Android TV fleets for the middle market: Tapping a valuable business utility
By Nadav Avni, CMO of Radix Technologies
Middle market businesses are at an important stage of growth, pushing past the dread of being a small business. If you’re looking to continue growing, see why an Android TV fleet can be a powerful, valuable business utility for you.
We’ve heard about the value of Android TV devices for large enterprises, which deploy these units as single-use devices—such as monitors, trackers, or kiosks. But what about middle market companies? What could Android-TV-powered units do for a medium-sized firm?
By definition, middle market companies are those larger than a small business but not large enough to be considered an enterprise. This automatically weeds out neighborhood mom-and-pop stores as well as sprawling multinational conglomerates. Conventional wisdom places the average annual revenue of mid-market firms somewhere between $10 million and $1 billion. Although nearly invisible for the most part, these companies make a sizeable contribution to the adoption and growth of new technology.
Safe to say, the distinction between the middle market and others is a matter of perspective. A new startup would love to grow into a middle market company. Meanwhile, large enterprises often see mid-market firms as an asset to acquire and absorb.
Understanding the Utility of Android TV Fleets for Middle Market Businesses
One of the key roles that middle market businesses play is in sustaining the economy. For instance, they often act as the supply chain bridge between corporations and their customers. Enterprises depend on their local expertise to keep the market happy. In many cases, middle market companies take over the local distribution, warehousing, marketing, and customer service needs of international brands. In the case of IT-related hardware, software, and services, they can also provide local manpower and support.
Android-TV-powered devices are among the most useful tools available for middle market organizations. In fact, businesses can leverage such devices to better train employees, nurture relationships within their communities, and help build awareness for the brand they represent.
Training and Onboarding
Employee training used to be an expensive endeavour. Companies would need to fly in newly-signed recruits to the corporate training center. There, they would undertake training to learn about the company and master the skills needed for the job. Apart from the obvious travel and lodging costs, businesses also miss out on potential revenue due to staff unavailability.
Thankfully, advances in information technology have helped reduce—even eliminate—the need for new employees to travel for their training. Today’s videoconferencing systems now boast HD-quality audio and video as well as low latency. As such, joining a training session simply requires a smart device for participants and an Android TV device manager for the host.
Community Building
Telco companies and other industry giants use their middle market partners to deploy fleets of smart devices as bundled offerings. Providing customers with devices for media streaming, social surfing, or content creation guarantees increased usage for the telco’s broadband services.
Telco fleet devices—such as smart TVs and set-top boxes (STBs)—can also help by hosting community activities. This involves providing a channel for community activities that can only be accessed by customers via their broadband subscription. Such a channel could feature local events, serve as a community bulletin board, or share important local information like weather or traffic updates.
Business Branding
Meanwhile, middle market agencies provide corporations with digital advertising space. These companies manage a local network of strategically placed digital displays that can broadcast brand messages during peak hours. Locations include high-traffic areas, from highway and avenue billboards to bus stops, train stations, and town plazas.
Mid-size hotels and hospitality suites can also use Android TV devices as digital displays for in-house and local advertising. In addition, Android TV units are able to function as information kiosks and self-service portals, helping visitors check into their rooms or register for events faster and more efficiently.
Deploying Android TV Fleets Within Your Growing Enterprise
When deploying Android TV devices for telco, advertising, or customer service purposes in the middle market, it pays to have reliable device management on standby. This platform will handle the management, maintenance, and security of the entire fleet of Android TV devices.
Management
Access to the device’s operating system and desktop should remain limited to the fleet owner or operator. Likewise, only authorized personnel can upload files, launch applications, and collect data. Furthermore, not all users should have the same access levels.
Therefore, although IT staff can perform remote updates and repairs, they cannot interfere with daily operations or data collection. Similarly, operators who are free to perform daily tasks should still have no control over the operating system or the ability to launch unauthorized apps. Assigning access permissions and levels is usually the job of the fleet administrator.
Maintenance
The device manager is also responsible for keeping Android TVs continually updated with the latest OS software and fixes. By using remote access, admins can perform low-level device management services, including installing updates, applying fixes, or rolling back previous versions. Administrators are also on the lookout for any software issues that could cause runtime errors or application crashes during normal operating hours. The best device management platforms are equipped to perform checks and updates remotely during scheduled hours to minimize disruptions during operations.
Security
Unauthorized access by outside groups is a serious concern that could potentially disrupt operations and damage the brand’s reputation. Preventing these incursions is the job of the IT administrator—along with their trusty device management platform. Here, admins can leverage remote access to shut down or freeze devices that report unusual log activities. Moreover, to prevent data theft, the device manager can also remotely wipe data from devices. In the case of missing or stolen devices, admins are able to utilize geolocation services to pinpoint the location of these units.
Investing in Android TV Devices? Middle Market Firms Should Invest in Companion Device Management, Too
In addition to the advantages enjoyed by large enterprises, middle market companies—such as service providers, agencies, and state businesses—can also benefit from Android TV services. When deploying a fleet of devices, make sure you have a reliable device management platform to manage, maintain, and secure your entire inventory. Don’t rely on default throw-in device managers that run on legacy protocols or lack cloud connectivity systems. A substantial investment in a fleet of Android TV devices necessitates a small additional investment in the form of modern and reliable device management. This will ensure that your organization retains the means to keep every device in optimal condition.
Jesse Pitts has been with the Global Banking & Finance Review since 2016, serving in various capacities, including Graphic Designer, Content Publisher, and Editorial Assistant. As the sole graphic designer for the company, Jesse plays a crucial role in shaping the visual identity of Global Banking & Finance Review. Additionally, Jesse manages the publishing of content across multiple platforms, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.