Written by Travis Hooper (VP of Technology and Engineering at MTI) and contributed to by Shannon Litten (Senior Director of Enterprise Solutions)
As the Vice President of Technology and Engineering at Mobile Technologies Inc. (MTI), I lead global technology, internet of things (IoT) strategy, engineering, and business capabilities. My team and I focus on ways to use technology to drive automation, improve efficiencies, and create a better overall experience for our customers and employees.
At the beginning of 2020, our company set out to digitize operations with a strong focus on field service management. We started the project in earnest last March, a week before COVID-19 restrictions went into effect and when, suddenly, everything became much more urgent.
Most of our customers are in the retail industry, and were hit hard by pandemic closures and restrictions. They needed to adapt their in-store experience to meet the needs of a remote workforce. We, in turn, needed the ability to reallocate our field service workforce based on our customer’s needs and requirements.
Our primary goal was to create an agile workforce. But how could we get new tools into the hands of our employees as quickly as possible, and therefore help our customers faster?
Here’s what we learned through the process.
“The only way to meet today’s challenges is to create an agile workforce. That means getting the right tools and technology into the hands of our employees as fast as possible.”
At first, we did the typical thing that most companies do: We threw people at problems. We didn’t invest in technology at the rate at which our business was changing. Instead, we used a combination of spreadsheets, homegrown systems, and our enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. As a result, our service team had to navigate many disparate systems to close out a case.
Based on our volume and our customer’s requirements and expectations, we knew we needed to change fast. That meant expanding our use of Salesforce, which our company already implemented for sales and CRM in early 2019, and to start integrating field service management into CRM. Salesforce Field Service enabled the following:
DATA VISIBILITY
Our field service technicians need the right information to service our customers, and dispatchers need an accurate view to assign the right worker to the right job. Now, our field service team works in a single platform with a 360-degree view of the customer. Field service technicians get critical information immediately, and we’re able to proactively communicate with customers to help them with their business decisions.
AUTOMATED SCHEDULING
We wanted to bring automation to the field to optimize scheduling and ensure the right person is assigned to the job. Automation helped us decrease manual scheduling by 79%. Now, about 84% of our resources are assigned with automated scheduling.
CONTACT CENTER TRANSFORMATION
We know better employee experiences lead to better customer experiences. Now that our service agents work off of a single source of truth, we’ve seen queue times (from the time the call enters the queue to the call wrap-up) drop 21%, which is an incredible improvement and dramatically improves the level of service to our customers.
We have a global workforce, but there are countries where we do not employ direct staff. In such countries, we have a network of long-term partners with the same technical skills and values to offer our customers a seamless execution globally. Those partners are all on the Salesforce platform and use the same set of tools which drives consistent execution. They are trained on Salesforce Field Service and receive their work orders and service appointments just like the rest of the team — from the mobile app.
We also use third-party contractors to scale up for various ad hoc projects. For example, if a customer is launching a new product and needs supporting technology ready in 7,000 stores in one day, contractors help fill this short-term capacity need. When this happens, we create contractor licenses in Salesforce Field Service so they have the same visibility into the system and enter the same information as on-staff workers.
Right now, we use a homegrown learning management system called MTI Expert. Currently, we’re migrating to Trailhead, Salesforce’s online learning platform. We require all of our technicians go through training, and Trailhead will help us centralize the knowledge.
In addition to digital learning, we host rigorous training for our subject matter experts (SMEs) each quarter to improve their skills and knowledge. We also hold monthly “coach’s corners” in which our SMEs teach the rest of the organization about a particular function, such as how to maximize the use of our scheduling optimizer. Lastly, we rely on our knowledge base to help us consistently use the same technology, processes, and language across the business.
One of the biggest hurdles was getting everyone to communicate with the same tools. Some people were using different channels supported by the company. Others were using their own tools outside of company standards to communicate.
We prioritized a plan to ensure that people communicate on the same channels. We were diligent about governance around policies, procedures, and ownership. For the executive team, this meant communicating a consistent message that standardized processes and software were needed for communications. We used change management to get everyone on board. The value and overall benefit to the organization has been huge. Everyone stays up to date, everyone stays on task, and everyone knows how every project is progressing.
