Speed is everything in modern commerce. Digital transformation has completely redefined the shopping experience, raising customer expectations and making adaptability an essential competitive advantage in the retail and events sector.
Whether it’s managing massive foot traffic during peak season, preventing long holiday queues from frustrating customers, or launching an exclusive brand experience at a temporary event (pop-up store), the need to extend payment infrastructure beyond the traditional checkout is imminent. This urgency is reflected in the market: according to Business Research Insights, the global mobile Point-of-Sale (MPOS) market is valued at USD 14.18 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 78.86 billion by 2033, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 21%.
Employees and mobile sales operations (mPOS) require agile and uninterrupted access to corporate applications. However, this flexibility introduces a constant dilemma for IT management: How do you achieve that operational agility without compromising security and control?.
How unmanaged devices drain IT budgets
The Retail IT Manager faces unique challenges that become costly business bottlenecks. The core issue is that the problem is no longer defined by old manual processes, but by unmanaged mobility. The Retail sector is the largest application segment for POS, representing 52% of total usage, according to Market Growth Reports.
However, operational agility is constantly compromised by perceived risk: according to KPMG, aspects related to cybersecurity and privacy are among the top three challenges slowing down digital transformation for executives in Spain.
Manual deployment and "human friction"
These challenges revolve around the labor-intensive effort and employee resistance associated with scaling device fleets, resulting in costly downtime and unusable hardware.
The endless configuration loop: 200 tablets are needed for a major event or new store opening. Manually configuring each device (OS install, POS app, restrictions, VPN, and Wi-Fi) consumes the IT team for weeks. This delay translates directly into lost sales opportunities.
Employee resistance & paperweights: the lack of a clear policy or strict management leads to devices being locked with a personal account, turning them into an expensive “paperweight”.
Security risks in the open ecosystem
The flexibility of mobile POS creates significant vulnerabilities, exposing customer data and company integrity to external threats.
- Cybersecurity challenges: Deloitte points out that system integrity is key to enhancing resilience and security across all business processes.
Unpatched vulnerabilities: an alarming 80% of devices often lack the latest security updates, meaning an mPOS with outdated software or missing patches is an easy target for attacks.
Loss of visibility and control: it is estimated that between 30% and 45% of security breaches are due to this very lack of device visibility, risking not only the transaction but also sensitive customer and company data.
Cyberattack risk: while contactless technologies incorporate advanced security, a constant risk remains that cyberattacks compromise the security of the data collected.
These scenarios are not exceptions; they are the hidden costs of unmanaged mobility. The solution must eliminate manual IT intervention and guarantee security without sacrificing the sales experience.
Applivery UEM bridges the gap between security and Retail agility
Operational agility in retail demands a device management platform (MDM) that acts as a true strategic partner—one that is easy to use and natively cloud-based.
This approach is fundamental: Market reports indicate that over 75% of the market seeks cloud-based POS solutions utilizing AI. Furthermore, according to Deloitte, cybersecurity is one of the areas expected to drive the highest technological growth in the coming years. Applivery is the Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform that seamlessly combines MDM and MAM to offer total control over your devices.
With Applivery, you can transform a standard tablet into a secure and dedicated Point of Sale, fully configured and ready to operate, in a matter of minutes.
Technical breakdown: the triple alliance of security and speed in mPOS
The goal of Applivery UEM is to eliminate manual IT intervention and guarantee security without sacrificing sales speed. To achieve this, we focus on three technical pillars that transform a consumer device into a dedicated, secure business tool.
Instant Deployment with Zero-Touch
Zero-Touch enrollment is the industry standard for automated device setup. It ensures that corporate devices, right out of the box, are instantly configured with your specific security policies and applications, requiring zero physical setup by IT staff.
Smart Enrollment: eliminate manual, device-by-device configuration. Applivery integrates with Apple Business Manager (ABM) and Android Zero-Touch.
Automatic activation: this allows the tablet to automatically enroll in the platform as soon as it is turned on for the first time and connected to the network.
Role-based assignment: Policies are configured for devices to auto-assign themselves to the “Mobile POS” group. The checkout app, hardware restrictions, and security settings are installed automatically in the background.
