Selecting an operating system for business devices is something you want to get right the first time. There’s a lot riding on your decision, in terms of the initial investment, ongoing maintenance costs, and the benefits you’ll enjoy from your new tech. However, once you’ve examined the options available, we believe it’s actually a simple decision to make. In fact, by the time you finish this article, we’re convinced you’ll agree with us that there’s one obvious choice.
A few years ago Microsoft was the key player for mobile business devices, with Windows CE and Windows mobile devices dominating the enterprise mobility market. However, the rise of iOS and Android has left Microsoft far behind. Furthermore, with most enterprise manufacturers switching to Android, Microsoft has phased out support for its mobile device software.
That leaves two options for businesses investing in a new device fleet or migrating from Microsoft: iOS and Android. There’s a good chance that you prefer Apple devices: its iconic products are stylish, sleek and contained in a seamless closed system. However, the iOS features that are virtues for consumers do not translate as benefits for enterprise users – quite the contrary, in fact, as you’ll discover below. Our experience in building mobile business software and deploying fleets of devices shows that Android is far more adaptable to the rigours of the enterprise market and is usually the right operating system for business users.
Here’s why you should choose Android over iOS
1. Cost
Android is responsible for an explosion in affordable smart devices. As manufacturers continue to push the envelope at the premium end of the market, the trickle-down effect of technology has resulted in good quality and inexpensive smartphones for every budget. However purchase cost is only one part of the equation, you also need to consider the total cost of ownership over the projected life of your device fleet, factoring in the serviceable life of the devices and the cost of damaged, lost and stolen devices.
2. Support and Maintenance
When choosing any device, you should always look at the support period for security updates. All manufacturers will eventually stop publishing security updates for their devices, leaving them vulnerable to failure and attack thereafter. Apple is very good at supporting older devices, with most devices being supported for 5-6 years before the operating system stops receiving updates, but they do not guarantee the period over which devices bought now will be supported. Consumer Android devices typically receive 3 years support before being abandoned. However, the Android Enterprise Recommended programme defines the minimum support length for rugged devices as 5 years, and the best enterprise Android devices on the market now have support lifecycles guaranteed for 10 years.
Also, if you choose Apple, fixing a device can be problematic. Apple maintains a high degree of control over the repair process, using proprietary components. This means you are likely to get a fix only from Apple, which may push up the cost and put repair timeframes out of your control. On the other hand, Android parts are more freely available from a variety of suppliers, making fixes cheaper and easier to come by.
3. Choice
iOS runs only on Apple devices. You are limited to iPhones, iPads and a few peripherals such as smartwatches, all of which are inherently designed for the consumer market and as such not suited for many workplace environments.
Android devices come in all shapes and sizes, with varying battery life, durability, aesthetics, reliability, performance, storage capacity and other specialist features. From rugged and waterproof tough phones suitable for use in any outdoor and demanding environment, to high-end tablets for sales teams, there is an Android device suited to every job role. Android also has specialist devices for specific applications, such as options with high-performance barcode scanners, wearable devices, and rugged phones and tablets built to comply with ATEX, a code regulating technology use in explosive atmospheres.
4. Industrial features
As little as 15 years ago, if you were going to deploy a fleet tracking or logistics solution you would be looking at industrial mobile options which, at the time, was pretty much the exclusive domain of Windows Mobile (CE) ruggedised devices. Times have changed and mainstream manufacturers like Motorola, Intermec, Panasonic and Zebra Technologies have standardised their new offerings on Android. These products can integrate laser barcode scanners, NFC, have great battery life, docking chargers and hot swappable batteries.
The most significant difference between iOS and Android in this regard is the availability of rugged devices. These are devices which have been designed and tested to withstand vibration, shock, dirt, dust, moisture and chemicals. They are also built for the rugged environment: as an example, many models have much higher maximum volume than an iPhone, which may not be heard even at full volume in a noisy warehouse.
By comparison, an iPhone may look great, but it is simply not built for challenging enterprise environments. Phone warranty provider Allstate Protection Plans undertook drop tests on the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The results were not encouraging. Shattered glass, cracks, damage to the camera housing and dented buttons were among a litany of post-test problems.
Some businesses try to circumvent this issue with rugged cases, but these only solve part of the problem. They may offer some external protection against drops, but internal components are still prone to damage from sudden shock. Also, fogging and condensation behind the case are frequently a problem.
5. Security
In the early days of smartphone technology, iOS was the clear leader in terms of security. From launch, they supported business grade features to ensure that data was not compromised on mobile devices, such as encryption and VPN support. It took Android a long time to catch up with Apple on this front, and there is still a prevailing superstition that iOS is better than Android when it comes to security. However, this is simply not the case any more. Android Enterprise has regularly scored higher than iOS in recent years in the Gartner security reports and continues to make strides with both hardware and software security.
One common misconception when it comes to security is that iOS is more secure than Android because it is closed source. In reality, the opposite of this is true. Because Android is open source, anyone in the world can look for and find bugs and vulnerabilities in the operating system, often before new versions of the OS are released. This might seem like a bad thing, but because Google pays up to a million dollars for reporting a vulnerability, there is an army of developers worldwide looking for and reporting exploits in the operating system.