To become an agile workforce, we consider what the company needs not just for today, but for tomorrow. The executive and product leadership teams meet weekly or monthly depending on the implementation phase to map and understand where the business is going.
Beyond service, we’re also a hardware organization and a software organization. We look at what we can build off of our platform that can help the company as a whole.
It’s about really understanding what you need from the ground up. That’s the greatest way to benefit and maximize our key performance indicators, and ensure our customer’s success.
Now that we have the foundation in place, 2021 is all about optimizing productivity. On the short list: adding asset management and entitlements to drive our service level agreements and migrating more tools into Salesforce Field Service so our field service team has a simple, consolidated view of our world.
NEUHAUSEN, Switzerland & HILLSBORO, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced that Sensormatic Solutions, its leading global retail solutions portfolio, is extending its partnership with MTI (Mobile Technologies, Inc.), a global leader in smart retail security, tablet mobility, and global services.
The partnership adds to Sensormatic Solutions loss prevention and liability offerings for high-value electronics, helping retailers protect displayed electronics, including smartphones, tablets, and cameras, broadening its total categories of protection. Now more than ever, retailers need technology in place to safeguard their most valuable merchandise as retail shrink is on the rise.
“Retailers need technology in place that not only allows them to safeguard their most valuable merchandise, but also provides the end user with the experience they need to make purchase decisions,” said Craig Szklany, Vice President, Global Solutions Management, Sensormatic Solutions. “By partnering with MTI, we are able to broaden our offerings and provide a unique portfolio of retail security solutions for high-value electronics that complements Sensormatic Solutions industry-leading portfolio of loss prevention and liability offerings. MTI’s technology makes it easy for customers to engage with the product and streamlines many operational challenges from key card management, retrofitting displays, and adjusting planograms.”
With more than 40 years of retail merchandising experience, MTI offers a full suite of modern solutions that help protect displayed products such as mobile devices, smartphones, electronics, and cameras while allowing customers to interact freely with the devices. MTI’s products are simple to install and use out-of-the-box, and its modular designs reduce repair and maintenance.
Key solutions from MTI’s security catalog, now available to Sensormatic Solutions global customers, include:
“We’ve found that as smartphone prices rise, thieves become bolder, making loss prevention a greater challenge for many retailers that sell electronics,” said Mary Jesse, Chief Executive Officer, MTI. “We’re excited to partner with Sensormatic Solutions to offer retailers a full suite of hardware, software and professional services that not only prevent theft and ORC, but also provide clients a consistent brand experience anywhere in the world. Together we will hold the line against retail theft to increase our customer’s profitably.”
Sensormatic Solutions is a vital component of Johnson Controls’ OpenBlue technologies and innovations which promotes healthy people, healthy places and a healthy planet. Collaborating with technology partners, like MTI, and focusing on innovation helps optimize the performance of retailers’ building and its assets, paving the way for the future.
To learn more, please view Sensormatic Solutions loss prevention and liability offerings on Sensormatic.com.
About Johnson Controls
At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.
With a history of more than 135 years of innovation, Johnson Controls delivers the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through its comprehensive digital offering OpenBlue. With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world’s largest portfolio of building technology, software as well as service solutions with some of the most trusted names in the industry. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.
About Sensormatic Solutions
Sensormatic Solutions is the leading global retail solutions portfolio of Johnson Controls powering operational excellence at scale and enabling smart and connected shopper engagement. Our intelligent digital operating platform – Sensormatic IQ ‒ combines the full Sensormatic Solutions portfolio, including unmatched insights into retail inventory, shopper behavior, and loss prevention and liability, and Retailer and third-party solutions with advanced technologies, like AI and Machine Learning. This enables retailers to act on prescriptive, data-driven outcomes and confidently move into the future. Our retail portfolio features the premier Sensormatic, ShopperTrak and TrueVUE brands. Please visit Sensormatic Solutions or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and our YouTube channel.
