Tag Archives: Chrome enterprise

Fraikin’s road warriors work anywhere with Chrome devices

Editor’s note: Today’s blog post comes from Franck Lerivrain, Development Manager at Fraikin, one of Europe’s largest commercial vehicle rental and fleet management companies. Fraikin uses Chromebooks, Chromebases and G Suite to enable mobile employee productivity and to reduce IT maintenance efforts.

Every day, Fraikin’s 57,000 trucks travel thousands of miles across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, delivering everything from fresh produce to hospital supplies and newspapers. In France, where we operate 135 branch offices, we want our office employees to be as mobile as our drivers and trucks. They can do their best work when they can go on the road to meet with customers, maintain trucks, and travel between our truck rental locations. Now that we’re building workstations based on Chromebooks and Chromebases, we can give workers access to the applications they need, inside and outside the office.

Before we began using G Suite and Chrome devices, employees used 1,500 PCs in our offices throughout France. The computers ran local versions of the software that employees needed to do their jobs, such as vehicle booking management tools, accounting solutions, and customer databases. Our IT team spent many hours updating and troubleshooting the machines, often traveling to branch offices to keep the PCs up and running.
We can give workers access to the applications they need, inside and outside the office.

Accessing legacy enterprise applications was difficult for employees. They could only use the applications on their own workstations, not on laptops or phones. We have 400 sales reps in France, and they’re usually traveling to meet customers at their own offices. The sales reps couldn’t log into our databases to update customer records until they arrived back at branch offices, nor could they look up information to answer questions from customers.

Acer Chromebase

We needed to swap out the PC workstations for tools that were more flexible, and didn’t demand as much attention from our IT team. These goals were part of our virtual device infrastructure (VDI) initiative, which we hoped would modernize our branch-office technology and allow employees to work even when not at their desks. We’re replacing all 1,500 PCs with all-in-one Chromebases, as well as Chromebooks for employees who need laptops.

As we roll out Chromebooks and Chromebases to French branch offices, we’ll make it easy for employees to find the applications they need, like Google Docs and Google Drive, through the Chrome browser. We’re using Syspertec’s Virtel Web Access, installed on our mainframe computer system, to allow employees to access our legacy applications through Virtel’s thin client emulator. Virtel Web Access replaced software previously installed on each computer to connect people to applications hosted on the mainframe system. Now, anywhere there’s a Chrome browser – on Chromebooks, Chromebases, or Android phones – employees can find G Suite and other enterprise applications and start working.

We expect that the cost of purchasing and maintaining Chromebooks and Chromebases will be only a fifth of the cost of the old PC workstations. Much of the savings will come from reduced maintenance. In addition, we’ll save on the cost of the old software we needed to connect to the mainframe. My IT staff won’t need to travel to branch offices as often, since we can update software from our home office. Employees can simply log in through Chrome and access the latest software, without any action on their end. G Suite is updated automatically, so that’s another maintenance task we can cross off our list.

Our sales teams may benefit the most from flexible hardware and software. They now use Android phones, so if they’re at a customer site and need to look up rental pricing or truck specs, they can find it in just a few taps instead of driving back to the office. Our employees’ new mobility is the right match for a company that’s all about staying on the road and keeping business moving.

Fraikin’s road warriors work anywhere with Chrome devices

Editor’s note: Today’s blog post comes from Franck Lerivrain, Development Manager at Fraikin, one of Europe’s largest commercial vehicle rental and fleet management companies. Fraikin uses Chromebooks, Chromebits and G Suite to enable mobile employee productivity and to reduce IT maintenance efforts.

Every day, Fraikin’s 57,000 trucks travel thousands of miles across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, delivering everything from fresh produce to hospital supplies and newspapers. In France, where we operate 135 branch offices, we want our office employees to be as mobile as our drivers and trucks. They can do their best work when they can go on the road to meet with customers, maintain trucks, and travel between our truck rental locations. Now that we’re building workstations based on Chromebooks and Chromebits, we can give workers access to the applications they need, inside and outside the office.

