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Software Manager
Overview

Keeping Applications Up-To-Date Across Your Front Lines

On the front lines of your business—where real business breakthroughs can be achieved—technology can make all the difference, and keeping everyone's software up-to-date and functioning well is mandatory. Afaria Software Manager makes it easy for your administrator to centrally distribute, install, maintain and support frontline applications, no matter where users are located or what kind of device they're using. Your diverse, distributed systems are automatically maintained, using consistent configuration management approaches for every device in the field.

Keeping Users Engaged

The latest applications benefit users, but the many software distribution tasks associated with keeping those applications up-to-date can be a burden to frontline employees. Software Manager works behind the scenes to keep systems running without interfering with user's tasks and data. It proactively maintains and heals applications if damage or corruption occurs, so users won't suffer the cost and inconvenience of returning devices to headquarters for repair. All of this adds up to happy, engaged users.

Protecting Network Integrity

But user adoption is not your only concern; you've also got to think about the security and integrity of the corporate network. Relying on remote users to remember to retrieve and correctly apply operating system, application, security and virus installs and updates can create havoc across the entire network.

Reducing Complexity

Software Manager's ability to install applications, supply missing or corrupted files, and uninstall or roll back applications means that all your employees will have the correct versions, the latest updates, and the right settings—based on centralized control. It integrates closely with Inventory Manager data and the Windows or LDAP network directory, ensuring that applications, upgrades and patches are delivered to the appropriate users and/or machines, as defined by centrally managed software distribution policies. It even checks for necessary hardware and software resources prior to file transmission so that system deficiencies, if they exist, can be proactively addressed. Using Software Manager, your enterprise can:

  • Support the breadth of your frontline systems: Software Manager supports desktops, laptops, tablets, handhelds, and point of sale systems.
  • Deliver applications and updates without interrupting users: Software Manager can stage the distribution of large application files or deploy them silently in the background.
  • Optimize delivery methods and times: Software Manager can deliver at a single scheduled time so that all users can be upgraded at once, or can deliver applications as a series of files "trickled" out over multiple connections. It can trigger application updates based on events, such as policy changes or new business processes.
  • Deliver securely: Software Manager detects unauthorized changes made to software and hardware in the field, reducing exposure to unlicensed software and harmful viruses.
  • Extend enterprise capabilities to mobile devices through Microsoft SMS: Software Manager integrates with Microsoft® System Management Server (SMS). Programs created in SMS can be automatically distributed to and installed on Afaria frontline devices.

Increasing Visibility

Software Manager, along with Afaria's core capabilities, track and log application roll-out tasks through 13 separate stages of delivery. This lets you quickly assess channel performance and user needs. Its extensive tracking and delivery reports include information on:

  • Initial software delivery and installation status
  • Package status
  • If/when packages were uninstalled
  • Status of a particular software package, across all client devices assigned to that package
  • Status of all packages assigned to a particular client device

Managing technology on behalf of those on the front lines is complex. Software Manager reduces this complexity for those on the front lines as well as those in IT. It also increases your knowledge of how your frontline investments are being utilized. All of this helps you accomplish the goal you had for your implementation in the first place: productive workers focused on enhancing customer relationships, not on their frontline device.