About MTI
MTI is a global solutions innovator in retail security and smart retail, serving the largest and most highly regarded global brands. Our smart IoT platform drives superior operational efficiency, employee satisfaction and customer experiences. MTI’s innovative design and production capabilities, along with our unmatched field technical services, ensure success for our customers in retail, healthcare, and hospitality. Our global services organization offers 24/7/365 field support in over 90 countries and resolves 98% of problems on the first visit.
Headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon with offices in Hong Kong, Ireland and London, MTI brings over 40 years of experience helping our customers meet their complex business needs.
It’s often said that a company’s success is defined by its culture. This couldn’t be truer when it comes to MTI’s Customer Contact and Field Services teams. We’re humbled to earn two Bronze Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service for outstanding work performed in 2020, including the “Best Customer Engagement Initiative” and “Back-Office Customer Service Team of the Year.”
Our field service technicians and customer contact representatives provided critical world-class service during the initial Covid-19 crisis and continue to do so today.
But don’t take our word for it, see what the judges had to say:
“93% first-contact resolution is fantastic. Great people, great culture, and processes at work.”
“Kicking off a support team in two months. Well done!”
“MTI’s support metrics reflect the wonderful work accomplished by the service agents. Recreating a multi-lingual support team in two to three months, especially during a global pandemic, is an amazing accomplishment!”
In total, more than 2,000 nominations were submitted from 50 nations.
TWINSBURG, Ohio & HILLSBORO, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–“siffron is laser focused on innovation and providing total retail solutions,” stated Brent Ewing, siffron VP of Product Development and Strategic Partnerships. “This partnership with MTI will provide retailers with smart solutions that provide the insights and tools they need to grow their businesses.”
“This partnership with MTI will provide retailers with smart solutions that provide the insights and tools they need to grow their businesses.”
The siffron and MTI partnership combines intelligent security hardware with cloud-based software to create real-time visibility into merchandised product performance. These solutions empower employees to service customers while reducing product shrinkage.
“MTI’s partnership with siffron creates a richer experience for retailers and their customers by drawing upon our collective deep retail expertise and complementary products and services,” said Mary Jesse, Chief Executive Officer, MTI. “Our teams are completely aligned and enthusiastic about the opportunities we have to delight our customers together.”
Retailers are rapidly evolving their business models as the industry adapts to new norms. Digital transformation is needed to create a Smart Retail ecosystem that drives growth and delivers an integrated, omnichannel customer experience. The siffron and MTI partnership’s innovation will provide an unmatched resource for retailers to achieve these goals.
About siffron
For over 60 years, siffron has been a leader in the retail display and loss prevention industry, providing solutions designed to increase sales, improve category management, limit shrink and reduce labor at the point of sale. These products include custom product displays; merchandising and loss prevention systems; label, sign and literature holders; product merchandisers and display components; as well as fresh area merchandising products, supplies and backroom organization solutions. siffron offers start-to-finish solution delivery, including consultation, design, prototyping, production, fulfillment and purchase consolidation.
About MTI
MTI is a global solutions innovator in retail security and smart retail, serving the largest and most highly regarded global brands. Our smart IoT platform drives superior operational efficiency, employee satisfaction and customer experiences. MTI’s innovative design and production capabilities, along with our unmatched field technical services, ensure success for our customers in retail, healthcare and hospitality. Our global services organization offers 24/7/365 field support in over 90 countries, and resolves 98% of problems on the first visit.
Headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, with offices in Hong Kong, Ireland and London, we bring over 40 years of experience helping our customers meet their complex business needs.
Contacts
Pam Miller
MTI
[email protected]
Robb Northrup
siffron
[email protected]
From the Portland Business Journal
Hillsboro-based Mobile Tech Inc. (MTI) is heading into 2021 with a rebuilt executive team led by newly appointed CEO Mary Jesse.
Jesse joined the company as chief operations officer in February 2020, just at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This month she was named CEO and appointed to the company’s board of directors. She is the first woman ever to serve on the 44-year-old company’s board.
