How terminal management can transform retail

one year 2022 report suggests that the unified endpoint management (UEM) market is poised to hit $38 billion by 2028. This makes a compelling case for UEM adoption to transform any industry.

In particular, the retail industry has more cross-industry connections (logistics, warehousing, supply chain) than other industries. The number of terminals or devices in retail is huge, and the need to manage those terminals in a unified way is crucial to success.

The evolution of retail can be mapped from the first time you visit a (traditional) store to a bookstore in New York City, to buying your favorite book online from eBay. Retail has undergone a paradigm shift — from business to customer buying. Those driving the digital wave have benefited, and the rest have had to shut down.

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However, the trend of digital transformation never stops in the retail sector; it sprints continuously. And for continued sprinting, endpoint management is invaluable.

In-store retail number (before COVID)

While the pandemic has changed the way people shop, the need for terminal management in retail has never stopped. Let’s look at some numbers from 5 years ago when the only Corona most people knew about was a bottle of Mexican-made beer.

• 50% of retail organizations are allowed MONITOR.
• Mobile-based interactions with in-store customers are among the top five initiatives.
• 58% of retail organizations consider in-store employee access to mobile business applications critical.
• 61% of retail organizations already in store universes initiative or ready for IoT.
• 24% of retail organizations have implemented digital signage or kiosks in most stores; 34% have implemented digital signage or kiosks at select stores.
• The devices (terminals) used by store staff to interact and support customers are: dedicated desktop computers (61%), smartphones (42%), tablets (31%), rugged devices (single app) (24%), shared laptops (18%).

Endpoint management for in-store retail

Endpoint management helps retail organizations ensure seamless customer transactions and business processes. With cyber risks lurking everywhere, the retail industry must implement endpoint management — as a security solutionif not any other parameter.

The scope of terminal management in retail is vast and goes far beyond security devices. It provides good synchronization between remote and in-store employees. Think of endpoint management as an umbrella under which you can manage and control all the devices or endpoints belonging to your organization — all from a single platform or console.

Here are some innate advantages:

24/7 device tracking: It’s unlikely that any devices will go out of your network, as endpoint management allows for complete monitoring and management of endpoints. Older device management solutions don’t let you do that. With terminal management, you’re always in control.

Do not abuse the device: Mobile device management ensures comprehensive cybersecurity and eliminates unintended use or unauthorized access to retail endpoints.

Using possession: All endpoints are properties. The MDM software system allows retailers to generate reports on how equipment is being used. You can also automate patch management across devices to optimize their use.

reduce the threat: Without endpoint management, all retail devices will be infected with malicious apps and websites. The MDM tool gives you permissions to the apps you choose to run on your device.

Simplify IT operations: MDM makes life easier for retail IT teams by automating manual tasks like device monitoring, downtime, and device and operating system maintenance. Your IT team can then focus more on improving customer touchpoints, such as in-app support.

Improve productivity: Endpoint management leads to higher employee productivity, as employees are not distracted while using the device. It provides flexibility and access to authorized information at the right time so that all interactions between your employees and customers go smoothly and efficiently.

BYOD Deployment: As more and more retailers enter the BYOD world, terminal management presents the opportunity to develop policies around it. Individual devices can act as controlled and managed network endpoints. And it provides these benefits without invading employee privacy, as work and personal data in BYOD is kept separate.

Endpoint Management for Online Retail

If you think that only brick-and-mortar retail establishments need terminal management, think again. Endpoint management also has a place in online retail. the growth of q-commercial Retail applications and platforms have grown tremendously in recent times. Efficient and fast last-mile delivery is the backbone of e-commerce and conventional e-commerce. The devices used by delivery agents and warehouse crews are also terminals. Such online retail endpoints need the same care and management as in-store endpoints.

Choose the right MDM solution

Just being aware of the benefits of MDM does not connect the switching dots. That’s only half the battle. Here are some points to consider before you start using an MDM solution.

Keep analytics at the forefront

For your retail endpoint management console, always aim for sanity instead of vanity. The fancy design and colors are great, but the functionality can’t be ignored. Remember that the more endpoints are connected, the wider the data flow. Therefore, check to see if the MDM solution brings enough advanced reporting and analytics to your table. Needless to say, those analyzes should be insightful and actionable.

There is no substitute for security

Having a weak MDM in terms of security is like not having one. Some of the features your MDM security suite should include are:

• Device container (separate personal and work data/apps) for BYOD environments
• 100% regulatory compliance
• Security upgrades and updates
• Dynamic threat detection and response
• Get rid of malware instantly
• Advanced troubleshooting capabilities (no long downtime)
• two factors or versatiler accuracy
• SSO (single sign on)
• temporary access

Integration with third-party applications

In retail, professional customer service is essential. Make sure your MDM platform allows third parties to integrate with CRM or CDP applications or any business-critical applications already in use in your organization.

Smooth scaling

Rhyming with smooth sailing? The same is true. Device scalability is a must have. As business needs arise, the number of endpoints will be smoothly increased or decreased without much fuss. Make sure your MDM is a SaaS solution that allows easy endpoint scalability.

Support and training

Before choosing an MDM provider, check two important boxes — training and product support — both of which are available remotely. Remote support and training is essential so that the retail organization never has to be busy dealing with the MDM dashboard.

The maturity of the endpoint

All endpoints are devices, and all devices have a lifecycle. With a depth of connected endpoints, an intuitive MDM solution keeps retailers informed of endpoint maturity through tailored pathways.

endpoint range

EQUAL universes and IIoT (industrial IoT) develops at a rapid pace, terminal devices are no longer ordinary devices. In the retail industry, specialized devices such as kiosks (POS and mPOS) are an important cog in the business wheel. Retail endpoints may also include rugged phones or handheld devices such as scanners. A good retail terminal management solution must accommodate dedicated devices, now and in the future. Choosing a provider that offers personalization, customization, and quick turnaround times for developing new features can be hugely beneficial in the long run.

geo-fence

Location-based marketing (LBM) has revolutionized the retail industry, and geolocation is the technology behind it. The MDM solution can also geo-fence your endpoints. For example, if a customer searches for a specific product online but it’s not available, a geo-fenced endpoint at one of the stores near the customer’s location could be notified. If the product is available there, the customer is also informed of the in-store pickup option.

Carried away

Unified endpoint management is on par with all other digital transformation strategies retailers are trying to implement. You should explore endpoint management as a possible solution in this digital retail age.

Sriram Kakarala is VP of product at ProMobi . Technology.