When it comes to technology, private label devices are very common. All devices have an operating system (OS) installed and the Android OS is the most used, with roughly 2.5 billion devices active worldwide. Android software is open source and highly customizable making it the go to platform for private label technology manufacturers. This allows device manufacturers (such as Social Mobile) to make private label Android devices in a variety of form factors, for a variety of use cases. White labelling Android hardware allows you to customize the device, the operating system, application levels, boot animation, language, packaging etc. Continue reading for more details on the different types of private label Android devices possible.

Private Label Android Hardware Form Factors:

• Private Label Tablets
• Private Label Phones
• Private Label Kiosks
• Private Label POS

Private label Android tablets are a great option for any business with a large workforce that needs a custom solution. Rather than taking off the shelf products that are typically made for consumer use, you can sit with an Android hardware manufacturer and come up with a custom solution that suits your exact use case. Designing a private label tablet gives you complete control over the style and features, while keeping the cost lower than most off the shelf options.

When making private label Android tablets, we’ve had requests from customers that cover a wide range of aspects from “rugged design” all the way down to “product life cycle extension” requests. In one case, our client has employees that are constantly working outdoors in extreme heat and sunlight and they needed a tablet with a special screen designed to allow for reading in bright sunlight, without draining the battery very quickly. In this situation, an off the shelf product didn’t exist so we sat with the client, spec’d out their requirements and came back to them with a private label Android tablet that incorporated all their requests. Today, that company’s 1500+ employees are all using on-brand tablets that allow them to easily complete their daily tasks regardless of sunlight or temperature.

Like private label tablets, custom made Android phones are gaining in popularity across enterprises worldwide. That being said, white label Android phones are nothing new. Since 2011, Social Mobile has been designing private label Android phones for use in a variety of industries and environments. The reason custom phones are gaining in popularity is because enterprises are realizing that in stock, off the shelf phones don’t fit the wide-ranging needs of their employees, and they come at a much higher cost.

Off the shelf phones from the most recognizable names in the industry present challenges to organizations looking to scale. First, they are expensive and come with lots of features that are not needed (and in many cases, not wanted). Second, they are not regularly available. When you buy a consumer grade phone today, there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to source the same unit when you need more in 6 months. That means that your IT department needs to manage multiple SKU’s. In most cases, when a consumer phone is released onto the market, it is only 1 year before that product is replaced with a newer version (think of Apple releasing a new model iPhone every year). Sourcing the needed device becomes increasingly difficult.

Customer experience is a huge initiative in many enterprises, and that has led to the rising popularity of Kiosks. In many situations, kiosks are brought in to engage customers or patients, while reducing human error. If your customer gets the wrong order or incorrect treatment, their experience with your brand will be tarnished. In today’s highly competitive business landscape, companies cannot afford to lose customers, and therefore kiosks are becoming commonplace in many places they never existed.

For companies who want the entire customer experience to be special and on-brand, they turn to a Private Label Kiosk solution. Private label Android kiosks allow complete customization on everything including screen size, screen type, kiosk height, payments accepted (if any) and many other specs. Private label Android kiosks come with your brand name on it, so if the customer enjoys their experience, or even wants to share it with their friends, your brand name is associated with that positive experience.

Some of the most common places to find custom Android Kiosks are fast food restaurants (place your order on a self-service kiosk at McDonald’s or Burger King), hotels (you check into your room using a branded kiosk at the front desk) and hospitals (for patient intake or directory information). Kiosks are also beginning to pop up at sporting/concert venues, retail stores, and restaurants.

Similar to tablets, phones and kiosks, legacy POS systems that are one size fits all just don’t cut it for today’s retailers or food service providers. The retail industry can ill afford to lose even more customers to the internet, so they must keep up to date with the latest technologies that enhance their customers’ experience and keeps them coming back. In restaurants, speed and accuracy is critical to the success of the establishment. Long wait times and/or incorrect orders are sure to drive your customers away. The retailers and restaurants who will still be standing after the retail destruction caused by the internet are the ones who embraced technology and used it to create an experience their customers will enjoy and remember. That’s where private label mPOS solutions come into play.

Private label POS solutions are great for companies that want to have a mobile point of sale system that employees can carry around with them. A mobile point of sale (mPOS) is a tablet, phone or any wireless device that can handle the same tasks as a hard-wired legacy POS system. The components of an mPOS vary by use case, but the most frequently utilized components are credit card readers and barcode scanners. To stick with the theme of providing an on brand customer experience, many of the largest retailers in the world are replacing their legacy POS systems with a private label mPOS solutions.

Although you have many options when choosing a mobile device for your organization, consumer grade devices won’t cut it. If you are looking for an enterprise grade device, and want it to be low cost, readily available and branded for your company, going with a private label solution makes the most sense. Thanks to the flexibility and security of the Android OS, we can customize hardware to be useful for any use case.

If your company wants to learn more about white label custom device solutions, please reach out for further information.