“Mary has brought a focus on innovation and service on behalf of our customers that positions MTI to play a leadership role in developing the connected retail environments of the future,” said David Gelobter, managing director, MC Credit Partners, the company’s private equity owner.
MTI has more than 800 global employees with more than 200 at the Hillsboro headquarters. The company makes hardware and software used by customers in retail, hospitality and health care. Tablet devices are used for point-of-sale, concierge and self-serve kiosks. It also makes smart devices that are used by retailers to secure items such as cell phones and other electronics in displays.
In addition to the hardware, the company has a suite of software to deliver data and remote access to items. It also has a services business to fix and maintain not only its own hardware but other devices in the retail ecosystem.
“I looked at the company and thought this is the perfect fit,” said Jesse, who has two decades as a tech executive. “My tech background is in hardware and software and background in wireless and mobile and internet of things and strategy and business management. It really hits. I’m all cylinders on this.”
Within two weeks of starting at MTI the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything. Jesse was already planning to come in and make changes to help position MTI to better support customers’ digital transformations, something that can be challenging in the best of times. But almost overnight, revenue from retail dropped more than 50 percent.
“It was like skiing down a mountain and then an avalanche is following you,” she said. “You are racing to get in front of it.”
The company had some layoffs early on but has since brought people back. It has also seen the pandemic drive greater demand for its products as retailers and other businesses have been forced into digital transformations faster than they anticipated. Many are looking for devices to enable remote and contactless service. Plus, there is growing need for MTI’s security devices as fewer employees are on retail floors, Jesse said.
MTI’s smart display fixtures allow customers to have remote visibility and remote data gathering, which can make operations more efficient. As physical retail and other spaces evolve MTI sees its products allowing customers to keep up with that transition by connecting the consumer-facing elements and the back office.
“That is where retail is going — data driven. And this last mile is the retail location,” she said.
The company has hundreds of customers including top retailers and major device manufacturers.
Last year, the company streamlined the business and 2021 is set up as the year for execution. Jesse said the company plans to bring on large partners in the U.S. and internationally to grow sales channels.
The company is privately held and is controlled by MC Credit Partners LP, which has ample access to capital, she said. Last year also saw several other new executives join the team or get promoted. Craig Parietti was named chief financial officer, previously he was vice president of finance for HTC America; Tony Woods was named vice president of human resources; Vicki VanValin was promoted to vice president of global sales; and Parbin Chand was promoted to vice president of production and supply chain.
Jesse said the expertise of the company’s team was critical to working through the challenges of 2020. Much of the staff has been with the company for years — decades in some cases — and she has been inspired by that.
Right now the majority of the company is still working remotely, but Jesse hopes to bring people back to offices. The company is evaluating its remote work policies and will likely have a hybrid model.
“We have shown we can be effective working remotely, and for some people it’s really much better,” she said. “We want to be able to offer our staff the best possible work environment and for some people it’s at home.”
The company has several open positions, including director of global partnerships, and plans to hire across the organization throughout the year.
Malia Spencer
Staff Reporter
Portland Business Journal
We at MTI are thrilled to announce that Mary Jesse has been promoted to CEO & as the first woman to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. Under Mary’s leadership we will continue to focus on driving innovation and growth, while continuing to lead MTI’s digital transformation.
MTI is excited to be exhibiting at the first virtual Self-Service Innovation Summit.
Join us December 8th and 9th to discover how our broad range of tablet-based solutions empowers self-service kiosk providers to better serve their customers globally, and to help keep customers safe.
Discover how one hospitality customer quickly transitioned to an all-mobile check-in solution across their resorts.
We go live on December 8th and 9th at 11:00 am EST. Registration is free, we look forward to hearing about your needs.
MTI (Mobile Technologies, Inc.), the premier interactive experience technology and services company, today announced the hiring of Craig Parietti as Chief Financial Officer and Tony Woods as Vice President of Human Resources, as well as the promotions of Vicki VanValin and Parbin Chand.
Read more on Business Wire.
Samsung unpacked their new devices this month including the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Samsung Watch 3.
