Mobile Device Battery Monitoring: What It Is and Why You Need It

If your business relies on mobile devices, you have probably paid a hefty price for battery failure. It happens more often than you might think–and costs more too. Here are a few statistics that outline the problem of poor battery management:     

• 80 percent of companies report device battery failure during shifts    
• 41 percent of workers list batteries as a top cause of device failure
• 74 minutes of productivity are lost on average when batteries fail mid-shift

The total cost of productivity loss is estimated to be up to $1 million for a company with a remote staff of 500, and it all boils down to poor battery management.  

Sure, all batteries have limited lifespans. Recharging or replacing them should factor into your total cost of ownership calculations. The real financial losses come when batteries fail unexpectedly in the middle of a shift, stopping your operation in its tracks.

However, this type of failure is both predictable and preventable, which is why this statistic is so surprising: Only 21 percent of companies report complete visibility into mobile technology fleets, including the batteries that keep devices working. That’s despite the widespread availability–and strong return on investment (ROI)–of proven device management solutions. Here’s what mobile battery monitoring looks like for today’s enterprise mobility solutions. 

"Only 21 percent of companies report complete visibility into mobile technology fleets, including the batteries that keep devices working."

-SOTI

Quick Introduction to Mobile Device Battery Monitoring

Battery monitoring systems aren’t new. Electric forklift charging systems have used them for decades. They’re built into most consumer electric vehicle batteries. You can see how full your phone battery is at a glance. A mobile device battery monitoring system brings the same capabilities but with much more insight.  

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solutions bring all the tools and services you need to remotely manage device fleets on a single pane of glass. In our previous post, we explained how it helps to choose EMM software with an integrated diagnostic intelligence system. These tools offer total visibility on performance for devices, apps, batteries, signal strength, and incidents.  

Battery performance is part of the diagnostic intelligence your EMM should offer. Ideally, the battery monitoring tool will do two things: Track key battery metrics and use that data to manage batteries better. Look for battery performance tools that track: 

• Battery charge levels, or how much capacity the battery retains at any time, including historical readings 

• Battery charge cycles, or how many times the battery has been drained and recharged since the first use

• Charging details, such as batteries left charging past full, charged to less than 100 percent capacity or charged to 100 percent then unplugged 

• Battery temperature, ideally divided into ranges like too cold, too hot, and normal

• Battery age, understanding how many more charge cycles the battery has before it needs to be replaced

Using these and other data points, some EMM systems can diagnose specific problems or help you predict future mid-shift failures. For example, EMM tools can provide a list of the top battery-draining apps on the device. They can also provide data on which batteries may fail during future shifts or batteries that need to be replaced completely to avoid device downtime. 

A battery insight dashboard helps you keep your mobile fleet operating, which keeps businesses running smoothly. But the benefits don’t end with your bottom line. Better battery management can also help keep harmful e-waste from damaging ecosystems.         

How Battery Management Helps Meet Sustainability Goals

Without visibility into your fleet’s batteries, you have one choice: Replace every battery before it runs out and causes device downtime. This approach is financially inefficient. Even worse, it contributes to huge e-waste streams. 

Monitoring your batteries allows you to diagnose problems that are fixable without having to dispose of working batteries. It also gives you an advanced warning, so you have time to set up more sustainable disposal for batteries that must be replaced. 

All these capabilities can help reduce e-waste outputs and energy usage across your organization and all at a relatively low cost. The financial factor matters, since only 44 percent of global IT decision-makers said 33 percent of annual budgets are allocated to replacing batteries. Battery management helps you use existing batteries longer and buy new ones less often—the perfect blend of thrift and sustainability.