Android

Kiosk Mode For Android Devices

Android Kiosk Mode refers to transforming Android devices into dedicated purpose devices. You can set up kiosk mode on Android devices by locking down the device and allow the users to access only certain approved applications.

Once kiosk lockdown is configured, the device runs in an immersive kiosk-type environment whereby intended and unintended misuse of the device and app settings is completely avoided.

Benefits of Kiosk Mode on Android Devices

Improve Worker Productivity

Android tablets and smartphones are versatile devices, on which a variety of interesting and fun apps can be installed and used. If a worker starts playing games or watches videos during work hours, worker productivity is certainly going to take a hit. By setting up Android Kiosk Mode, you can be assured that the workers remain focused and can only use the business apps approved by the IT Team.

Reduce Device Maintenance

Android kiosk mode helps ensure that the Android devices operate smoothly for much longer as downtimes due to misconfiguration by users are completely eliminated. The IT team does not have to spend extra time troubleshooting the issues.

Reduce Operational Costs

If your Android devices support mobile data, you would want to ensure that the workers or users don’t consume the bandwidth and cause excessive mobile data usage. By configuring the kiosk lockdown on your Android devices, you can restrict users from accessing “fun” apps, thereby reducing high operational costs.

Data Security

Kiosk Lockdown of Android devices helps in reducing the probability of data loss and data theft as it blocks the users from accessing the files and then sharing them with others. If the Android kiosk mode is properly configured the user would not be able to access on-device content by connecting the device with the PC over USB.

Features for Android Kiosk Solution

Multi-App Lockdown

You can limit the users’ access to a set of approved apps. For instance, you can allow users to access a business app such as an Inventory tracking app, a calculator app, and a brightness control app. Once Android kiosk mode is enabled, the user will see icons for only these three apps on the home screen.

Android Single App Mode

A very common requirement is “how to run only one app on android?”. The answer is to use Android Single Application Mode using which only one app is configured to remain active on the Android device screen at all times. This one app is automatically launched at startup after the device boots up. Users cannot exit the app or switch to any other app. Any attempt to kill or terminate the allowed app is blocked. If for some reason the app crashes, kiosk software (Android Kiosk Mode solution) will automatically launch it again. Watch how to setup Single App Mode on your company-owned Android devices.

Custom Home Screen Branding

Android Kiosk Mode provides an opportunity to improve the branding. You can set up a custom wallpaper and title on the home screen to establish and promote your company brand on the device. You can also replace the App icons on the home screen with your own custom icons, when the Android kiosk mode is active.

Peripheral Control

Multiple peripheral control options are available for devices locked down with the Android kiosk mode feature. You can fully control the state of built-in peripherals such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, camera, screen orientation, Airplane mode, audio, GPS, etc. In Android kiosk mode, it is possible to set the state of these peripherals so that the user cannot change it. For e.g. You can configure WiFi as always ON, which means users will not be able to turn off WiFi by any means. Similarly, the camera can be kept Always Off, which means users won’t be able to use any app to click photos using the camera.

App Security

You can set up an app-specific password to ensure only authorised users can access the app allowed in the kiosk environment. For e.g. you want to allow two apps in the Android kiosk mode, where one app is available to all users, and the second one is available only to a manager. In this case, you can specify a password for the second app. When any user tries to launch the second app from the kiosk home screen, the password prompt will show up. Android kiosk mode secures apps from unwanted access by certain users.

Driver Safety Mode

To reduce the risk of accidents, Android kiosk mode functionality can prevent your drivers from interacting with the android device when the vehicle is in motion. This is called Drive Safety Mode. In kiosk mode, you can set up a speed threshold. If the vehicle speed exceeds this threshold, kiosk mode will apply a stricter lockdown policy which will ensure the driver cannot use the device at all. Access to the approved apps is not allowed when Android kiosk mode is active. However, it is possible to keep an allowed app in the foreground to provide visual information to the driver. For e.g. Google Maps or other apps can be in the foreground, but they won’t be able to interact with those apps. Once the vehicle speed drops below the threshold limit and stays there for a cooling-off period, the device comes back to normal lockdown mode, and the driver can interact with the approved apps again.

Analyse App Usage

You can track how often and for how long the users are using the approved apps when the Android kiosk mode is active. You can use this information to estimate and analyse user or worker productivity.

Use-Cases For Kiosk Lockdown

FOR EMPLOYEES:

Mobile Inventory Tracking

Mobile inventory and warehouse management software running on Android smartphones, tablets or Rugged Handheld devices enables customers easily and efficiently track their inventory and avoid stockouts (out-of-stock event). This system can be especially useful for customers who have multiple remote warehouses.

Mobile Field Service Management

Mobile field service management software running on Android devices (smartphones, tablets, rugged devices) streamlines the field operations such as job scheduling, task tracking, work order management, customer proof of service, asset tracking, and parts management. By using secure kiosk lockdown on the devices, customers can improve the worker productivity and improve customer service experience.

Transportation and Logistics

Use of ruggedized, commercial-grade, or off-the-shelf mobile devices in transportation and logistics helps in efficiency management of the supply chain. Additionally, trucking companies use Android tablets, smartphones (configured with Android Kiosk Mode) to run an ELD application to ensure compliance with the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate.

FOR CUSTOMERS:

Public Information Kiosks

Companies use Android tablets as information kiosks connecting with their customers or the public. Configured with a secure Android kiosk mode, these Information kiosks are very useful in marketing, advertising, and public relations. All these activities can help the companies grow business by delivering the right targeted information to their customers.

Education

Android tablets and smartphones are good choices for schools as tools for delivering education to students remotely. Many schools provide locked down tablets and smartphones to just a couple of apps, like Zoom and Google Classroom. Kiosk lockdown of Android devices ensures that the students focus on learning during the classes and avoid getting distracted (with social media or games).

Healthcare

Android tablets are used by hospitals and healthcare facilities for a variety of purposes such as patient check in, patient survey devices, and as information devices for doctors. In some cases, tablets are provided to patients for use at home. Healthcare is a highly regulated industry and keeping these Android devices under strict kiosk lockdown mode helps in achieving HIPAA compliance, whose goal is to ensure Protected Health Information (PHI) is not compromised.

Events and Trade Shows

Android tablets can easily be set up to deploy registration and check-in solutions for events and trade shows. There are many cloud-based event management apps that can be configured to run in kiosk mode to avoid any chances of the attendees getting lost or confused if the app focus is lost due to a user action or if the device restarts.

POS (Point of Sale) Kiosk

Retail stores, restaurants, and other businesses are adopting Android-based Point of Sale (POS) devices, for their affordability, and due to the availability of POS apps in the market. A consumer off-the-shelf Android tablet can be easily set up in kiosk mode where only the POS app is allowed in Single App Mode. Both store cashiers and the self-service customers will have pleasant checkout experiences due to their familiarity with the Android system.

Digital Signage

Combination of a digital signage tool and Android kiosk mode can build a powerful solution to capture the attention of your customers to your messaging and brand.

Hospitality Check-In

Guest check-in experience is always an important focus for hotel management teams. Large screen portable devices such as Android tablets (in kiosk mode) are now becoming very common in hotel lobbies, helping guests check-in quickly without having to go through the manual process which at times can be very unpredictable.

Supported Android Versions

Version 10.0

Version 9.0

Version 8.0

Version 7.0

Version 6.0

Version 5.0

Version 4.4

Version 4.1

Version 4.0