Retail’s Digital Transformation
In recent years, the retail industry has undergone a technological transformation that has lead retailers to revamp their mobile strategies and automate many services. According to a recent survey conducted by Gartner, the retail sector will increase it’s technology spending 3.6% this year, for a grand total of $203.6 billion. Additionally, 75% of senior retail executives from Europe said they plan to invest heavily in developing mobile apps, coupons, and payments.
And it makes sense – there are countless benefits to utilizing new technology in the retail sector. With the 
proper technology, you are putting an emphasis on customer service. Now, your employees can make sales, check inventory and more without ever leaving the customer’s side. You can accomplish more with each customer and help foster relationships with each person who steps foot into your store.
Coupled with this, mobile point of sale, or mobile POS, has also lead to an uptick in sales for many retailers. A recent study by Stratix and IHL Group found that retailers in North America who employed mobile POS technologies saw their sales increase nearly 24% compared to those who did not.
As retailers have revamped their technology these past few years, a lot of them have forgotten one crucial component – a mobile charging solution. Recently, LocknCharge conducted a digital transformation study and found that 73% of organizations are failing to leverage secure multi-device charging stations. While deploying new technology is great, it will be difficult for your business to reap the benefits without a proper deployment and charging solution.
Because so many retailers are failing to leverage a secure charging station, they are actually costing their company in more ways than one. Device users are wasting valuable time looking for devices, only to find them partially charged or dead.
In addition to the time loss, these businesses are also putting themselves at serious risk for data breaches and more. Studies show that 10% of devices break or go missing each year of deployment and 41% of data breaches occur from lost or stolen devices. The cost of replacing these technologies and their valuable data? Nearly $50,000.
All of this could be avoided if retailers employed a secure mobile charging station with their technology. At LocknCharge, we offer a number of mobile charging stations that can be tailored to meet the needs of each business. We excel at developing comprehensive, effective charging solutions for clients like Tiffany’s and Hugo Boss that not only help keep their devices charged and secure but also improve workflow as well.
Portable charging stations like our CarryOn are the perfect solution to many tech problems retailers face. With the CarryOn, portability is taken to a whole new level. The CarryOn allows you to carry five devices, together with all the charging hardware and cables in one neat and compact unit. Now, your business can spend less time searching and charging devices and more time focusing on what matters – the customer. See how the CarryOn improved customer service and improved workflow at THRIVE Affordable Pet Care, located inside of Petco stores.
No matter what your business uses its technology for, whether it’s mobile POS or online orders, we have a charging solution for you. Enhance your retail business by browsing our products here.
Technology Management is Central to Quality, Person-Centered Care: Hallmark Care Homes
Background
There are 19 care homes in the Hallmark Care Homes network, where innovative and award-winning facilities are matched with the personal touch only a family-run provider can offer. All across England and South Wales, residents are enabled to live active, fulfilling lives because of Hallmark’s person-centered approach to care. Hallmark maintains a standard of excellence throughout their organization, and as such, continues to improve upon their offerings and processes. One recent upgrade included the launch of 135 tablets in tandem with a gradual introduction of a new electronic care planning system. This transition from handwritten care plans to electronic allows for better oversight and individually tailored care. It also improves the inclusivity of family members, too, as they can access their relative’s plan or record.
Challenge
Undergoing a digital shift of this size always poses some logistical challenges. Initially, the tablets were left to charge on worktops, filing cabinets or the closest windowsill. Sorting through a spaghetti-like pile of cables or finding devices not fully charged properly was counter-productive, and sometimes charging ports were found damaged after being connected too hastily. Additionally, the tablets needed to be shared among many people – the teams within the care homes and visiting professionals alike. With heavy use of the tablets throughout the day, tidy storing and charging of the devices quickly became an important priority.
Solution
Hallmark’s external IT team suggested looking into CarryOn™ portable charging stations by LocknCharge. The ultra-mobile charge station features aluminum cases each hold up to five devices for streamlined storage and simultaneous charging. They were the perfect solution. Hallmark purchased enough CarryOns to have one in every study of every home across their network. They used the included wall-mounting kits to hang the CarryOns – giving their devices a designated home base without giving up any floor or desk space.
Results
Capturing information on every patient interaction has become significantly easier with the new electronic care planning system. Instead of charting hours after a visit, caregivers are enabled to report real-time information on the devices. This information is also more accessible by senior management and support staff, allowing for oversight and further driving home person-centred care. The CarryOn charging stations have helped bring order to this new workflow. Hallmark even reports that they’ve not encountered any challenges with the deployment. The shared fleet of devices has become easier to manage and maintain, which ultimately impacts everyone – staff, caregivers, families and residents. Next on the horizon for Hallmark Care Homes is an app version of the same care planning software. This would open up even more on-the-go accessibility and communications improvements for the caregiving teams. Compatible with all iPad models and many other USB chargeable devices, the CarryOn is ready to keep up.
An Apple a Day
The Best Apple Charging Station for Multiple Devices
Apple and LocknCharge – name a more iconic duo. We’ll wait.
