Story · Construction · Mobile devices
Tablets in the field, plans in hand, and nothing lost when one goes in the mud
The crews had tablets. The tablets had whatever apps someone had installed, personal photos, a saved password to the job software, and no way to wipe them when they went missing. One had gone missing.
Buying a business? Ask the IT questions before the letter of intent. Every unlicensed seat and untested backup is a cost you inherit.
IT due diligence Gold Star survey"Quick and to the point. Even gave an explanation at the end, which is nice to know."
Alfredo, engineering firmMore from the survey wallThe situation
The office manager was re-setting up tablets by hand every few weeks: new device, log in to everything, hope it stuck. Plans and change orders were emailed around because the shared drive was too painful to reach from a hotspot.
What we did
Matt enrolled the tablets in mobile device management. Now a new tablet is unboxed, powered on and enrolls itself: the job software, the plan viewer and email arrive automatically, with the company's settings and without the personal clutter. Access to plans goes through a managed app that works on a weak hotspot instead of a VPN that drops.
A lost tablet is wiped remotely from the office in a minute. The replacement is working before the crew's next shift.
"A tablet should be a tool in the truck, not a project for the office manager."
How the engineer on this one puts itWhat changed
ResolvedCrews get plans on site. The office manager has her weeks back. A tablet went into a trench in the spring; nobody outside the crew heard about it.
The guide behind this story
GuideAnswering the cyber insurance questionnaire honestly
What the questions actually mean, which controls insurers now require, and how to turn a no into a yes before renewal.
Read the guideOrder the internet circuit the week the lease is signed. Carriers take six to twelve weeks. Nothing else on a move fails as often.
The relocation checklist Did you knowA backup that has never been restored is a hope, not a plan. Ask for the date of the last tested restore.
What to actually testQuestions people ask about this
Does mobile device management mean you can see what my crews do on the tablet?
We can see the device's health, apps and location if you enable that. We cannot see personal content, and the policy is written so everyone knows what is and is not visible.
"Awesome "Johnny on the Spot" service! You guys made a scary situation a lot easier to work through."
Debra, packaging companyMore from the survey wall- A technician who knows your setup takes every request. Not a dispatcher, not a queue.
- Every closed ticket is surveyed and a partner reads every response.
- 99.5% of surveys come back positive.
- Family-owned since 2005. 21 years in the same corner of Wisconsin, not going anywhere.
"Thanks for the hard work. I was kept informed with regular updates until the concern was resolved."
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Tell us what is going on. A partner will call you back the same business day, look at what you have, and tell you honestly whether we are the right fit. No pricing pressure, no pitch deck.