Before we began using G Suite and Chrome devices, employees used 1,500 PCs in our offices throughout France. The computers ran local versions of the software that employees needed to do their jobs, such as vehicle booking management tools, accounting solutions, and customer databases. Our IT team spent many hours updating and troubleshooting the machines, often traveling to branch offices to keep the PCs up and running.
We can give workers access to the applications they need, inside and outside the office.

Accessing legacy enterprise applications was difficult for employees. They could only use the applications on their own workstations, not on laptops or phones. We have 400 sales reps in France, and they’re usually traveling to meet customers at their own offices. The sales reps couldn’t log into our databases to update customer records until they arrived back at branch offices, nor could they look up information to answer questions from customers.

Chrome OS.png

We needed to swap out the PC workstations for tools that were more flexible, and didn’t demand as much attention from our IT team. These goals were part of our virtual device infrastructure (VDI) initiative, which we hoped would modernize our branch-office technology and allow employees to work even when not at their desks. We’re replacing all 1,500 PCs with Chromebits that plug in to monitors, as well as Chromebooks for employees who need laptops.

As we roll out Chromebooks and Chromebits to French branch offices, we’ll make it easy for employees to find the applications they need, like Google Docs and Google Drive, through the Chrome browser. We’re using Syspertec’s Virtel Web Access, installed on our mainframe computer system, to allow employees to access our legacy applications through Virtel’s thin client emulator. Virtel Web Access replaced software previously installed on each computer to connect people to applications hosted on the mainframe system. Now, anywhere there’s a Chrome browser – on Chromebooks, connected Chromebits, or Android phones – employees can find G Suite and other enterprise applications and start working.

We expect that the cost of purchasing and maintaining Chromebooks and Chromebits will be only a fifth of the cost of the old PC workstations. Much of the savings will come from reduced maintenance. In addition, we’ll save on the cost of the old software we needed to connect to the mainframe. My IT staff won’t need to travel to branch offices as often, since we can update software from our home office. Employees can simply log in through Chrome and access the latest software, without any action on their end. G Suite is updated automatically, so that’s another maintenance task we can cross off our list.

Our sales teams may benefit the most from flexible hardware and software. They now use Android phones, so if they’re at a customer site and need to look up rental pricing or truck specs, they can find it in just a few taps instead of driving back to the office. Our employees’ new mobility is the right match for a company that’s all about staying on the road and keeping business moving.

Système U connects supermarket workers with Chrome and G Suite

Editor’s note: Today’s blog post comes from Philippe Bonnet, G Suite Advisor and Senior Consultant at Système U, a cooperative organization of 1,500 independent supermarkets across France. Système U began as a bread cooperative founded in Western France in 1894, before its creation in 1983. The company adopted Google Chrome browser and G Suite in  2013 to save time for each cooperative team and to allow supermarket employees to work together more efficiently.

Most of Système U’s 60,000 employees interact with customers throughout the work day. In Paris, they roam store aisles helping customers find the groceries they need. In Clermont l'Herault in the South, they may be unloading deliveries. Or in Mulhouse in the East, they might be designing and setting up store displays. What they have in common is that they usually don’t sit in front of a computer all day, nor are they IT experts. Any communication and collaboration tools need to fit the way they serve customers—which is why we chose Chrome browser and G Suite.

Systeme U Chromebook G Suite usage

Before we switched to Chrome and G Suite, employees in our 1,500 stores—from large hypermarkets in big cities to small stores in rural areas—used many different email and productivity tools and web browsers. This was also true for employees like me at our corporate headquarters in Rungis, near Paris or at our IT headquarters in Carquefou, near Nantes. Some of us used Outlook for email, some used GroupWise. Management employees couldn’t easily access their email when they traveled out of the office, so they couldn’t keep their projects operating smoothly from the road.

