compliance.
With features like zero-touch enrollment, app management, advanced security policies, and real-time troubleshooting, Scalefusion ensures your Zebra devices operate seamlessly in any environment.
Ready to streamline your Zebra device management experience? Scalefusion UEM is ready to deliver.
To know more, contact our experts and schedule a demo call. Start your 14-day free trial today!