The open source nature of Android also means that manufacturers have the ability to add additional security features above and beyond what the operating system provides. Good examples of this are Samsung Knox and Zebra Mobility Extensions, which both add extra configurable features which help businesses to reduce their potential for attack.
6. Familiarity
We’ve mentioned this point in a previous blog post, but it deserves mentioning again. 84.8% of mobile users have Android phones and this familiarity is a powerful factor when choosing an operating system for business devices. Android is the most dominant mobile operating system by far, and it's likely that most of your employees are already using an Android device. This means they will get up to speed with your new devices quickly, cutting training time down significantly compared to scenarios where you adopt less familiar systems. A new generation of digitally proficient workers have entered the workplace who expect the same high quality of digital tools they already use in their personal life. By empowering your employees with the right tools for the job, and tools that they already understand, they will be more productive.
7. Customisation
Customisation has been a core feature of Android since its inception, and one that has only recently been introduced to iOS at any meaningful level. Both operating systems now have the ability to achieve simple customisation steps, such as replacing the wallpaper with your company logo, putting a standard set of company apps on the homescreen, and banishing unwanted or little used apps to a folder in their app drawer.
However, Android’s deep support for customisation gives businesses much more control over the information and functionality that is available to their users. On Android, it is possible to completely change the user’s home screen to present whatever you want it to display, and make it a hub for your business’s operations, rather than it simply being a launcher with which to access other applications. It is possible to replace or remove most parts of the operating system’s user interface, and to replace core parts of the operating system such as the keyboard. This gives you complete control over what your users can do on their devices, as well as opening up more options for users with diverse needs. You can also control exactly what notifications and settings the user is able to see and interact with, and which peripherals the user is able to connect to the device, allowing you to minimise distractions and enhance productivity as well as keeping your data and devices secure.
8. Storage expansion
This is a simple difference, but a very important one in a business context. Most Android handsets offer expandable storage using inexpensive microSD cards allowing you to carry more data or install more apps without upgrading the entire handset. We find this particularly useful for users who need to load significant quantities of reference data on the device, or who frequently take photos and videos on the go. On iOS this is not possible, and devices’ storage cannot be expanded beyond the original specification.
9. Batteries and charging
While you can now change batteries in iPhones, Apple recommends this via an Apple Authorised Service Provider or Apple Store. This is an improvement on the bad old days when iPhone batteries were not replaceable at all. However, it’s not going to cut it in an emergency when you quickly need to power up a depleted device.
By contrast, many enterprise-grade Android device batteries can be quickly replaced on the go. Also, some support a feature we haven’t seen available on Apple – the hot-swappable battery. This allows you to change a battery without the need to turn off a device – in fact, it will continue to function during the swap. So, if the device runs out of battery in the middle of a shift, the user can simply switch the battery and carry on working.
Android devices also have better support for various types of charger, such as vehicle mounted cradles and independent battery chargers, which can charge batteries without them being connected to the device, all of which lead to devices being in service for longer periods of time, therefore representing better return on investment.
10. Customisable buttons
At the bottom of any Android device there are a trio of soft key navigation controls – back, home and multitasking. These keys, and particularly the back key, are one of Android’s biggest differentiators from other operating systems providing a consistent navigation approach across the entire system. Whilst this may seem a minor detail, they are a very powerful feature of the intuitive Android experience.
Moreover, some Android devices, particularly the ruggedised and industrial versions, have additional hard keys that can be used for different purposes. For instance, Zebra’s TC27 features buttons that can be configured to perform popular functions or as shortcuts to installed apps.
11. Android Enterprise
Android Enterprise is Google’s programme that focuses on using Android devices in the workplace, and represents their commitment to best-of-class experience for enterprise mobility. Through the programme, they continuously add features designed specifically for business use. The ability to deploy an extensive range of policy controls on the device is extremely useful for managing employee devices in the field, and built-in layers of security prevent intrusions so you can be confident your data is safe.
Android Enterprise offers multiple methods for deploying devices in your business, such as Work Profile which lets staff keep their personal and work lives securely separated on one device. Other features include the ability to rapidly set up hundreds of devices using an NFC tag to install a custom set of applications and settings, and the ability to use Mobile Device Management software to monitor the status of devices in the field, apply security policies remotely and ensure that devices are being used appropriately.
Also included under the Android Enterprise banner is the Android Enterprise Recommended programme, which identifies devices and services that meet a set of requirements that mean that they are suitable for use in a business environment. By choosing devices from this list, you can be certain that you are making a good choice for your business.
Further Reading
For detailed insights into Windows CE to Android migration and advice on how to begin the process for your business, download our white papers:
Windows® CE to Android™ Migration: The Definitive Guide
How to Upgrade Windows® CE Mobile Apps to Android™: A Step by Step Guide for Business
You also might like to read our blog posts:|
The 11 Most Common Questions about Windows CE to Android Migration
5 Reasons Why Migrating to Android Enterprise Devices Will Benefit Your Business
5 Urgent Security Issues for Legacy OS Rugged Devices
Nuffield Technologies offers a full solution – from consultancy to procurement and software development – for businesses looking to boost their performance with rugged technology.
Do you require migration from Windows CE to Android? Our UK-based development team can deploy our in-house CoreXA modular framework to ensure a smooth and swift migration to the Android operating system.
Get in touch now to start a conversation.