Navigating retail Apple deployments with Mobile Device Management

Apple retail solutions solve multiple challenges

At the 2024 National Retail Federation Conference earlier this year, top retail firms talked through strategies and highlighted key trends, including:

• The increasing intersection of physical stores and digital experiences
• How to engage and empower frontline associates
• Ways technology can reduce frontline associate pain points

Many of the speakers discussed their technological visions for the future— such as deploying and implementing in-store devices for associates, general managers, and more.

However, before making that vision a reality, organizations must lay the groundwork carefully.

Deploying technology – hardware and software – needs to be done in collaboration with leaders and teams across the organization. This is also where mobile device management and security vendors can help. And in retail, that often means extending the management and security platform via unique integrations and industry-specific workflows.

Mobile device management and security can support retail associates

From an employee perspective, technology should make life easier, not more complicated. This means that the devices must be optimized to connect to the tools they need— right out of the box.

Apple Business Manager integrates Apple devices and Mobile Device Management (MDM) with zero-touch deployment. That way, retailers can have devices delivered directly to store locations already configured and customized to each employee or use case.

Not only will this help store associates, but it also frees managers to lead their store instead of managing IT. It gives them peace-of-mind that their devices and network connections just work.

Instead of troubleshooting devices, managers can think about the current floor challenges or the profit and loss statement.

Preparing for retail deployments

Technology deployments need to be done in collaboration with leaders and teams across the organization, and in the case of device deployments, an MDM vendor. Your cross-functional team should understand all of the moving parts, as well as who is responsible for each one. Choosing the best MDM vendor is top priority.

The right technology partner helps configure the devices for their intended purpose while:

• Enrolling devices for proper configuration that meets regulatory and organizational standards and to enable long-term remote maintenance
• Deploying line-of-business applications that support worker productivity
• Managing and securing device access based on ID
• Connecting authorized users on enrolled devices to critical business applications
• Automating tasks and remediating threats, helping to manage risk that can disrupt business

Understanding types of deployments

Corporate environments and retail environments have vastly different device deployment needs. Not only are they usually different types of devices (Mac vs. iPad), but corporate devices are generally only used by one person. At retail stores, different positions mean there can be multiple deployment types:

Shared device deployments

These are shared devices most commonly used by hourly shift workers and carried on their person. Associates sign into them at start of shift and out at end of shift, leaving the device for the next associate.

With proper device management, these devices can load all of the apps and resources each specific employee needs upon sign-in. These deployments require relatively sophisticated device management such as Jamf Pro that allows for multiple and customized roles tied to ID.

1:1 device deployments

These are devices that are assigned to only one person. Generally, these are for corporate staff or staff at the leadership level for retail stores. General managers, district managers or regional managers often need MacBook Airs or iPads that they can easily transport from location to location.

Regardless of the type of deployment, these devices must be optimized for task efficiency.

Deploying devices involves more than one team

In Jamf’s experience with large retail deployments, we partner with a variety of teams to ensure the device meets their expectations.

Mobility and application engineering teams

Mobility teams are experts on on all mobile in-store devices (hardware and software) and can help implement best practices for each device use case. Jamf also works with application engineering to discuss the variables between in-house, app store or third-party apps. Jamf experts can provide insights into how to best deploy, manage and update all of them.

Training and development teams

Immediate access to apps is important, especially when ramping associates up to full proficiency. Working closely with training and development teams, Jamf experts can simplify access to and use of training apps for store associates and other staff.

Retail end-user experience and retail leadership teams

Jamf experts have experience working with retail leadership and end-user experience teams. They can help align the needs of end users (store associates, general managers, regional managers) with IT language and framework, making sure the implemented solution performs best for end users.

InfoSec teams

Jamf experts work with InfoSec to implement our security products that offer:

• Endpoint protection
• Threat prevention and remediation
• Compliance enforcement

And much more, including access policies for apps and data, so that only trusted users on safe devices can access work apps and data.

IT teams

Jamf understands the importance of a strong IT program. It’s what we do. We have decades of experience working with IT to help ensure devices, apps, and users are all managed, secure, and compliant.

This includes deploying and updating apps and devices, preloading device inventory and your most important device management tasks.

Jamf can help

Deploying and implementing in-store devices can sometimes feel like a big project. But with the right partners, it can be smooth sailing. Our expertise in Apple device management and security helps the teams who support end users.

Lean on experts in the field and at your organization for complex retail deployments. Jamf is one of those experts. We understand how to get ready-to-use Apple devices into the hands of employees smoothly, from start to finish.