In this tech talk, we explore why managing devices like phones, tablets, and computers is crucial for tradie businesses. Mobile device management (MDM) is a common challenge we often hear about in client support, so we’ll share some practical tips to keep everything consistent and running smoothly.
Common Device Issues [0:00:51s]
Roger often deals with a wide range of device-related inquiries from clients. These include common issues like forgotten passwords, trouble with app installations, and challenges with email functionality. Lost or broken devices are also a frequent concern, with many clients reaching out for help in getting back up and running.
TradiePad support isn’t limited to just Apple products, the team regularly assists with Android devices, PCs, and various other tech setups. Whether it’s setting up iPads, phones, tablets, or even the occasional PC, TradiePad are ready to help with all sorts of device management needs.
Devices are just another tool, they're probably the most used tool in the toolbox for a lot of businesses because they're used to communicate job information to the workers, collect information, and produce their invoices. They’re such a critical tool that gets used within the businesses these days.
What is Mobile Device Management (MDM) [0:02:16s]
Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a powerful tool often found in corporate environments but equally valuable for small businesses. Essentially it is a software solution that makes it easier for tradie business owners to manage, secure, and monitor mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops within a business.
Mobile Device Management (MDM) allows businesses to enforce security policies, control app installations, track device locations, and remotely troubleshoot or wipe data if needed. By centralising device management, MDM ensures that all company devices are used efficiently and securely, helping businesses maintain control over their technology and protect sensitive data.
Business Technology Platform Overview [0:03:09s]
Clinton introduces the idea of a “business technology platform,” which refers to all the tech tools a business uses in its day-to-day operations. This includes everything from devices to operational software, like job management systems, and financial tools, such as accounting software. Essentially, it’s the foundation that keeps the business running smoothly
Communication tools, such as email platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, are vital for keeping businesses running smoothly. These tools form the backbone of daily operations, helping teams stay connected and organised.
Cloud storage options like OneDrive and Google Drive are also crucial for managing files and ensuring that important documents are accessible and secure. Messaging apps further enhance communication within organizations, making it easier to collaborate and share information quickly. Additionally, core components of a business technology platform include job management systems and accounting software, which can be tailored to specific industries, such as construction, to meet unique needs.
Mobile Device Management (MDM) plays a role within the business technology platform. Depending on who owns the device and how it’s used, MDM can offer different levels of control.Â
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Types of Device Management in Business [0:06:55s]
Devices are key to making business technology platforms work effectively, as they help synchronise operations between the office and the field. Mobile device management (MDM) is essential for controlling various ownership options and ensuring consistency across devices.
Businesses often use a mix of device ownership models, from company-owned devices to employee-owned ones, or a combination of both. Some companies buy devices outright for their employees, while others let staff use their personal devices with work profiles. There’s a growing trend towards companies purchasing their own specialised devices, which are often locked down to perform specific tasks. This helps keep devices secure and focused on business needs.
A really cool tool called mobile device management or MDM, which is a technology solution that helps a business manage the devices that they use, whether they’re employees devices or their company devices.
Fully Managed Devices [0:10:88s]
Company-owned devices that are used exclusively for business purposes are known as fully managed devices. These devices come with strict controls and restrictions to ensure they are used only for their intended tasks. Specialised devices, in particular, are often locked down to limit their functionality and enhance both security and effectiveness. By restricting these devices to specific tasks, businesses can maintain high levels of supervision and ensure that they are used solely for business needs.
Hybrid Ownership Models – Company-Owned but Personally Enabled Devices [0:11:01s]
This model lets employees use company-owned devices for personal purposes as well, while keeping work and personal profiles separate. It strikes a balance by allowing some personal use but under controlled conditions to maintain security.
However, there are risks to consider. If the device is lost or if personal use introduces security vulnerabilities, there’s a chance of data compromise. It’s important to manage these risks carefully to protect both company and personal information.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) [0:13:18s]
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) allows employees to use their personal devices for work by setting up a work profile installed by the company. This approach lets employees keep using the devices they’re comfortable with while ensuring that work-related apps and data are managed and secured by the company.
With a work profile, companies can maintain control over business information and applications while employees enjoy the convenience of using their own devices. It’s a win-win that balances personal preference with workplace security.
MDM Work Profiles[0:14:07s]
Mobile Device Management (MDM) makes it easy to manage work profiles on employees’ personal devices. If an employee leaves the company, their work profile can be removed remotely, helping to keep business data secure.
MDM work profiles to be activated based on specific times or locations, though this feature might not be suitable for every type of business. The software automates the management of these profiles, making it simpler to maintain control and ensure security.
Mobile device management helps control all of that and makes it a bit more consistent and a bit easier to manage the devices that are used within the business
MDM Device Enrolment and Setup [0:14:51s]
MDM software operates quietly in the background, managing devices without any need for user intervention. It handles both personal and supervised devices differently—while users can remove profiles from personal devices, supervised devices are tightly controlled to ensure that profiles and apps remain intact. This helps maintain a high level of supervision and security, making things run smoothly and securely.
MDM also offers a dashboard where administrators can monitor both company-owned and personal devices, viewing their settings and restrictions in one place. This feature makes it easy to manage all devices, no matter who owns them. For new employees, MDM can seamlessly push work profiles to their personal devices upon enrolment, streamlining the setup process and reducing manual effort.