Result: a new mPOS ready to sell in less time than it takes for the checkout queue to move.
Kiosk Mode
Kiosk Mode is the necessary safeguard that converts a general-purpose tablet or smartphone into a single-purpose, locked-down business tool. This capability is vital for dedicated mPOS environments, minimizing risk and ensuring employee focus.
Dedicated device: This is the essential tool for mPOS. Kiosk Mode restricts the device so that it can only run the specific point-of-sale application.
Maximum operational security: distractions, unauthorized browser access, and insecure app downloads are eliminated.
Resilience: if the application crashes, the device can be configured to restart it automatically.
Lifecycle management and compliance
Lifecycle Management ensures that devices remain secure, compliant, and operational from deployment to retirement. This centralized control eliminates the security gap often found in large retail deployments.
OS Update management: Applivery allows you to centrally enforce and manage Operating System updates. This ensures that 100% of your mPOS devices comply with the strictest security standards, minimizing vulnerability risk.
Incident response (remote wipe): in the inevitable event that an mPOS is lost or an employee terminates their contract, the Remote Wipe and Lock feature allows the administrator to securely wipe all corporate information from the device with a single click.
Secure reuse: the device is left clean and ready for the next use, or completely unusable to an attacker.
Applivery's impact on retail efficiency and security
The role of IT is no longer just support; it is a competitive advantage. Applivery UEM enables your IT team to transition from a reactive cost center to a strategic accelerator for sales and business expansion.
| Applivery´s value proposition | Impact in Retail/Events |
|---|---|
|
Multiplied operational efficiency |
Go-to-market acceleration: reduces the time it takes for a new mPOS to become productive from days to minutes. |
|
IT resource optimization |
Zero manual support: your IT team focuses on strategic projects, not manual configuration tasks. |
|
Simplified compliance and auditing |
Total traceability: facilitates compliance with regulations like GDPR or ISO 27001. |
|
Enterprise-level security |
Transaction shielding: guarantees Kiosk Mode and Remote Wipe, ensuring payment and customer data are protected at all times. |
|
Superior user experience (Employee) |
Fluid onboarding: the automated process ensures temporary or new staff have their work tool ready instantly. |
The unmanaged mobility gap: close It today with Applivery
It’s time to elevate the role of IT. Move beyond tedious, repetitive tasks and start using UEM as a core competitive advantage. Applivery doesn’t just manage devices; it gives you the control to safely, efficiently, and quickly deploy and manage thousands of Mobile Points of Sale, ensuring 100% security compliance and operational continuity.
Ready to transform your IT function into a sales accelerator and close your unmanaged mobility gap today? Schedule a personalized demo with one of our specialists.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What exactly is "Zero-Touch" enrollment, and how quickly can Applivery set up a new mPOS?
Zero-Touch is an automated enrollment method (integrated with Apple Business Manager (ABM) and Android Zero-Touch) that allows devices to automatically configure themselves upon being turned on and connecting to the network. It reduces the time it takes for a new mPOS to become productive from days to minutes.
How does Applivery guarantee the security of payment data on a mobile POS?
Security is primarily guaranteed through Kiosk Mode, which restricts the device so that it can only run the specific point-of-sale application. This eliminates the risk of insecure app downloads or unauthorized browser access. Additionally, Remote Wipe protects sensitive data in case of loss.
Does Applivery help with data compliance regulations like GDPR or ISO 27001?
Yes. The platform facilitates compliance through Total Traceability (generating real-time device and user reports) and security controls like Remote Wipe, easing audits and ensuring data protection.
Does Applivery UEM support both iOS (iPad) and Android mPOS devices?
Yes. Applivery provides unified management for both iOS (iPad, iPhone) and Android devices from a single console , utilizing the native enrollment tools for immediate configuration.
Can we use Applivery to secure mPOS devices that are employee-owned (BYOD)?
Applivery combines MDM (Mobile Device Management) and MAM (Mobile Application Management). While ideal for corporate-owned dedicated devices, it can apply containment and security policies to corporate applications in BYOD scenarios.
