5 Best iPad Charging Stations and Carts for Classrooms & Businesses
If your organization owns iPads for students or staff to complete their work, then you need a simple (and secure) way to store, charge, and distribute the devices. A high-quality storage system like an iPad classroom charging station or an iPad charging cart can solve this need.
Nothing hinders learning like grabbing an iPad, only to find that it isn’t fully charged. A high-quality iPad classroom charging station or cart lets your school safely store and charge iPads and transport them from one classroom to another.
When it comes to productivity in a business setting, an uncharged iPad device can have serious downstream consequences. Consider cost of the employee's downtime as well as a potential a lost sale due to a device that isn't working when needed.
Choosing the best iPad cart or best iPad charging station for your school or business depends on many factors, such as how many iPads you need to store at once and if device portability is important to your workflow.
At LocknCharge, we make iPad charging carts for schools and businesses as well as iPad classroom charging stations or office charging stations to meet a wide variety of needs.
5 Best iPad Charging Station Solutions for Schools and Businesses
1. iQ 10 Charging Station
- Compatibility: iPad and tablet devices
- Capacity: 10 devices
The iQ 10 Charging Station with USB-C PD lets you quickly charge, store, and secure up to 10 iPad, iPad Air, iPad Mini, or other tablet devices in a compact unit that can be mounted on a desk or wall.
A feature that is unique to LocknCharge iPad carts and charging stations is that the devices are stored in baskets of five devices each, making device distribution easy for teachers and students.
Welded steel construction and a hardened steel padlock protect your iPad devices while they’re not in use, and the product comes with a lifetime warranty.
2. Putnam Charging Station
- Compatibility: iPad, tablet or cell phone devices
- Capacity: 8 or 16 devices
Designed to charge, store, and secure up to 8 or 16 iPads or tablets, the Putnam Charging Station with USB-C PD is a wall-mounted or stackable charging locker that features color-coded LED displays so you know when your devices are charged.
The Putnam Charging Station comes equipped with 8 or 16 USB-C cables that are sized to the perfect length for quickly plugging in devices after use. Cables are also integrated into the station so they don't sprout legs and wander off.
Welded steel construction makes the unit ultra secure, and it comes with a robust warranty. A built-in mechanical combination lock means there are no keys to worry about, and a master override key is included in case the combination is forgotten.
3. Joey Charging Cart
- Compatibility: iPad, tablet, MacBook or laptop devices
- Capacity: 30 devices
The Joey 30 or 40 Carts is one of our most popular universal charging cart solutions for tablets and laptops. The open concept design can accommodate a wide variety of devices, including iPad, iPad Pro or MacBook devices. The Joey Charging Cart features access to up to 30 devices from the top, with a "tool box" tray that lifts out so cables are accessible when needed. It also comes with Large baskets by LocknCharge for easy device distribution.
4. Carrier Charging Stations
- Compatibility: iPad, tablet, MacBook or laptop devices
- Capacity: 10 or 15 devices
Carrier Charging Stations lets you charge, store and secure 10 or 15 of almost any device including iPads, iPad Pros, and MacBooks. Removable baskets can be swapped with wire racks to accommodate devices up to 17″. The steel construction and heavy-duty lock make this charging station ultra secure.
The Carrier iPad Charging Station can easily be mounted to the wall, taking up minimal space. And since the cables and bricks are stored in a separate compartment, you’ll never need to worry about missing or tangled cords.
5. CarryOn Portable Charging Station
- Compatibility: iPad and tablet devices
- Capacity: 5 devices
The first iPad cart or charging station designed to be ultra-portable, the CarryOn with USB-C PD allows you to quickly charge, store, and transport up to five iPad or tablet devices using a sleek carrier the size of a briefcase.
The CarryOn can store tablets with screen sizes up to 10 inches, with or without cases. Its aluminum outer shell makes it both lightweight (5.5 pounds) and durable, protecting the devices inside. The transparent acrylic door lets you quickly see that all devices are there, while the impact-resistant alloy edging gives it a classy look. The CarryOn’s door includes a keyed lock to keep devices safe, and a wall mount kit lets you use it as a cabinet as well.