MTI has multiple security solutions for Samsung products including Samsung Phones, Samsung Watches, Samsung Tablets, laptops and accessories. Want to take the worry out of new product introductions? MTI’s innovative Freedom Micro® II HS, high security solution, lets you merchandise new phones and tablets in less than a minute with no adhesive. MTI’s XD Guardian™, metal, high security solutions are ideal for high theft stores. We also launched custom brackets for our Freedom Micro® line.
MTI has solutions from light touch security to robust layer of security including highest level of protection with the most interactive customer experience. Check out the options or get in touch to identify which security solution is best for you and your store.
About MTI
With over 40 years serving our retail partners and nearly 80 patents, MTI innovations go beyond product security and retail solutions. We deliver bottom-line improvements with a focus on increasing in-store compliance and reporting for vendor funded programs, protecting assets and employees, decreasing installation and merchandising times, and maintaining control of ongoing repair and maintenance costs. Our mission is to improve the total cost of ownership for our Retail partners—which we call Return on Display™.
MTI delivers this by providing an ecosystem of smart retail solutions, which include MTI Connect®, Versa Key™, Freedom Micro® II, CX Flex™ and our world-class global services and contact center which reaches over 90 countries globally providing installation, repair and training and brand advocacy solutions to retailers and brands.
In drive-through testing stations, healthcare providers are on the front lines testing patients for COVID-19. This holds a lot of promise for healthcare providers wanting to track the spread of COVID-19 and reduce exposure among the population. They need technology solutions that are simple to disinfect and reduce the spread of germs. 
Already garnering support from the healthcare community, drive-through testing stations are proving to be efficient procedures averaging 15 minutes per test.
“It’s really a much faster and safer solution,” explains Maja Artandi, MD, medical director of Stanford’s Express Care clinics in a recent Health.com article. Maja continues, “The patient is not going to expose anybody else. The clinic is not going to be exposed."
Tablet-based technologies continue to serve their purpose in healthcare facilities by improving the workflow and the patient experience. With an enclosure, tablets can enhance productivity and reduce the spread of germs for healthcare providers and patients at drive-thru testing stations.
Simple to Clean and Disinfect
Tablets build up bacteria over time. In a Bio Medical Central article journal, researchers studied the spread of pathogens in mobile devices used by healthcare workers. Researchers found Coagulase-negative, Staphylococci, and Staphylococcus aureus as common bacterium on mobile devices.
Enclosures should be compatible with cleaning products already accessible to healthcare providers, so these solutions are simple to disinfect and reduce the spread of harmful bacterium already built up on tablets.
Such is the case for MTI’s Mobility Solutions supporting tablet technologies and allowing for straightforward disinfection with cleaning products already familiar to healthcare providers.
No Metal Keys (RFID Enabled)
In a recent Business Insider news article, Dr. Jenny Harries, England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, warned the public of COVID-19 living on metal surfaces, such as keys, for up to 48 hours.
Although metal keys are showing up in drive through testing stations to help manage electronics from their respective mobile carts and cabinets, an enclosure has no use for such tools.
With MTI’s RapidDoc® tablet dock and charging solutions, healthcare providers can replace metal keys with RFID cards. Using an RFID card, tablets can easily un-dock with a single tap on RapidDoc’s® base.
This solution can also release tablets through software enabled pin codes or passwords, safeguarding healthcare providers and patients even further from the use of keys.
No Paper or Wooden Clipboards
Most healthcare providers are using paper and wooden clipboards during the checkup process. In a recent WebMD article, researchers have found COVID-19 to live on surfaces like paper and wood.
According to researchers, COVID-19 can live on paper surfaces for minutes, and up to as much as 5 days. The virus can survive on wooden surfaces for up to 4 days.
Health records, prescription orders, medical images, and other important health documents or files can be stored in a tablet electronically, eliminating the need for paper or wooden clipboards.
Portable
The tablet is lightweight, rugged, fully mobile and handheld. 
Unlike laptops, they do not need to be mounted on carts to get a user-friendly experience. Contrary to workstations on wheels, there is no wiring to limit a healthcare provider’s proximity to testing stations.
