Mobility management: optimizing device workflows for retail

What’s good for retail associates is good for customers.

The hardware and software that retail staff use is essential to improving the employee and customer experience.

iPads or iPhones can improve operational efficiencies, automate more workflows, and — since most employees prefer Apple devices — improve their experience, too.

Retail staff use devices for a number of different tasks:

• Checkout
• Inventory
• Training

And much more. These tasks can use third-party and in-house applications, may only apply to a subset of employees, or might happen at specific times.

Retailers who want customized enterprise mobility management solutions must use software vendors with a thorough understanding of the Apple ecosystem.

The right vendor can enhance or implement net-new workflows from the front- to the back-of-house. And to enhance retail store workflows, extending the functionality of the device with mobility management is crucial.

In a previous blog, we discussed how Jamf and its partners extend retail operations with enterprise mobility management. This blog will discuss Jamf-specific solutions for retailer operations and workflows.

Readying mobile devices for retail

Apple devices in retail must be enterprise-secure, easy to configure, and protect user and customer privacy and data.

Jamf provides a complete management and security solution for Apple-first environments. Jamf’s solutions help organizations prepare a device for use by employees or end users, such as:

• A MacBook in the office
• An Apple TV in the break room
• An iPad on the store floor
• An iPhone at point-of-sale

How does Jamf ready devices for retail stores?

Apple enterprise mobility management: the ecosystem

Jamf specializes in mobility management for every Apple device. Jamf Pro ensures seamless integration and control over Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro within retail environments.

Securing the entire Apple ecosystem for retail

Apple ecosystem management includes securing devices. In retail stores, mobile devices are often used to capture data in task-based workflows, which must all be restricted in one way or another.

A few examples of reasons to restrict devices:

• For intended use only
• Only for authorized users
• To meet security protocols
• Compliance assessments
• Audits

Jamf provides organizations with enhanced security features to protect against data breaches and ongoing threats.

User-friendly interface

Jamf ushers both admins and end users through the native Apple experience.

For admins, Jamf's intuitive interface simplifies device management tasks, making it easier for retail teams to handle routine operations efficiently.

When extending iPad or iPhone, organizations must do it in a way that does not disrupt the Apple user experience. When associates use an Apple device for work it should feel like using an Apple device for personal use. This is vital to the employee experience.

Automation and customization

Automation can be used for different tasks.

There is the automation of routine device management tasks. These are tasks IT must perform, such as deploying and updating applications or sending a remote command.

There is also automation for retail associates. In shared device deployments, when many employees must access a single device, that device should be configured to be useful across the floor staff. When an employee logs into the device, it must be customized for employees with the resources or apps they need in the moment.

Customizable settings enable businesses to tailor mobile device management according to their unique requirements.

Scalability

Jamf scales effortlessly to accommodate the growth of retail businesses, supporting the addition of new devices and users seamlessly. For example, Jamf has helped Rituals deploy over 15,000 Apple devices with only an IT department of three.

Remote management

The ability to manage devices remotely ensures that retail operations remain uninterrupted, providing flexibility and adaptability in various scenarios.

Extending mobile devices in retail environments

Self Service

Jamf Self Service gives employees on-demand access to apps, settings and other resources without having to submit an IT help desk ticket.

For example:

An athletic sports apparel company uses Self Service to allow store associates to reinstall apps on demand if needed. If their problem is more complex, they can also submit help desk tickets from their handheld devices. This keeps them on the floor, assisting customers.

This company has many specialized apps associates could need immediately, such as:

• A learning and development app
• A mobile point-of-sale app
• An app that issues fitting room notifications to associates

In addition, Jamf offers extension attributes and inventory pre-load to save associates even more time.

Employees can also revert an app to an earlier generation if it isn’t working correctly, update apps, and update devices that have been unused directly in Self Service.

The company reports that the simplicity of the interface and ability to perform tier minus-one ticket items have increased employee morale.

Return to Service

Apple recently introduced the Return to Service feature for iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. It completely automates resetting and re-enrolling devices into Mobile Device Management (MDM) systems.

