The workplace has gone mobile. Mobile devices have revolutionized how employees accomplish everyday tasks. According to Forbes, over 85% of employers expect their staff to use mobile applications for work-related activities.
Employees in retail and restaurant industry are not spending their day seated a desks or stuck in computer rooms. Laptops, tablets, and phones have transformed how they work, source information, and get trained.
The proliferation of mobile devices offers numerous benefits, including:
- Increased mobility
- Improved productivity
- Increased collaboration
- Enhanced communication
But this advancement has also introduced potential threats. Mobile devices can get lost, hacked, or stolen. If they end up in crooked hands, it can cost your company thousands of dollars. As a result, most companies have significantly invested in mobile device management (MDM).
With the growing demand for mobile learning, more and more devices will find their way into workplaces. And businesses with the right MDM will be safe. So if you're looking to upgrade your system to support mobile deployment, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Unmanaged Mobile Devices Are Risky
According to Pew Research Center, over 28% of smartphone owners don't install security features to restrict access to their devices. And cybercriminals now target mobile devices.
Mobile device management can help safeguard your business resources. Security can be enhanced on each device within your network, and protocols developed to direct actions in case of a security breach.
MDMs can also control remote access to sensitive data, offer user authentication, and even provide remote data wiping of stolen or lost devices. The solution can also be used to keep software up to date.
MDM Can Reduce Costs
Most companies are familiar with bring your own device (BYOD) policies. According to Cisco, 69% of IT experts prefer BYOD because it offers numerous benefits, such as:
- Employees save over 80 minutes per week
- Companies save about $350 annually per employee
But all is not cakes and ale. Without a properly implemented MDM, you will not enjoy the benefits for long. In fact, you will be an accident away from losses should hackers access your network or the devices fall in the wrong hands.
For example, hackers can get into your network and change sensitive information, like secret recipes for restaurants. That can be devastating for your brand. Keep in mind that it only takes one security breach to destroy your brand. Learn more about brand consistency by downloading our guide "How to Restore Brand Consistency in Your Restaurant."
MDM Can Improve Workflows And Flexibility
In the retail and restaurant business, collaboration and a smooth workflow are critical to enabling employees. Through a well-implemented MDM, operations managers can quickly assign tasks and organize project teams. In addition, you can also monitor the progress of several activities at once.
MDM Can Simplify IT Demands
Physically managing mobile devices can be difficult for IT staff. As mobile learning takes center stage and business grows, the number of devices increases. It can be costly or impossible to successfully manage these devices.
An MDM can simplify this work by merging these management tasks into one, large platform, giving your IT staff the much-needed tools and support to manage a mobile network.
Your IT staff can do a better job of monitoring devices for security susceptibilities, and other IT needs. That makes your employees more productive and saves time and money.
As mobile devices continue to increase in the workplace, MDM solutions become essential. If you want to secure your business, invest in the right mobile device management solution.