Enclosures like RapidDoc® utilize mobile tablets with ergonomic hand and shoulder straps to support use cases like drive through testing with electronic record keeping.
Conclusion
Tablets are getting more recognition as cost-effective and supportive technologies for healthcare facilities.
“Tablets have been around in healthcare for a while for a lot of use cases, but what I think is one of the things that's probably new is how widespread the adoption is,” claims Kate McCarthy, a senior analyst for health IT in a Search Health IT article. McCarthy also notes, “In some cases, it's more affordable than a mobile phone. It's a relatively easy spend.”
With enclosures, the tablet becomes a powerful and secure technology to have at locations like drive through testing stations, capable of protecting the patient and healthcare providers on the front lines of this epidemic.
Need Tablet Enclosures?
Our mobility solutions provide the safety and flexibility needed to sustain a positive patient experience for Healthcare OEMs, VARs, and integrators.
We have solutions to support healthcare providers at drive-through testing stations. Compatible with medical grade cleaning products already found in the healthcare environment.
Enclosures are now available and tailored for Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Zebra, NCR, and AAVA tablets.
Please contact us at [email protected] with questions or to request a brochure.
About MTI
MTI is a leader in global retail security, with innovative smart retail store software solutions and a global field service provider trusted by many of the world’s most successful consumer electronics retailers and brands. MTI helps clients protect high value products with innovative security solutions augmented by an open IoT platform that enables retailers to close the access control and visibility gaps between management, front line teams, in-store technology and the customer experience. In addition, MTI’s unique global service and contact center reaches over 90 countries globally providing installation, repair and training and brand advocacy solutions to retailers and brands.
Old technologies just don’t deliver the same experiences they once did. The computer on wheels (COWs), workstation on wheels (WOWs), wheeled PCs or better known as the PC workstations are being upgraded for tablet workstations.
“The laptop is dead, the desktop is gone,” says John Halamka, Chief Information Officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and continues, “Having the desktop [computer] or even the laptop between you and the patient is a negative experience.”
Did these older technologies really lose their competitive edge against tablets? The answer is a resounding yes.
Tablets offer convenience, support efficient workflows, and create better patient experiences. Healthcare providers are finding these benefits important today especially during this global pandemic.
Let’s get a good understanding of the medical communities’ acceptance for tablet workstation and explore these benefits in more detail.
Patients are spread across different locations within facilities and they don’t want to wait. Therefore, providers want technologies that are easier to travel with.
Andrew Kwang, a Registered Nurse at Cleveland Clinic reported his experience using PC workstations in a Cleveland Clinic news article, claiming “WOWs to be cumbersome to pull around and push into rooms.”
There is a fraction of the weight to push around when you replace PC workstations. Tablets average less than 4 pounds while the much larger wheeled PC can weigh up to 100 pounds.
The space within healthcare facilities has always been crowded with medical devices and equipment. While these tools are a critical part of patient care, they can get in the way and ruin the patient experience.
One of the largest national medical organizations, the American Academy of Family Physicians, agrees the main disadvantage of standard desktops is that they require more space than Tablets.
The in-room experience becomes less crowded with tablets due to their smaller size. The tablet is just as powerful as a PC and it doesn’t require extra components like wires or keyboards.
Every second counts when providers are helping patients. Providers need solutions that are can be available immediately and long lasting when at the aid of a patient.
Although a tablet’s design is smaller in size, the minimal components make way for extended battery usage. Also, tablets generally boot-up faster than standard PCs.
Health providers need the latest technology to do important tasks like sharing health records or images with colleagues and patients.
“For me, the most important use in the operating room is for reviewing imaging studies,” says Dr. Felasfa M. Wodajo, MD, an Assistant Professor for Orthopedic Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and Georgetown University Hospital.
For Dr. Felasfa, tablets are more efficient when studying images because it requires no additional components. Tablets are capable of processing images on their own. On the other hand, CD-ROMs might be required when studying images on PC workstations.