Most employees used Internet Explorer for web access, but not necessarily the same versions. Both office and store employees use web-based applications for the retail industry. Every time a new version of IE was released, the IT team had to spend many hours making sure the apps were compatible with the updated browsers across all versions. IE’s roadmap also wasn’t very clear to our developers; we didn’t know when updates would occur, and optimizing apps to work with IE was time-consuming and expensive.

In 2013, we began our move to the cloud, and specifically Gmail and Chrome. We wanted to be in the cloud where we wouldn’t have to worry about adding servers to manage email, and employees could access their messages from anywhere,  whether walking through stores or commuting to work. We made Chrome our official browser company-wide, and it’s the only browser we now support, which makes our IT team’s job much easier. It’s a much more transparent and flexible browser—we can choose when and how we receive updates and security fixes, so we know what’s coming and when.
Système U IT

We also made the decision to build the apps used by our employees so that they are compatible with Chrome, even as the browser is updated. This is another way we help both employees and IT staff save time, since users don’t need to worry if their everyday apps will work with the browser.

Now that my technical colleagues and I spend less time trying to make apps function with a browser, we have more time for long-term projects, such as rolling out other G Suite products such as Google Drive, Google Slides, and G+. We just wrapped up a pilot project in nine stores with Google Drive, and employees are very enthusiastic about keeping documents in a central place where their co-workers can share them to keep projects moving along at a steady pace. Our 2017 plan is to deploy Google Drive company-wide.

Système U employees work hard enough without asking them to troubleshoot email or app problems. Any collaboration and email tools we provide to them need to be easy to use right away, without extensive training or ramp-up time. Employees don’t need to be tied to their computers, and they can spend more time doing what they do best—meeting and helping customers face to face in the supermarket aisles.


Système U connects supermarket workers with Chrome and G Suite

Editor’s note: Today’s blog post comes from Philippe Bonnet, G Suite Advisor and Senior Consultant at Système U, a cooperative organization of 1,500 independent supermarkets across France. Système U began as a bread cooperative founded in Western France in 1894, before its creation in 1983. The company adopted Google Chrome browser and G Suite in  2013 to save time for each cooperative team and to allow supermarket employees to work together more efficiently.

Most of Système U’s 60,000 employees interact with customers throughout the work day. In Paris, they roam store aisles helping customers find the groceries they need. In Clermont l'Herault in the South, they may be unloading deliveries. Or in Mulhouse in the East, they might be designing and setting up store displays. What they have in common is that they usually don’t sit in front of a computer all day, nor are they IT experts. Any communication and collaboration tools need to fit the way they serve customers—which is why we chose Chrome browser and G Suite.

Systeme U Chromebook G Suite usage

Before we switched to Chrome and G Suite, employees in our 1,500 stores—from large hypermarkets in big cities to small stores in rural areas—used many different email and productivity tools and web browsers. This was also true for employees like me at our corporate headquarters in Rungis, near Paris or at our IT headquarters in Carquefou, near Nantes. Some of us used Outlook for email, some used GroupWise. Management employees couldn’t easily access their email when they traveled out of the office, so they couldn’t keep their projects operating smoothly from the road.

Most employees used Internet Explorer for web access, but not necessarily the same versions. Both office and store employees use web-based applications for the retail industry. Every time a new version of IE was released, the IT team had to spend many hours making sure the apps were compatible with the updated browsers across all versions. IE’s roadmap also wasn’t very clear to our developers; we didn’t know when updates would occur, and optimizing apps to work with IE was time-consuming and expensive.

In 2013, we began our move to the cloud, and specifically Gmail and Chrome. We wanted to be in the cloud where we wouldn’t have to worry about adding servers to manage email, and employees could access their messages from anywhere,  whether walking through stores or commuting to work. We made Chrome our official browser company-wide, and it’s the only browser we now support, which makes our IT team’s job much easier. It’s a much more transparent and flexible browser—we can choose when and how we receive updates and security fixes, so we know what’s coming and when.
Système U IT

We also made the decision to build the apps used by our employees so that they are compatible with Chrome, even as the browser is updated. This is another way we help both employees and IT staff save time, since users don’t need to worry if their everyday apps will work with the browser.