The Best Prewired Charging Carts and Stations for Your School
If you currently have or are planning to create a mobile device strategy for your organization, you may already know that charging carts or stations are an essential piece of the puzzle. But did you know that prewired carts can help make deployment even easier?
Prewired carts and stations are out-of-the-box solutions that can save you both time and money. Many LocknCharge carts have a prewired option, plus other unique features. These charging solutions can make your summer deployments faster and easier, so you can get more done over the break and be ready to go when students return.
Benefits of Prewired Carts and Stations
Time Savings
IT labor shortages are increasing around the world as demand rises for more advanced skills. Lack of staffing means many organizations must find ways that the employees they already have can be more efficient. It takes about 30 minutes to wire a 30-capacity cart. LocknCharge prewired carts and stations come ready to use with USB-C cables already installed, organized and securely fastened.
With prewired carts and stations, IT techs don’t have to spend their summer cabling. Rather, they can focus on larger, strategic projects. They’re also a great option to meet a tight deadline or to help take care of large-scale rollouts quickly and efficiently.
“We were able to install our prewired station in a middle school in a day and hardly spend any time getting them ready.”
– Charri Stratton, Putnam City Schools
Convenience
With prewired carts and stations, students and employees won’t need to use their own device cord in order to charge. They can simply plug their device into the prewired cable and remove the device when it’s done charging, without having to install and uninstall any cables. For schools that send devices home with students, this leaves their own device cable available to take home with them as needed, helping to reduce instances of forgotten or lost chargers.
Cost Savings
Prewired carts are an economical option. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) USB-C cables can cost $50 or more per cable. The cable hardware that comes with prewired carts is a great value-add – plus, you’re saving time for your IT team. And time is money. When you add in the benefits of charging stations overall – like better security to help reduce the costs of lost and stolen devices, minimized device downtime and more efficiency in check-in/check-out – you really start to see why prewired carts are a good technology investment.
The Best Prewired Carts for Schools
The best charging stations for your school depend on your unique needs. But there are some things you’ll want to look for that don’t change: LocknCharge offers unique solutions that come with future-proof features, lifetime warranties and excellent customer service and support. Here are our best prewired carts and charging stations for schools.
USB-C Prewired Carts
Carts are an excellent choice if you need more mobility in your deployment strategy, for example, moving devices from room to room. LocknCharge carts are also incredibly versatile with shelves, baskets and more for all your devices and learning tools.
Carrier Carts allow you to securely store, charge and transport up to 20, 30 or 40 mobile devices. The top surface of this top-loading cart doubles as a workspace, and the open-concept design makes it easy to customize to your needs long-term as devices evolve. Carrier Carts include Baskets by LocknCharge to easily hand out and pack up devices.
Joey Carts are an affordable, top-loading charging cart that accommodates up to 30 or 40 devices. They’re lightweight, yet secure, and the interchangeable baskets and racks allow for greater flexibility. They also include Baskets by LocknCharge.
EPIC Carts are another affordable option that accommodate up to 24 or 36 devices. The space-saving design is ideal for smaller areas, and the front-loading shelves allow easy access for students.
USB-C Prewired Charging Stations
Charging stations work well for nearly any type of device strategy, providing a central area where students can securely charge devices. LocknCharge charging stations also offer many other features that help make your students’ and teachers’ lives easier.
Carrier 10 & 15 Charging Stations allow you to charge, store, secure and carry up to 10 or 15 devices. Since the cabinet is stationary, our device baskets make deployment easy, while allowing you to adapt to future needs. The small footprint means they fit just about anywhere or can be mounted on a wall.
Putnam 18 Charging Stations are designed to securely store and charge up to 18 Chromebooks, small laptops or tablets up to 13 inches. The tall, slim design is also stackable, with a pedestal that allows you to charge 36 devices with one outlet plug.
Revolution 32 Charging Cabinet is a tall, slim option that takes up half the footprint of a traditional prewired cart. With sliding power strips and a versatile design, it can store up to 32 of almost any laptop or tablet device.
Putnam 8 or 16 Charging Station with USB-C PD is designed to charge, store and secure 8 or 16 iPads or Chromebooks. This prewired station comes installed with USB-C cables that are the just the right length to reach each device. They’re also compact and wall-mountable.
