How Managing Devices Protects Your Firm’s Security, Performance and Budget

Device management is a method used by organizations to administer and manage a fleet of electronic devices. Sometimes referred to as mobile device management (MDM), this can include installing and operating devices, administering security and software updates and optimizing device performance.

Leverage the Benefits of Device Management

• Track devices
• Maximize efficiency
• Reduce security risks
• Improve compliance
• Conserve resources
• Control user access
• Manage devices remotely
• Install firmware/software updates at scale
• Improve user satisfaction

Code Corporation predominantly works with the healthcare, health IT industries and retail — fields increasingly reliant on smart devices and electronics like barcode scanners. Along with tracking inventory and collecting important data, handheld barcode readers streamline healthcare workflows like bedside medication administration and point-of-sale at retail checkouts. Without proper device management, these streamlined operations can quickly become unreliable, lowering performance.

Common Questions about Optimizing Device Management

How can I track and monitor device usage within my organization?
Today’s organizations are often spread across broad campuses or cities and countries. Decentralized workspaces must have reliable device management methods to extend device lifecycles, save money and improve IT managers’ efficiency. Your organization can utilize several tools and practices to monitor device usage, track software installations, manage licenses and ensure compliance with usage policies. These are often performed via remote device management, monitoring software and data capture-based asset tracking. For instance, handheld barcode scanners enable basic device tracking and asset management by collecting and sharing key data points like location or last service interval.

How do I handle software updates and patches for devices?
Device management software helps IT departments deploy software updates and patches crucial for maintaining device security and performance like firmware pushes.

What challenges necessitate device management, and how can my organization overcome them?
Common hurdles that instigate the need for device management include device diversity, security risks, scalability and ensuring a consistent user experience across different devices. Additionally, tracking and tracing thousands of devices across sprawling campuses poses another challenge: how can an organization manage so many devices simultaneously?

Firms can overcome these challenges by monitoring their in-service device inventory via barcodes, creating comprehensive device management policies for workforces, purchasing devices and software from IT resellers, and utilizing automation where possible.

What tools or software can assist with effective device management?
Device makers often offer their own device management software solutions, platforms or tools. However, two prevalent strategies are heavily relied on for supporting peripherals. One example includes third-party device management systems for different industries, which may allow your organization to license the system and use its software or tools to manage your devices. The other popular device management software strategy involves employing smaller tech firms that sell or resell devices. Since these devices benefit from software-based management, firms have begun creating and marketing their own device management software.

What will device management data tell users about their fleet?
Generally, software for managing devices tells IT managers about model and serial numbers. If a specific identifier is linked to a peripheral, it’ll indicate where it is connected. Device managers will also receive an overview or activity log of service history to determine if the unit has experienced any changes or upgrades.

Device management data may also indicate when consumables, like ink and paper, are low or if a battery needs charging or replacing. It might also notify staff how frequently a device goes online or if it has been offline for too long.

Additionally, device management software can share if there is a technical issue and connect managers to a service program that creates tickets for IT departments. IT managers can also receive data on warranty and device or site licenses, helping optimize budgets.

How can device management extend device service life?
Specific software can readily serve as inventory or asset management from a lifecycle perspective. IT help desks can stay informed on when devices went into service, if a unit is part of a warranty program, how far along it is within a warranty, or if a device is on a service program. Just like cars, many device types may need maintenance at specific intervals; additionally, device makers may periodically issue security-related software patches. Staying informed on these details can extend the unit’s life (and IT’s budget).

On the asset management side, device management software can not only help your organization’s tools last longer, it can also help financially as your team forecasts the lifecycle budget needed for specific peripherals. Asset management is important because it shares information on how many devices were deployed on a particular date, how they’ve been maintained, and when they must be refreshed or replaced. This preventive management ensures that your department doesn’t receive older equipment that may be prone to failure, which helps decrease downtime and workflow inefficiencies.

How many devices can a user have at one site or in one department?
It’s possible to have thousands of devices in one location. At a company with different sites or a healthcare system with several campuses, the staff may manage devices in one system. This system can be broken down to location-based management. However, if it’s centralized, there could be thousands of devices to manage.

Take Control of Your Devices

Device health is critical but often overlooked. Thus, device management creates certainty by replacing guessing with knowledgeable tracking. Ensure that mobile device management software, tools and practices play a crucial role in your organization.

Learning more about device management or barcode-based asset tracking is as easy as contacting Code at info@codecorp.com or 801-495-2200. Our data capture experts across the Americas and EMEA have helped many large enterprises manage their device fleets with remote firmware updates and more.