Now that my technical colleagues and I spend less time trying to make apps function with a browser, we have more time for long-term projects, such as rolling out other G Suite products such as Google Drive, Google Slides, and G+. We just wrapped up a pilot project in nine stores with Google Drive, and employees are very enthusiastic about keeping documents in a central place where their co-workers can share them to keep projects moving along at a steady pace. Our 2017 plan is to deploy Google Drive company-wide.

Système U employees work hard enough without asking them to troubleshoot email or app problems. Any collaboration and email tools we provide to them need to be easy to use right away, without extensive training or ramp-up time. Employees don’t need to be tied to their computers, and they can spend more time doing what they do best—meeting and helping customers face to face in the supermarket aisles.


Source: Google Cloud


Système U connects supermarket workers with Chrome and G Suite

Editor’s note: Today’s blog post comes from Philippe Bonnet, G Suite Advisor and Senior Consultant at Système U, a cooperative organization of 1,500 independent supermarkets across France. Système U began as a bread cooperative founded in Western France in 1894, before its creation in 1983. The company adopted Google Chrome browser and G Suite in  2013 to save time for each cooperative team and to allow supermarket employees to work together more efficiently.

Most of Système U’s 60,000 employees interact with customers throughout the work day. In Paris, they roam store aisles helping customers find the groceries they need. In Clermont l'Herault in the South, they may be unloading deliveries. Or in Mulhouse in the East, they might be designing and setting up store displays. What they have in common is that they usually don’t sit in front of a computer all day, nor are they IT experts. Any communication and collaboration tools need to fit the way they serve customers—which is why we chose Chrome browser and G Suite.

Systeme U Chromebook G Suite usage

Before we switched to Chrome and G Suite, employees in our 1,500 stores—from large hypermarkets in big cities to small stores in rural areas—used many different email and productivity tools and web browsers. This was also true for employees like me at our corporate headquarters in Rungis, near Paris or at our IT headquarters in Carquefou, near Nantes. Some of us used Outlook for email, some used GroupWise. Management employees couldn’t easily access their email when they traveled out of the office, so they couldn’t keep their projects operating smoothly from the road.

Most employees used Internet Explorer for web access, but not necessarily the same versions. Both office and store employees use web-based applications for the retail industry. Every time a new version of IE was released, the IT team had to spend many hours making sure the apps were compatible with the updated browsers across all versions. IE’s roadmap also wasn’t very clear to our developers; we didn’t know when updates would occur, and optimizing apps to work with IE was time-consuming and expensive.

In 2013, we began our move to the cloud, and specifically Gmail and Chrome. We wanted to be in the cloud where we wouldn’t have to worry about adding servers to manage email, and employees could access their messages from anywhere,  whether walking through stores or commuting to work. We made Chrome our official browser company-wide, and it’s the only browser we now support, which makes our IT team’s job much easier. It’s a much more transparent and flexible browser—we can choose when and how we receive updates and security fixes, so we know what’s coming and when.
Système U IT

We also made the decision to build the apps used by our employees so that they are compatible with Chrome, even as the browser is updated. This is another way we help both employees and IT staff save time, since users don’t need to worry if their everyday apps will work with the browser.

Now that my technical colleagues and I spend less time trying to make apps function with a browser, we have more time for long-term projects, such as rolling out other G Suite products such as Google Drive, Google Slides, and G+. We just wrapped up a pilot project in nine stores with Google Drive, and employees are very enthusiastic about keeping documents in a central place where their co-workers can share them to keep projects moving along at a steady pace. Our 2017 plan is to deploy Google Drive company-wide.

Système U employees work hard enough without asking them to troubleshoot email or app problems. Any collaboration and email tools we provide to them need to be easy to use right away, without extensive training or ramp-up time. Employees don’t need to be tied to their computers, and they can spend more time doing what they do best—meeting and helping customers face to face in the supermarket aisles.