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Best Mobile Device Charging Stations for Schools
The past few years have tested many school districts like never before, but within what sometimes seemed like chaos, opportunities emerged. Both remote learning programs and mobile device programs skyrocketed, and along with them, the need for secure, reliable mobile device charging stations.
Schools quickly learned that there are many options for deploying mobile devices—and that each model comes with its own set of device management challenges. Choosing what makes the most sense for your district can be hard.
Do you want to give every student a digital device to take home? Provide students with devices that stay in each classroom? Distribute mobile devices to students through a shared cart approach? Or let students bring their own devices from home?
The way you store, charge and manage devices will depend on the model you choose for deploying mobile devices to students. Read on to learn the pros and cons of the best mobile device charging stations for schools.
1:1 Programs - Devices Stay in the Classroom
Benefits: This model creates consistency and uniformity, making it easier for IT staff to support the devices. Because everyone is using the same type of device with the same platform, teachers know that whatever apps they use will work on students’ devices. And since the devices remain at school, teachers don’t have to worry about students leaving their devices at home or forgetting to charge them. It’s also the smartest investment for schools on a tight budget.
Challenges: When students leave devices at school, they’re not able to use them for homework. This type of program also doesn't allow for distance learning, should schools ever close again in the future.
Best Mobile Device Charging Stations
Because devices don’t need to be moved from one classroom to another in a full 1:1 environment, a wall charging station is a fitting option. These units take up less space and typically cost less than a cart, leaving more money to spend on other tech tools.
When you’re distributing devices to students at the start of class each day, time is at a premium. The best charging stations for schools make this process much easier and more efficient, which saves valuable class time for instruction. That’s why we created the unique basket design of our Carrier 10 and 15 and iQ 10 with USB-C PD charging stations.
Another option is the Putnam 8 or 16 with USB-C PD. While these aren’t basket-compatible, they are perfect for 1:1 “stay at school” programs that use tablets. As an added bonus, the station’s external LED display makes it easy to know if all devices have been put away at the end of the day, and they come pre-wired with USB-C cables, making setup a breeze.
1:1 Programs - Students Take Devices Home
Benefits: Letting students take school-owned devices home creates a “classroom without walls,” enabling 24-7 learning. It also addresses the digital divide and the so-called “homework gap,” ensuring that all students have equitable access to learning opportunities and their teachers.
Challenges: Besides the obvious funding hurdles, take-home 1:1 programs come with an increased risk of devices being damaged, lost or stolen. It can be harder for schools to manage the devices, as students might be downloading apps or using devices in unintended ways. What’s more, students might forget to charge their device or forget to bring their device altogether. Another challenge that often comes up is how to store and charge devices over the summer when all of the devices are returned to school.
Best Mobile Device Charging Stations
An excellent solution is the FUYL Smart Locker System Smart Locker, which includes 5 or 15 individually-lockable compartments that can store and charge any mobile device. Many schools are placing FUYL Smart Lockers in common spaces or media centers so that students can securely charge their devices between classes, during classes that don’t require the use of a mobile device or during lunch. The individually lockable compartments work like a hotel safe, creating less work for educators because students can manage their devices at school without any assistance.
Some schools are also using FUYL Smart Locker System for device “loaner” programs or break/fix programs. In these scenarios, they’re fully stocking a Smart Locker with extra devices so that if a device is broken, or if a student forgets to bring his device from home, the student can be given a PIN to retrieve a loaner device without IT staff having to intervene. They have also been extremely useful in distributing devices to students or teachers during distance learning.
Another option is to install secure charging stations for schools to help make sure a dead battery doesn’t disrupt learning. The Carrier Charging Station or iQ Charging Station can be easily mounted to a wall in a library or classroom, and both take up only minimal space.
Shared Device Environments
Benefits: Having classrooms share devices allows schools to keep costs down and extend their resources further. A shared-use environment can be much less expensive than a full 1:1 program, and with fewer devices to support, IT staff aren’t as stretched thin. Shared carts are also great for specialized or expensive equipment, like the devices used for STEM or gaming programs.
Challenges: Teachers have to schedule their use of carts and mobile device charging stations, and students won’t have daily access to the devices for learning. These factors may discourage teachers from using technology for instruction. In addition, the apps that students use for learning will vary from one classroom to the next, so teachers will need an easy way to set up and customize shared devices for their students.