With the correct tablet enclosure or case, the tablet workstation becomes more flexible than PCs on wheels. Yes, the tablet itself isn’t flexible, but when combined with tablet enclosures like Enterprise Tablet Pro™, a tablet turns into a versatile and secure workstation.
With the Enterprise Tablet Pro™ , tablets easily rotate at up to 180 degrees or tilted at up to a 90 degree angle.
This gives medical providers the capacity to easily share health records, prescription information, test results, or other helpful resources with the patient. No need to wrestle with a monitor just to get the same results with a wheeled PC.
Why is it so easy for us to adapt to tablets? Simple. We are familiar with the technology. Both our smartphones and tablets share multi-touch user interfaces.
Don’t think smartphones have taken over? The number of smartphone users worldwide currently surpasses three billion and is expected to grow even more.
The transitions to a tablet won’t be difficult for providers or patients because we are already used to dragging, swiping, and tapping on our personal devices.
The PC workstation is on the decline. As tablets continue to gain more acceptance in the medical community, one can say that its purpose will no longer be needed.
Businesswire predicts the global mobile health market to compound over 25% from 2018 to 2023 as healthcare facilities continue to incorporate technologies like tablets.
Has the current COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of this prediction? Some might argue the demand has never been greater. Why? Tablets prevent the spread of germs through virtual communication as M Health Fairview, a non-profit University Medical Center in Minnesota, points out in their blog.
In all, Tablet workstations are the modern technologies widely accepted in the medical setting. These solutions are improving the patient experience, the workflow, & providing convenience for medical staff members.
Ready to make the switch?
MTI’s Tablet Workstation Solutions
If you need tablet workstations, our solutions provide the flexibility health facilities need to configure and deploy tablet solutions quickly and efficiently. This includes a collection of different cart sizes to help provide the appropriate system support needed for the various treatment areas and patient rooms while minimizing the space carts require.
Our cart solutions are lighter and easier to move than traditional carts and take less space. these solutions can also be easily disinfected using medical grade products found in the healthcare environment.
Our Enterprise Tablet Pro, Enterprise Lite, and Pipeline products are available to Healthcare OEMs. VARs and integrators with off-the-shelf solutions specifically tailored for healthcare using either tablets from Apple, Microsoft, and Zebra tablets.
Please contact us at [email protected] with questions or to request a brochure.
About MTI
MTI is a leader in global retail security, with innovative smart retail store software solutions and a global field service provider trusted by many of the world’s most successful consumer electronics retailers and brands. MTI helps clients protect high value products with innovative security solutions augmented by a open IoT platform that enables retailers to close the access control and visibility gaps between management, front line teams, in-store technology and the customer experience. In addition, MTI’s unique global service and contact center reaches over 90 countries globally providing installation, repair and training and brand advocacy solutions to retailers and brands.
Don’t think iPhone thefts are taking place during the current COVID-19 pandemic? In truth, it’s never a bad idea to invest in iPhone security because thefts always occur. There is no off-season for burglars, in fact, a few stores have already been targeted.
In March when 20% of the global population was under the COVID-19 lockdown, a 4am break-in took place in iAstra, an authorized Apple retailer. They lost 54 iPhones in just one night to a group of 5 masked men. Another theft occurred in the same month when a thief backed up a stolen SUV into a Verizon Wireless store taking smartphones that had been on display with them. Weeks later a Cricket Wireless Store was also broken into. The owner of the Cricket store was left in shock when he found his windows shattered and his inventory stolen.
As most of us are already aware, recent riots have impacted other wireless carriers as well. Apple Century City, another Apple retailer, was left with empty display tables after it became a victim of looting. The same can be said for a Sprint store that was looted and had most of its smartphones stolen.
Lockdowns and Curfews Won’t Prevent iPhone Theft
Unfortunately, threats to retail security for high ticket products like iPhones and iPads are not limited to California. iPhone thefts are a growing problem across the United States and Europe. Retailers are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in devices. These thefts also impact customer service when stores are missing demos or have devices locked away. Gone are the days where robberies were undertaken by opportunistic solo thieves or an unsophisticated teenager’s bad decision. Today, thefts consist of sophisticated rings of four to six individuals operating together to swarm stores to execute aggressive theft in plain sight of the highest value assets.