When it comes to picking mobile device charging stations and syncing devices for your school’s Apple products there is only one obvious choice – LocknCharge. We have partnered with Apple for nearly 12 years to offer you the best charging solutions for your iPads and MacBooks. In fact, over the years we have become the only globally exclusive provider of Apple charging stations for multiple devices via charging carts, charging stations and smart lockers.
We are fostering a new way of managing and distributing Apple devices. Our basket-based carts and charging stations are changing the way iPads and Macs are deployed, managed and used in a classroom or business. Innovative features like our baskets and a top-loading design can significantly speed up deployment time – up to 70 hours per 30 unit cart compared to a traditional cabinet-style cart. On average, these solutions save educators and business-owners alike over two weeks of time. Now you can spend less time deploying your tech and more time doing what matters.
Our solutions aren’t just beloved by teachers – your IT staff will be huge fans of the heavy-duty security LocknCharge solutions provide to protect devices. With a lifetime warranty on our solutions and pre-wired options available for select carts and stations available through Apple will make IT staff’s life easier.
No matter if you have 5 iPads or 30 MacBooks, you’ll be sure to find a LocknCharge solution that works for you and your classroom. Find all of our solutions here.
Still not convinced? Check out this testimonial from Grand Prairie ISD and learn how the flexibility of our solutions allows them to deploy over 34,000 devices.
Harton Academy, Tyne and Wear, UK £5k LocknCharge Product Winner
UK News | South Shields, UK
VISION
With its reputation as one of the ‘top 50 most improved specialist schools’ in the UK, along with its position as one of 12 outstanding schools serving disadvantaged communities (by Ofsted* 2009), it is clear why pupils fight hard to get a place at Harton Academy.
Originally founded in 1885 (as South Shields High School), Harton Academy undertook a dramatic renovation project in 2010 as part of the BSF (Building Schools for the Future) initiative, including completion of a £25 million construction project on a new Technology and Sixth Form Building holding specially designed DT (design technology), Math and Science sections.
The mixed secondary school and sixth form is based in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. Since being rated ‘Outstanding’ in 2006 by Ofsted, the school has received three Government Achievement Awards, with its executive Head Teacher, Ken Gibson, knighted as part of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honours list for 2013 on the grounds of ‘excellence in administrating education.’ It was again rated as ‘Outstanding’ in an Ofsted inspection in January 2013.
GOAL
With around 1600 students at Harton Academy, the goal of this project was to make devices as accessible as possible to all students, whilst retaining total control over security and ensuring the safety of devices, protecting them from theft and damage via a multi-device charging station.
AT A GLANCE
The school needed:
- a simple solution for mobile device deployment.
- an effective and safe storage solution, protecting devices from theft.
CHALLENGES
The school, which has been using a large number of laptop trolleys for several years, was attracted to LocknCharge by the FUYL Tower due to its innovative design. Because it is free-standing, it can be left in view of students in open areas, where they can then collect devices independently or charge and store their own devices safely.
Ian Harrison, Director of ICT at Harton Academy says, “In the library, we have a number of free-issue laptops for students to borrow when required. Library staff typically issue laptops by scanning a barcode located on the reverse of the laptop and use a biometric system of fingerprint reading to assign it to a certain student.”
“However in instances where students have late lessons or twilight lessons and are working on devices in private study time, this can cause a problem as when they go to return the item the librarian may have left for the day. In this case, a number of devices may be left in a heap. It then becomes very difficult to keep track of the devices and who they are with at any one time.”
“The major benefit of the FUYL Tower is when a student returns a device they can put the device back on charge and lock the door independently. It is conveniently logged and is much more secure out of hours.”
“We also noticed that students would often unplug one of the school desktop PCs that were ready for students to log into, in order to charge their own portable devices with their own charger. Other students would then go to use the PCs and be frustrated that they didn’t work. But after a member of staff was called to look at the ‘fault’ it would be found that it was as simple as the PC not being plugged in!”
DEPLOYING DEVICES
FUYL Tower – The school has a mixture of school-owned laptops held by the library, as well as students working on their own devices. The FUYL Tower provided a perfect solution to the problem of deployment and safety both in and out of school hours.
Putnam 16 – In the music department, iPads are used to display sheet music to students and as screens for some MIDI keyboards. Prior to the Putnam 16, iPads would have to be left plugged into expensive keyboards and left with the power on overnight in order to charge. This posed a big security risk as they were constantly out on show. After a few attempted break-ins at the school, staff became concerned for these vulnerable machines. The iPads can now be locked away every night.
iQ 10 – An iQ 10 Charging Station is held in the PE department where iPads are used for registering students on the school management information system (SIMS) when in the gyms or changing rooms, away from desktop machines. They can also be used in lessons as an interactive tool, for example, to show students the ideal way to do a long jump, record a student’s attempt and then play it back, show the students their mistakes and allow them to rectify them. The charging station is kept in a lockable store cupboard, out of sight to deter theft.
iQ 10 – A second iQ 10 was placed in the learning resources area for students who may have difficulties with learning and need the help of mobile technology. With it iQ 10, devices can be stored securely and accessed only by staff when they’re ready to be issued to students.