Best Mobile Device Charging Stations
Our Carrier Charging Carts and Joey Charging Carts easily travel from classroom to classroom, and they include our innovative device distribution baskets. These baskets, along with the top-loading design of the carts, cut the time it takes to distribute and collect devices in half. What’s more, teachers can use the baskets themselves to transport devices between classrooms safely and efficiently, or they can enlist the help of students.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Programs
Benefits: BYOD programs are the least expensive way to use technology for teaching and learning because schools can leverage the devices students already own. What’s more, students are already comfortable with their own device, so there’s no learning curve associated with the technology.
Challenges: Teaching in a mixed-device environment can be difficult. Teachers have to make sure the learning materials they use are accessible across a wide range of platforms. There is more potential for distraction because devices contain personal apps, and variations in the age, speed, and processing power of devices—or a lack of resources to purchase their own device at all—could lead to inequities in how students learn.
Best Mobile Device Charging Stations
Even though students are bringing their own devices from home, you’ll still need secure charging stations for schools. A solution that can store and charge a wide variety of device types—such as the FUYL Smart Locker System, which contains 5 or 15 individually-lockable compartments—is ideal.
Students will find any outlet they can to charge their devices during the school day, often leaving them unattended. FUYL Smart Lockers significantly cut back on missing or stolen devices because students don’t have to leave their device out in the open while charging. FUYL Smart Locker Systems are also extremely flexible. They have two modes, which allows you to facilitate a break/fix program or loaner device program as well as public charging.
While the best mobile device charging stations, charging carts and smart lockers for your school or district depends on the type of program you implement, LocknCharge has a variety of solutions to fit all needs. Contact us today and we’ll work with you to find your perfect charging solution.
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Schedule a live video demo with a LocknCharge team member to get a closer look at how our products help make your life easier.
The Best Mobile Device Management and Physical Security Strategy
Mobile device management (MDM) is more critical to businesses than ever before. Mobile devices are convenient and affordable, making them a must-have for many organizations. But with the rise in mobile devices comes a rise in security risks. Having a strategy for this modern work environment is no longer an option, it’s a necessity.
According to Verizon’s recent Mobile Security Index report, 40% of respondents said that mobile devices are the biggest IT security threat, and over half categorized the consequences they suffered from a mobile-device-related security compromise as “major.” And cyberattacks on businesses have increased by 50% year over year.
The threat of intellectual property loss and reputational damage is real. But as the use of these devices skyrockets thanks to remote learning and working, the benefits of mobile device management can no longer be ignored. Here’s what organizations need to know.
What Is Mobile Device Management?
Mobile device management is an organization’s strategy to monitor and secure devices in order to reduce theft, loss and device misuse. Common MDM best practices include:
- Disk encryption
- Strong passwords and two-factor authentication
- Limited log-in time and automatic logout
- Use of anti-virus software
- Automatically blocking or disabling unapproved apps
- Keeping all device software up to date and performing regular backups
- Ability to wipe data remotely for lost or stolen devices
The best MDM strategies also include physical device management, such as keeping track of inventory, implementing secure check-in/check-out with smart lockers and providing training that keeps everyone on the same page. That’s how organizations can realize the biggest benefits of MDM.
Benefits of Mobile Device Management
A well-thought-out MDM strategy has plenty of benefits, including:
- Better security. Even if your organization doesn’t collect personal data that needs to be protected, mobile device management can also help keep intellectual property and other important information secure.
- Accountability. The ability to track who has which device at any given moment improves accountability and helps ensure devices are returned and charged properly.
- Application control. MDM means you can not only control which apps are on your devices, but also automate updates and sync devices to keep files and programs uniform.
- Lower costs. Over the long-term, all of these things result in one ultimate benefit for your organization: reduced costs due to fewer lost and stolen devices and improved efficiency.
Physical Device Security as Part of a Mobile Device Management Strategy
Many businesses are taking steps such as incorporating up-to-date MDM security software. But software alone might no longer be enough. Physical security is also essential, which is why many organizations are turning to mobile device charging stations and the FUYL Smart Locker System as a part of their MDM strategy.