It doesn't matter what size you are, whether you got four devices or 400 devices, it's a powerful and useful tool for everybody.
Streamlining Device Configuration [0:16:37s]
In the past, setting up new devices meant manually installing apps one by one. With MDM, you can now use templates to bulk configure devices, making the process much simpler. This allows you to install apps and apply settings to multiple devices at once, ensuring everything stays consistent across the board.
Thanks to MDM, deploying updates or new applications is a breeze. You can push out changes to all managed devices with just a single action, making it easy to keep everything up-to-date and running smoothly.
It's like magic! All this stuff's kind of being added and taken off the device without anyone having to do anything and that's all because it's being managed by this mobile device management software that sits in the background and is controlling all of this information flowing around these devices
Security Features [0:17:40s]
MDM offers important security features to keep your data safe, especially if a device is lost or stolen. One key feature is the ability to remotely wipe the device, which helps protect sensitive information by erasing it from afar.
If a device goes missing, MDM can also play a sound to help you locate it, making recovery easier. Plus, basic security settings like passcodes and restrictions can be managed through the MDM profile, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices.
If someone loses a device and that device has company information on it, that could be detrimental if it gets in the wrong people's hands. You can click a button to wipe that device to make sure that that information doesn't get lost or compromised.
Device Management Features and control Settings [0:19:25s]
The discussion kicks off with a look at device management, emphasising the importance of tracking each device by its make, model, and serial number. An action log is also kept to monitor activities like location tracking and app installations, ensuring comprehensive oversight.
The console simplifies management by giving you visibility into all devices from a single interface, eliminating the need to log into separate Apple IDs or Google accounts. Unlike traditional methods like “Find My iPhone,” MDM centralises control, making it easier to manage location tracking and app installations across multiple devices from one place.
Case Study: Appliance Installation Business [0:22:30s]
A small appliance installation business in Sydney demonstrates how Mobile Device Management (MDM) can be a game-changer for organisations of any size. With just four field staff and several company-owned devices, this business shows that MDM is effective regardless of the number of devices being managed.
The business faced challenges like personal use of company devices blurring work-related tasks, inconsistent setups from staggered purchases, and outdated software causing functionality issues. They also struggled with lost devices and managing passwords for updates. By implementing an MDM solution, they were able to tackle these problems effectively, streamlining device management and ensuring smoother operations.
Implementing Device Management Solutions [0:24:35s]
The implementation of the device management system greatly improved the process of adding new devices. Instead of setting up each device individually, the system made it much easier to get new devices up and running.
Once the system was in place, enrolling new devices became a breeze. Profiles were automatically pushed out, ensuring that settings and applications were consistent across all devices. This was made possible by using standardised templates for setup. Additionally, managed company Apple IDs allowed for centralised control, letting administrators handle multiple accounts from a single console.
Whether it's an Apple or an Android or Windows computer or an Apple Mac computer doesn't matter, you'd be able to see all of those devices. See whether they're company owned, whether they're personally owned, what settings and restrictions they have applied to them and we can also deploy or enroll new devices when a worker comes on board.
Benefits of Managed Apple IDs [0:25:47s]
Using managed company Apple IDs offers several key benefits, primarily by providing centralised control over multiple accounts from a single console. This approach simplifies management by eliminating the need to handle each account individually.
One major advantage is the ability to track device locations in real time. If a device is lost or stolen, you can remotely disable it, which significantly enhances security and helps in recovering the device. This centralised control and tracking capability make managing devices much more efficient and secure for the organisation.
The console gives you visibility on all the devices you're not having to log into each separate Apple ID or Google account to figure out what's going on with that device. You've got it all in one place
Case Study: Commercial Carpentry Business [0:27:25s]
In this case study, a commercial carpentry business with about 10 field staff uses a mix of personal phones and company-owned iPads. This combination creates a blend of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and company-controlled devices, with personal phones used for both work and personal tasks, while the iPads are dedicated solely to business use. This setup raised potential security concerns due to the mix of ownership.
Before implementing Mobile Device Management (MDM), employees could change settings on their iPads, which sometimes compromised data security. For example, adjustments to critical settings like location services could affect the security and functionality of the devices. With MDM, the business can now separate work profiles from personal information on personal devices, enhancing data security. Additionally, MDM streamlines the process of setting up new employees, making it easier to deploy profiles and manage devices efficiently, turning a previously labor-intensive task into a smooth and quick process.
Mobile device management software we can create a blueprint or a template of all the settings and all the apps that we want the new device to get enrolled into. The system just pushes all that information in one hit, installs all the apps, configures all the settings. It's like magic, the device is ready to go and we've got consistency with how things are set up and configured across the business
Curious about how Mobile Device Management (MDM) could fit into your tradie business? Let’s chat!
Contact TradiePad today to explore MDM options and get advice on the best setup for your needs!
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MEET THE SPEAKERS
Roger is customer support manager at TradiePad. He answers customers' questions, resolves problems, and maintains customer satisfaction by providing problem-solving resources.
Clinton is driven by a passion to help the construction and field services industries evolve through the use of technology and education.