How businesses are smartly transforming with Google Cloud, Android, and Chrome

While businesses with a mobile strategy are commonplace today, that doesn’t mean the mobile transformation is over. Today, we’re highlighting how companies are using Google Cloud, Chrome, and Android to reimagine the way they engage customers in public spaces and also equip employees to work more productively in the office and in the field.

Smart signs cut costs and provide customer insights

We recently collaborated with Coca-Cola on Chrome-based digital signs for supermarkets that pull in localized ads from DoubleClick and are equipped with beacon technology for pushing personalized messages to mobile users. 

Coca-Cola digital signage

The company has worked closely with Google Cloud to build a new signage solution that includes affordable digital sign and menu boards for Coca-Cola sellers.

“Our mission at Coca-Cola is to elevate the consumer experience to a place of pure excellence and the ability to send the right message to the right person at the right time is key to driving that world class experience in the connected retail world,” said Greg Chambers, Global Group Director of Digital Innovation at Coca-Cola.

The displays are powered by inexpensive Chromebit devices connected to a content management system (CMS) on Google Cloud Platform. The Chromebits also provide simple, centralized management of the signs. Combined with sensors, they can offer the company detailed, actionable information through Google Analytics as well as highly contextual advertising to other screens like nearby customer smartphones.

Android plus cloud intelligence enables field workers

UK pest control company Rentokil Initial is piloting a fleet of Android devices that utilize Google Cloud machine learning, including our Vision API image classification technology, to help field workers better identify pests and get treatment suggestions. Employees use an Android app to capture images that are identified using a machine learning model that’s been trained on Rentokil’s pest imagery database. The app then provides solutions to eradicate the pests. The PestID app, jointly developed by Accenture Mobility, is among the first wave of solutions Google is helping build as part of an alliance announced last year with Accenture.

Connecting manufacturing to the back office

42Q, a product division of manufacturing services provider Sanmina, developed a Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) solution that runs on Google Cloud Platform. 

42Q Android use in manufacturing

It enables Sanmina employees and 42Q’s customers to bring real-time transparency to their factory operations using Android and Chrome devices. Using 42Q with Chrome, “deskless” back office workers can access work instructions, data requirements, and quality plans without deploying heavy client applications and expensive equipment.

Factory operators can also use the 42Q Android app for a “tailored” mobile interface, ensuring they only see critical information on demand. 

When combined with G Suite, everyone from front office planners to back office operators can collaborate on current production line states, critical orders and real time reporting on factory operations.

Tomorrow’s businesses: empowered with advanced devices, collaboration and context

With a Google Cloud devices and mobility strategy, businesses are able to gather contextual data through devices and apply machine learning analytics to quickly take smart, well-informed actions. And the more employees who use managed Chromebooks and Android devices to collaborate and securely access documents in G Suite, the more efficient your whole team becomes.

Several new devices support this secure data-driven strategy. The Asus Chromebook Flip and recently-announced Samsung Chromebook Pro and Plus function as both a Chromebook and an Android tablet with Google Play support. Last month, AOPEN launched the Chromebox mini and Chromebase mini, which also support Android apps and can use our new Kiosk APIs for improved app management and a robust customer experience.

To learn more about the Google Cloud devices and mobility solutions that enable a connected workspace, visit our booth at Next 2017 between March 8 and 10. There we’ll be demonstrating how a business becomes smarter when you pair Chrome and Android devices, cloud services and sensors with employees, customers and spaces. Or sign up here for additional information as we continue to evolve our range of data-driven tools to make every workspace connected no matter where it is.

Source: Google Cloud


How businesses are smartly transforming with Google Cloud, Android, and Chrome

While businesses with a mobile strategy are commonplace today, that doesn’t mean the mobile transformation is over. Today, we’re highlighting how companies are using Google Cloud, Chrome, and Android to reimagine the way they engage customers in public spaces and also equip employees to work more productively in the office and in the field.