RESULTS TO DATE
Ian continues, “The team from LocknCharge who scoped our initial requirements were very good and talked us through the most suitable charging stations in an online webinar which was very helpful. We were able to see equipment demonstrated and work out which device would suit each location best.
“The units were delivered then set up by an engineer very efficiently, and although we did have to install a new version of software onto the FUYL Tower ourselves, even that process was smooth, and the replacement SD card was easy to swap for the original.
“Our library staff are now releasing bays on the FUYL Tower and enjoying the journey into using the software. Students are changing their bad habits, and we are looking forward to usage increasing further. I would recommend LocknCharge products as a solution to potential theft, security and also some of the inconvenience of managing laptops and portable devices.”
For more information about Harton Academy, click here.
If you would like a quote on a LocknCharge solution, click here.
Working with Your IT Department to Implement a Mobile Device Initiative
You have a great idea to roll out a mobile device initiative at your company... but you have to get IT’s on board first. After all, they are the gatekeepers to ensure that the technology fits within the overall tech scheme of the entire business. While it doesn’t seem like it would be too challenging to convince the IT Team to roll out something that will ultimately get your company to its goals faster, there are a lot of factors that can play into a big tech decision, and it is important to present your idea in a complete and thoughtful manner so that you’re respectful of the departments’ time, views and objectives. By coming to the meeting prepared, you’re more likely to come to a mutual conclusion that benefits both the organization and the IT Staff.
Gather paint points from various stakeholders.
The more people that are affected by the lack of a mobile device program, the more likely your initiative will be approved by IT. Understand the problems you are trying to solve and how they will positively impact those individuals. Include some examples of problems you are trying to solve such as improving communication, speeding up transactions, providing better customer services and eliminating paper processes. If your solution could potentially benefit more than one department, your IT Team may be more receptive.
Read case studies (within or outside of your industry) of companies who have had success with a similar initiative.
You can use case studies and testimonials to show off other successful companies (and further your point that your company could be one of them). LocknCharge offers many testimonials and blog posts about successful mobile device rollouts. For example, Erie County Medical Center started training doctors on mobile devices long before they ever held a device; this was very successful for them. Another instance of a great case study is this one, where THRIVE® Affordable Vet Care was able to work smarter and more efficiently through the use of technology. Read more testimonials here.
Have a security plan in place.
It is likely that your IT Team is going to be very concerned about mobile device security, both digitally and physically. Digital security is imperative for any business using a mobile device that contains confidential data or customer information, and implementing MDM software can greatly help reduce the risk that your system will be hacked. However, research shows that 41% of data breaches are caused by lost or stolen devices, yet only 27% of organizations have considered a secure charging solution as part of their deployment. A complete solution that covers security, storage, charging and software updates will show IT managers that you’re thinking of the complete picture. Physical security ensures that devices will not need to be replaced as often due to theft and loss, and your IT Team will have increased confidence that data breaches are mitigated due to a highly-secure, lockable storage solution.
Map out the workflow and have a security and charging system in place.
Make sure IT has a very clear understanding of how the devices will work from person to person, day to day. Who picks up the devices in the morning? How are they used by each person, and how are they given from team member to team member? How are they charged when employees are off duty? Your IT team will want to know exactly how they are being used so they can prepare their team with the right skills to assist the deployment.
Streamlined workflow and centralized charging will increase efficiency and decrease loss, therefore keeping the budget on track and allowing for fewer IT issues. Fully-charged and easily-accessible devices will increase employee adoption of new processes, contributing to the overall success of the program. If employees don’t have access to a charged device every day, they’ll likely never adopt the program.
Have a rollout and training plan in place.
Companies who train employees before a rollout have better overall success, including perks such as increased employee confidence and trust with the device. As stated previously Erie County Medical Center started training doctors and other staff way before they ever even touched a device, which made for a more successful rollout. IT can also have more control over training and might be more likely to approve the rollout if they are more involved.
Another example of a successful training program is Keolis Commuter Services, who rolled out their mobile device pilot in states to ensure things were working as planned and that the project was meeting goals and objectives. This was always manageable from IT’s perspective, which is very attractive to the average IT manager.
Can IT work with the products you’re suggesting, and is the customer service of those companies good enough for your standards?
Is the hardware you’re implementing supported by the company it’s purchased from? How easy is it for the IT team to work with the hardware/software companies in the event they need customer support, product replacement, or product re-order? These are important questions to be able to answer to keep your IT department at ease.
Additionally, consider the warranties or longevity of the technology you wish to purchase. For example, LocknCharge products have options for either a 10-year warranty or a lifetime warranty. Future proofing your devices are the best way to get the most out of your investment.
Back up your reasoning.
There are plenty of stats to show why a mobile device deployment is better for companies overall. For example, 68% of companies surveyed by LocknCharge said that they are motivated to implement a mobile device program because it will improve communications. 61% said they’d have faster transaction processing, and 54% said it would eliminate manual/paper processes. See more about this study here.