Smart lockers are more than just a place to store a device. They can help protect your devices against security breaches and compromised data and can save time and resources spent tracking down, fixing and replacing devices. Their benefits include:
- Theft prevention. Devices can be locked and protected in an ultra-secure, high-quality smart locker to help prevent device theft. That can help mitigate your risk of a data breach and lower your costs for replacing stolen devices.
- Improved productivity. With power outlets and USB ports that can charge a variety of devices and let you know when they’re available for use, smart lockers help ensure that employees have access to fully charged devices for every shift.
- Reduced downtime. When devices are properly stored, charged and secured in smart lockers or charging stations, employees and students can self-service a replacement whenever they need one, reducing interruptions and downtime.
- Increased efficiency. Smart lockers or charging stations can help you automate processes for check in/out, break/fix, and shared or loaner devices, allowing skilled IT teams to focus on more important strategic projects and saving you labor costs.
How the FUYL Smart Locke System Helps Support Your Mobile Device Management Strategy
Solutions like the FUYL Smart Locker System can support a mobile device management strategy. Your team can allow access to designated bays remotely, reducing the need for time-consuming face-to-face interactions and staying in step with the future of IT and operations. Plus our smart lockers offer benefits not matched by our competitors, like:
Quality materials and lifetime warranties. Our products are made with high-quality steel and most are backed by a lifetime warranty. Your devices will be protected today, tomorrow and well into the future.
- Feature-rich cloud platform with data protection. With the LocknCharge Cloud, you can store data in the cloud, which can be protected with industry-standard encryption certificates and regulated admin access.
- Future-proof flexibility. Easily switch modes thanks to Cloud connections that can flex to new workflows as tech advances and device management needs change.
- Unmatched customer support. Our local Customer Support Team will help solve any issue you may have with your smart lockers. Plus, a dedicated support website empowers you with valuable resources to troubleshoot commonly asked questions.
Schedule a Live Product Demo
Ready to experience the benefits of LocknCharge smart lockers for yourself? Talk to an expert today to learn how we can help you improve your mobile device management.
How Much Does Your Device Repair and Replacement Process Really Cost?
As more employees shift to remote or hybrid work models the cost of mobile device repair and replacement is expected to rise. At home, kids spill drinks on laptops, pets step on keyboards and food crumbs damage circuitry. Then there’s the accidental damage that goes along with lugging your devices to and from the office, not to mention the increase in forgotten charging cords, power supplies and other vital equipment.
Phone, laptop and tablet repair costs are quickly becoming a significant business expense – but do you know how much they’re really costing you? Mobile device repair drains your IT resources and results in downtime for employees who are unable to work. An efficient break/fix and replacement process is essential to help your employees stay productive.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Tablet or Laptop?
Tablet repair costs vary widely based on the age of the device, the model and the repairs needed. Screen replacement alone can vary by hundreds of dollars. For a newer iPad model, it can cost anywhere from $200 to $400, but older models may cost less. Other common tablet problems, like faulty charging ports or volume buttons, cost around $100 to fix.
So how much does laptop repair cost? Laptop screen replacement may cost more than a tablet because they have larger screens. Faulty power jacks, broken keyboards and fans and other common hardware problems cost between $100 and $250. Larger laptop repair costs like issues with the motherboard or hard drive can easily run you more than $200.
The True Cost of Mobile Device Repair
Putting a price on mobile device repair isn’t easy for a business, and the above costs don’t take into account lost productivity. When nearly 20% of mobile devices break or go missing each year, the burden falls on your IT staff. Yet one of the top complaints by IT staff is that they don’t have enough time to complete their current workload.
Have you ever asked yourself just how much time your IT department wastes on workforce technology deployment? Physically running around gathering and replacing broken devices or supplying cables? Consider this:
- The average fully-burdened labor cost for IT technical work ranges between $75 and $150 per hour
- When working in an office, it takes about an hour to exchange a device manually
- The average number of laptop and devices exchanges per week per location is around 5
That’s over 250 hours and nearly $25,000 per year just to exchange devices! While it may not be possible to eradicate all system and equipment issues, there’s a better solution to decrease device downtime and reduce workloads – and you won’t need to hire more people, create more manual workarounds or outsource the issue.