Smart signs cut costs and provide customer insights

We recently collaborated with Coca-Cola on Chrome-based digital signs for supermarkets that pull in localized ads from DoubleClick and are equipped with beacon technology for pushing personalized messages to mobile users. 

Coca-Cola digital signage

The company has worked closely with Google Cloud to build a new signage solution that includes affordable digital sign and menu boards for Coca-Cola sellers.

“Our mission at Coca-Cola is to elevate the consumer experience to a place of pure excellence and the ability to send the right message to the right person at the right time is key to driving that world class experience in the connected retail world,” said Greg Chambers, Global Group Director of Digital Innovation at Coca-Cola.

The displays are powered by inexpensive Chromebit devices connected to a content management system (CMS) on Google Cloud Platform. The Chromebits also provide simple, centralized management of the signs. Combined with sensors, they can offer the company detailed, actionable information through Google Analytics as well as highly contextual advertising to other screens like nearby customer smartphones.

Android plus cloud intelligence enables field workers

UK pest control company Rentokil Initial is piloting a fleet of Android devices that utilize Google Cloud machine learning, including our Vision API image classification technology, to help field workers better identify pests and get treatment suggestions. Employees use an Android app to capture images that are identified using a machine learning model that’s been trained on Rentokil’s pest imagery database. The app then provides solutions to eradicate the pests. The PestID app, jointly developed by Accenture Mobility, is among the first wave of solutions Google is helping build as part of an alliance announced last year with Accenture.

Connecting manufacturing to the back office

42Q, a product division of manufacturing services provider Sanmina, developed a Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) solution that runs on Google Cloud Platform. 

42Q Android use in manufacturing

It enables Sanmina employees and 42Q’s customers to bring real-time transparency to their factory operations using Android and Chrome devices. Using 42Q with Chrome, “deskless” back office workers can access work instructions, data requirements, and quality plans without deploying heavy client applications and expensive equipment.

Factory operators can also use the 42Q Android app for a “tailored” mobile interface, ensuring they only see critical information on demand. 

When combined with G Suite, everyone from front office planners to back office operators can collaborate on current production line states, critical orders and real time reporting on factory operations.

Tomorrow’s businesses: empowered with advanced devices, collaboration and context

With a Google Cloud devices and mobility strategy, businesses are able to gather contextual data through devices and apply machine learning analytics to quickly take smart, well-informed actions. And the more employees who use managed Chromebooks and Android devices to collaborate and securely access documents in G Suite, the more efficient your whole team becomes.

Several new devices support this secure data-driven strategy. The Asus Chromebook Flip and recently-announced Samsung Chromebook Pro and Plus function as both a Chromebook and an Android tablet with Google Play support. Last month, AOPEN launched the Chromebox mini and Chromebase mini, which also support Android apps and can use our new Kiosk APIs for improved app management and a robust customer experience.

To learn more about the Google Cloud devices and mobility solutions that enable a connected workspace, visit our booth at Next 2017 between March 8 and 10. There we’ll be demonstrating how a business becomes smarter when you pair Chrome and Android devices, cloud services and sensors with employees, customers and spaces. Or sign up here for additional information as we continue to evolve our range of data-driven tools to make every workspace connected no matter where it is.

How businesses are smartly transforming with Google Cloud, Android, and Chrome

While businesses with a mobile strategy are commonplace today, that doesn’t mean the mobile transformation is over. Today, we’re highlighting how companies are using Google Cloud, Chrome, and Android to reimagine the way they engage customers in public spaces and also equip employees to work more productively in the office and in the field.

Smart signs cut costs and provide customer insights

We recently collaborated with Coca-Cola on Chrome-based digital signs for supermarkets that pull in localized ads from DoubleClick and are equipped with beacon technology for pushing personalized messages to mobile users. 

Coca-Cola digital signage

The company has worked closely with Google Cloud to build a new signage solution that includes affordable digital sign and menu boards for Coca-Cola sellers.