As retailers work to draw customers into brick and mortar stores by creating live demonstration experiences, Merchandisers and Asset Protection leaders must address retail security issues head on to prevent theft of flagship devices like the iPhone Xs and Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10s. Do you have anti-theft devices for your retail store? If your shop hasn’t been hit yet, it’s only a matter of time. If it has been hit, successful thieves will target you again. So how do you protect your devices and keep your employees safe?
Here are six ways to you can reduce iPhone theft
1. Analyze the locations of your highest risk devices
The aesthetics of your store matter, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of your retail security. It’s essential that you balance the elegance and shopping ease of your space with maximum loss prevention strategies. Assess the design of your shop and keep retail security top of mind. Review the location of your flagship consumer electronics devices within your store. Is it easy to navigate from the front door to these high-theft-risk products and then quickly exit? Move the display closer to your cash wrap or employee areas. Are the displays visible completely from the cash wrap? Ensure sight lines to your highest value devices are not blocked.
2. Train and place your staff to drive customer engagement and deter theft at the same time
Properly place and train your sales associates for loss prevention. It is a necessity for optimal retail security. Are your employees strategically placed in the store’s ideal sections to prevent the theft of your highest-ticket items? Are they engaging with each and every person that enters the store, particularly anyone approaching high value Apple and Samsung devices?
Be aware when two employees engage with one customer, or if one leaves the retail floor. Thieves are skilled at using distraction techniques. Train your staff to maintain awareness of their surroundings no matter the time of day or how crowded the store maybe.
3. Utilize low cost tactics to limit iPhone theft
Most locations have CCTV in operation, and many thieves know this or do not care. However, thieves do prefer anonymity – so simple signage “this table is being monitored by CCTV” or “these demo devices have tracking software installed” are simple ways to deter theft.
4. Increase the robustness of your anti-theft devices
As this CBS published security video shows, devices secured by mere power cord and small sensor allow the thieves to steal at a rapid rate, and make you a priority target. Thieves will target your flagship devices, and while protecting all merchandise is important, so is recognizing that the organized crime rings are coming for your $1,000 devices. Guarding against aggressive theft starts with protecting your Apple and Samsung devices.
Choose retail security products like the MTI XD Guardian Universal™, that are built to withstand aggressive theft with tools, kicking, and violent removal attempts. Products that take a least 60 seconds to remove via any means will force crime rings to move on to easier targets.
5. Leverage Internet of Things (IoT) Technology
Most carriers have decreased the # of staff in stores as they begin to reopen. With a limited number of employees, what happens when everyone is helping customers and devices are left un-monitored? Remember thieves wait for opportunities like these to pounce.
Thanks to IoT technology like MTI Connect®, an employee can see what’s happening on the entire sales floor using the MTI Connect® app. With the MTI Connect® app, employees can quickly understand the battery status, position, and security (unarmed or armed) of each device displayed on the sales floor. Employees get instant alerts when theft attempts take place.
Don’t think your employees are comfortable cleaning and sharing security keys? Devices on display can be easily armed and disarmed through the MTI Connect® app when secured with solutions like Freedom Micro® II HS, CX Flex™, Secure Plug®, and MTI Locks™.
6. Lock-up Devices Overnight
The trend shows more new attacks are taking place late at night. New best practice is to lock up your devices in a safe place, difficult for thieves to get to during closures. High-security folding gates protecting the front shop windows and doors is another way to prevent break ins.
Conclusion
Yes, iPhone theft attempts will continue to grow in frequency. Every day is an opportunity for thieves to steal. Don’t risk your iPhones and bottom line by not investing in appropriate merchandising security solutions.
For more on retail security products and anti-theft devices for retail stores to stop iPhone theft, check out our high security solutions, Secure Plug®, and MTI Locks™ options available at mtigs.com.
Merchandising Security matters – not just for your bottom line, but for the safety of your customers. Protecting your store is just as important to your business as making sales.