Calculate the Costs of Your Break/Fix Program
How to Streamline Your Mobile Device Repair Program
By deploying a cloud-based smart locker such as a FUYL Tower, you can eliminate many of the manual workflow processes of break/fix programs, simplify replacing damaged, lost or forgotten devices, and help lower your laptop and tablet repair costs.
Automate Your Break/Fix Program
Looking for an IT cost savings idea? Centralize and automate your time-wasting manual device exchanges with a smart charging locker. A FUYL Tower 5 or 15 allows you to keep several devices charged, secure and connected in an accessible location.
When a staff member breaks a device, simply send them to the locker to get a replacement. Not only does this solution save time and money, but it can also make your team’s lives easier. Employees can simply swap their broken device for a new one and be on their way with a new device. With FUYL Towers and the powerful LocknCharge Cloud platform, a manual process that once took an hour to complete now takes less than a minute.
With FUYL Towers, a manual process that once took an hour to complete now takes less than a minute.
To automate this process even further, LocknCharge Cloud can be integrated with your current IT ticketing system, such as Incident IQ, Learn21's Tech Director Toolbox, ServiceNow or another ITSM platform with API integration. Then you can automatically find a Tower bay that is suitable for the user and notify the user with directions to collect their device.
Simplify Equipment Distribution
FUYL Towers accommodate and charge almost any device, with or without cases. But what happens when your employee needs a different piece of equipment, such as a replacement cable? Or when HR has paperwork to be signed? Employees often need more than just a laptop to perform their jobs.
With a FUYL Tower, simplify the distribution of any item that fits a 14” (W) x 17” (L) x 3” (H) slot. Grant specific users access to individual bays by using their RFID badge or assigned PIN code. Employees can then easily access supplies, and you can view a detailed event log to know who accessed bays and when.
Read more tips to better manage remote workers, including the steps to deploy a zero-touch model for maintaining devices and equipment.
Streamline the Process for Ready-to-Go Devices
With a FUYL Tower filled with ready-to-go devices, you’ll reduce in-person interactions and speed up the check-in/check-out and mobile device repair process. Just ask the IT team of one of the largest energy companies in the U.S. who recently automated their device check-in/check-out process.
They deployed a fleet of mobile devices for their customer-facing departments to achieve greater operating efficiencies, adapt to evolving regulatory requirements, provide complete and accurate information to field employees and better communicate with the field.
They needed to implement a system to help manage these mobile devices. With the FUYL Tower, the IT team can assign specific lockers and devices to employees and restrict and monitor access to these devices. This process added another layer of accountability for employee devices and streamlined IT’s ability to manage thousands of devices remotely. FUYL Towers helped automate a manual process for managing devices and ensure that field technicians have the information they need to do their jobs effectively.
Calculate the Costs of Your Check In/Out Program
Choose the Right Secure Charging Locker
By automating the clunky mobile device repair and replacement process, LocknCharge FUYL Tower 5 or 15 charging lockers allow organizations to save a considerable amount of time, not to mention reduce staff frustration caused by frequent interruptions.
Get a return on investment between 10 to 16 weeks.
- Get a return on investment between 10 to 16 weeks. Whether your associates are checking out devices daily or you’re seeking to automate your loaner program, the average ROI is no more than four months.
- Leverage for broken device exchanges or device check-in/out environments. Easily store fully-charged, ready-to-use devices inside the locker bay until the administrator provides access to a user. Administrators can also assign a specific compartment to a single user.
- Address safety concerns and reduce risk. The system offers self-service with the swipe of an RFID badge, eliminating the need for human intervention to check out a device or pick up a loaner.
- Easily scale as your business grows. The LocknCharge Cloud allows you to manage thousands of users and shave time off tasks you once had to do manually. These minutes gained by everyone involved help to increase ROI.
- Rely on us for peace of mind. Our customer support has a world-class Net Promoter Score (NPS), and our products come with a lifetime warranty to ensure peace of mind.
Schedule a Live Product Demo or ROI Evaluation
If you’re curious how FUYL Tower could integrate into your operational workflow, we’re here to help. LocknCharge exists to make life easier for mobile technology users by creating solutions that ensure accessibility and usability of devices at all times. Get in touch with LocknCharge today to set up a demo or to get a custom FUYL Tower ROI Evaluation.