“Our mission at Coca-Cola is to elevate the consumer experience to a place of pure excellence and the ability to send the right message to the right person at the right time is key to driving that world class experience in the connected retail world,” said Greg Chambers, Global Group Director of Digital Innovation at Coca-Cola.

The displays are powered by inexpensive Chromebit devices connected to a content management system (CMS) on Google Cloud Platform. The Chromebits also provide simple, centralized management of the signs. Combined with sensors, they can offer the company detailed, actionable information through Google Analytics as well as highly contextual advertising to other screens like nearby customer smartphones.

Android plus cloud intelligence enables field workers

UK pest control company Rentokil Initial is piloting a fleet of Android devices that utilize Google Cloud machine learning, including our Vision API image classification technology, to help field workers better identify pests and get treatment suggestions. Employees use an Android app to capture images that are identified using a machine learning model that’s been trained on Rentokil’s pest imagery database. The app then provides solutions to eradicate the pests. The PestID app, jointly developed by Accenture Mobility, is among the first wave of solutions Google is helping build as part of an alliance announced last year with Accenture.

Connecting manufacturing to the back office

42Q, a product division of manufacturing services provider Sanmina, developed a Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) solution that runs on Google Cloud Platform. 

42Q Android use in manufacturing

It enables Sanmina employees and 42Q’s customers to bring real-time transparency to their factory operations using Android and Chrome devices. Using 42Q with Chrome, “deskless” back office workers can access work instructions, data requirements, and quality plans without deploying heavy client applications and expensive equipment.

Factory operators can also use the 42Q Android app for a “tailored” mobile interface, ensuring they only see critical information on demand. 

When combined with G Suite, everyone from front office planners to back office operators can collaborate on current production line states, critical orders and real time reporting on factory operations.

Tomorrow’s businesses: empowered with advanced devices, collaboration and context

With a Google Cloud devices and mobility strategy, businesses are able to gather contextual data through devices and apply machine learning analytics to quickly take smart, well-informed actions. And the more employees who use managed Chromebooks and Android devices to collaborate and securely access documents in G Suite, the more efficient your whole team becomes.

Several new devices support this secure data-driven strategy. The Asus Chromebook Flip and recently-announced Samsung Chromebook Pro and Plus function as both a Chromebook and an Android tablet with Google Play support. Last month, AOPEN launched the Chromebox mini and Chromebase mini, which also support Android apps and can use our new Kiosk APIs for improved app management and a robust customer experience.

To learn more about the Google Cloud devices and mobility solutions that enable a connected workspace, visit our booth at Next 2017 between March 8 and 10. There we’ll be demonstrating how a business becomes smarter when you pair Chrome and Android devices, cloud services and sensors with employees, customers and spaces. Or sign up here for additional information as we continue to evolve our range of data-driven tools to make every workspace connected no matter where it is.

Chrome expands business opportunities with Android Kiosk apps and improved device management

Over time, we’ve continued to create new and better ways to use Chrome devices. What started out as a secure, quick and shareable consumer laptop built on the Chrome browser has expanded to digital signage, now used in thousands of Toyota showrooms, small computing sticks called Chromebits, and kiosk devices that securely provide single use apps for both business employees and customers.

We’re continuing to invest in Chrome through recently launched hardware, more Chrome device management controls and the introduction of Android Kiosk apps on devices that support them. Many kiosk devices already rely on Android applications, so the addition of Android kiosk apps on Chrome is a natural expansion. It also broadens the possibilities for digital signs and kiosks on Chrome devices, providing the option of either a web or Android app approach.

Chrome version 57, coming soon, adds this support for Android kiosk apps as well as for kiosk application management. An app in Google Play can be pushed to a Chrome device and then be locked down so that the application is front and center.

That means an IT admin has the flexibility to install either Chrome Kiosk apps or Android Kiosk apps on managed devices through the Chrome Management console, which decreases deployment time and effort. Additionally, with Public Session Kiosks, an IT admin has the ability to install many more Chrome packaged apps and extensions in addition to hosted apps.