The feature removes the need for frontline staff to select the language, region and Wi-Fi profile during Setup Assistant. (Removing the requirement to select a Wi-Fi profile is critical since a Wi-Fi profile is required to activate the device.)

With Return to Service, the device automatically enrolls into MDM and is ready for the next user.

There are two ways to access Return to Service in Jamf Pro: via the Jamf Pro API or with the Return to Service app.

This section will focus on the Return to Service app, available in the Apple App Store or Jamf Marketplace.

Organizations must have Jamf Pro to use the Return to Service app.

For example:

A global retailer uses shared iPads in their retail locations. They use Return to Service to wipe devices in between shifts.

Here’s how it works:

1. An associate selects an iPad to use for their shift.
2. They log in using Single Sign-On (SSO), which allows the user to be auto-logged into other applications they use.
3. After use, the associate can wipe the device for the next user, removing all personally identifiable information (PII) before returning the iPad at the end of their shift.

Return to Service is different from a traditional wipe.

It removes data, but it keeps the Wi-Fi configuration profile, the country settings and language settings. As pre-stage enrollment sets up the screen, associates can access the apps they need immediately.

Jamf Setup and Jamf Reset

Jamf has been at the forefront of supporting multi-user environments on iOS and iPadOS devices for years. The Jamf Setup and Jamf Reset apps, combined with unique industry-specific workflows, have allowed for access to distinct configurations and apps based on the user's role.

For example

A growing eyewear retailer uses Jamf Setup and Jamf Reset to permit different uses on a shared device: records-keeping during eye exams and as a resource for retail associates.

Before they reached out to Jamf, the company was struggling with their tech. iPads weren’t managed, and each iPad was solely dedicated to one task. As each location only had between 3-5 iPads, this often caused problems when associates needed them for a different task than the one assigned to the iPad that was free.

They now use Jamf Setup to select a role. Jamf provisions the iPad with everything needed for a specific role. After use, they use Jamf Reset to prepare it for the next user.

This move to Jamf Pro improved employee satisfaction and customer service. It also added a layer of security with management.

Jamf Mobile Assist

The Jamf Mobile Assist app allows managers without access to Jamf Pro to do basic troubleshooting.

When a user selects an option in the Jamf Mobile Assist app, Jamf Pro triggers actions on the target device. These remote actions can include updates or workflows that automatically change the device state in real-time.

This is all done wirelessly, without help from IT.

For example

One food service industry retailer uses the Jamf Mobile Assist app to allow managers to perform basic and frequent IT tasks.

Each frontline worker has a QR code on the wallpaper of their device. The manager can scan the code and select a command from the menu:

• Reset passcode
• Assign location
• Reset device

This comes in handy when associates forget their passwords or when a manager flexes staff. Managers can easily assign a new location to the device, and it pulls down anything that associates need at the new location.

This ability to make swift on-the-spot password resets or location updates makes the company far more mobile and flexible with staff, without waiting for IT to perform the reset. It makes them more efficient, too — they can get right to work without waiting.

Inventory preload and Smart Groups

A part of zero-touch deployment, inventory preload and Smart Groups are built-in features of Jamf Pro.

With inventory preload, organizations can upload computer and mobile device inventory data before enrolling devices. They can also target which devices receive this preload using Smart Groups. Smart Groups track user and hardware details, software versions and security settings for specific groups of devices.

Jamf experts

Jamf’s dedicated industry and technical teams work with your organization to provide wide-ranging expertise and resources to help your organization find the solution that best fits your specific needs.

The takeaway:

Jamf and its retail-focused workflows can help extend mobile devices in retail stores.

By uniting device and security management excellence with innovative workflows, Jamf offers a comprehensive solution for retail organizations. The solutions not only enhance efficiency but also enable businesses to deliver customized and memorable experiences.

As retail continues its transformative journey, its integration with Jamf stands as a testament to adaptability, innovation and a commitment to redefining the retail landscape.