Mobile Device Management: Can You Make A Profit? (Really?)

The PC support model: Through managed services and predictable monthly fees, MSPs have proactively maintained PCs, applied patches, bolstered security and mitigated problems before they spiraled out of control.

The mobile device management model: I don’t think the PC model of managed services applies to the MDM world. I’ve owned tablets for a couple of years now. They don’t break. They don’t crash. They don’t require all sorts of patching. They just work.

Lifecycle management services: How are tablets procured, activated, linked securely to networks, maintained, updated and then retired? Answer those questions and perhaps you’ll find recurring revenues…

Mobile Application Management: Sure, keeping hardware in tip-top shape is important. But the real magic involves the software. How are you helping your customers to find the right apps — whether they’re mobile apps or VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) approaches? How do you help customers to find and “approve” specific apps for business use? And how do you stop non-approved apps from mucking up the customer’s IT environment?

MDM and Your Help Desk: How do you extend your help desk and NOC services to smart phones and tablets? What are the top 10 questions tablet users raise when calling the help desk? And how can you transform those questions into revenue-producing services?

Peer Groups: If you listen closely enough, you’ll find big mobile companies (did somebody mention Apple) working closely with MSP- and VAR-centric peer groups (did somebody mention HTG Peer Groups?). Plug into those conversations and you may learn how some MSPs are developing profit-driven MDM services.