Kiosk app management

We’re also making it easier to manage Chrome devices with two additional developments.

First, we’re making it simple for you to sign up for a Chrome kiosk, doing away with complex domain registration and verification steps. Your name, email address and phone number is all you need to sign up and manage your devices. With this feature, we also provide two trial licenses so that you can get started immediately. Click here to learn more.

Second, we’re launching a new Chrome Device Management (CDM) APIs for Kiosks. These APIs offer programmatic access to various Kiosk policies. IT admins can schedule a device reboot through the new APIs, for example, and integrate that functionality directly in a third party console. Additionally, we added a new stability API that allows Kiosk app developers to improve the reliability of the application and the system.

Many Chrome devices can take full advantage of these new features including the recently launched AOPEN Chromebox mini and Chromebase mini.

CrowdDJ Android app on Chromebase mini

Chromebase mini is a full computing device with 10.1-inch touchscreen, which is ideal for customer-facing applications, even those that are Android-based. Australia-based Nightlife Music, for example, installs its crowdDJ Android app on these kiosk devices at dance clubs, gyms, hotels and other venues, letting customers control the beat. When paired with a display, the AOPEN Chromebox mini also creates a compelling digital sign with Chrome and Android kiosk apps.

To learn more about the many new Chrome 57 features and see the AOPEN devices that can help build your business, come visit our booth at Next 2017 this week or visit this page for additional information.

Chrome expands business opportunities with Android Kiosk apps and improved device management

Over time, we’ve continued to create new and better ways to use Chrome devices. What started out as a secure, quick and shareable consumer laptop built on the Chrome browser has expanded to digital signage, now used in thousands of Toyota showrooms, small computing sticks called Chromebits, and kiosk devices that securely provide single use apps for both business employees and customers.

We’re continuing to invest in Chrome through recently launched hardware, more Chrome device management controls and the introduction of Android Kiosk apps on devices that support them. Many kiosk devices already rely on Android applications, so the addition of Android kiosk apps on Chrome is a natural expansion. It also broadens the possibilities for digital signs and kiosks on Chrome devices, providing the option of either a web or Android app approach.

Chrome version 57, coming soon, adds this support for Android kiosk apps as well as for kiosk application management. An app in Google Play can be pushed to a Chrome device and then be locked down so that the application is front and center.

That means an IT admin has the flexibility to install either Chrome Kiosk apps or Android Kiosk apps on managed devices through the Chrome Management console, which decreases deployment time and effort. Additionally, with Public Session Kiosks, an IT admin has the ability to install many more Chrome packaged apps and extensions in addition to hosted apps.

Kiosk app management

We’re also making it easier to manage Chrome devices with two additional developments.

First, we’re making it simple for you to sign up for a Chrome kiosk, doing away with complex domain registration and verification steps. Your name, email address and phone number is all you need to sign up and manage your devices. With this feature, we also provide two trial licenses so that you can get started immediately. Click here to learn more.

Second, we’re launching new Chrome Device Management (CDM) APIs for Kiosks. These APIs offer programmatic access to various Kiosk policies. IT admins can schedule a device reboot through the new APIs, for example, and integrate that functionality directly in a third party console. Additionally, we added a new stability API that allows Kiosk app developers to improve the reliability of the application and the system.

Many Chrome devices can take full advantage of these new features including the recently launched AOPEN Chromebox Mini and Chromebase Mini.

CrowdDJ Android app on Chromebase mini

Chromebase Mini is a full computing device with 10.1-inch touchscreen, which is ideal for customer-facing applications, even those that are Android-based. Australia-based Nightlife Music, for example, installs its crowdDJ Android app on these kiosk devices at dance clubs, gyms, hotels and other venues, letting customers control the beat. When paired with a display, the AOPEN Chromebox Mini also creates a compelling digital sign with Chrome and Android kiosk apps.

To learn more about the many new Chrome 57 features and see the AOPEN devices that can help build your business, come visit our booth at Next 2017 this week or visit this page for additional information.