Mobile devices are a part of nearly every aspect of our day-to-day lives – both personally and professionally. For businesses, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement has compelled organizations to give employees the flexibility to enjoy one device, whether for work or play. End users sing the praises of BYOD, which eliminates the hassle of switching back and forth between ‘work’ and ‘personal’ devices. However, IT departments often end up struggling to keep everything working smoothly. Lost or stolen devices cause major security concerns for managers, while diverse operating systems create a complex mobile ecosystem. Couple those challenges with the seemingly endless list of help desk tickets for troubleshooting and resolving issues, and you’ve got a real IT nightmare on your hands. So, what are IT managers to do?
Many are looking to third-party mobility management solutions for help. Depending on the size and scope of their mobility ecosystem, there are a few options that can help manage the chaos while giving IT managers a reprieve from the day-to-day management of a myriad of mobile devices, wireless contracts, and help desk tickets.
At its core, MDM provides management and security tools for any company- or employee-owned device, whether iOS, macOS, Android, or Windows. While specific features vary across providers, this allows IT managers to quickly enroll and configure devices into the enterprise environment, manage security and compliance needs, and customize user profiles for various employees and departments. In a nutshell, MDM offers a centralized way to manage all mobile devices, applications, protocols, and processes, along with providing IT managers an easier and more efficient way to handle mobile devices across the organization.
While IT departments are busy dealing with the actual mobile devices, the accounting department is left to wrangle heaps of wireless bills and contracts. Although smaller companies are not immune to the struggle, larger organizations with hundreds of employees are most likely to feel the pressure to keep costs in check. Wireless expense management (WEM) helps IT departments better control wireless spending by conducting a detailed analysis of wireless rate plans, device types, and usage policies to determine cost savings opportunities. Once identified, the provider can negotiate better rates and contracts while eliminating unused features, users, and devices.
Mobile devices continue to evolve in power and complexity, creating a demand for help desk experts to solve device issues. With every upgrade or software update, there seems to be new features or functionality that end users may not be able to operate. Wireless help desk offers a dedicated resource for support regarding interface issues, application setup, and a host of other technical problems. Outsourcing this to a third-party helps IT departments focus on more strategic initiatives while still providing end-users with the resources they need to solve mobile support issues.
Depending on your organization’s mobile device situation, you may need one or all of these solutions. Mobility solutions vary across providers, so it’s essential to determine what third-party resources you genuinely need to make your mobile ecosystem most efficient and cost-effective. Not sure where to begin? Give us a call and we can help!
Still searching? Use our Search Page to find what you are looking for.