Taking In-Flight Efficiency to New Heights with Apple Managed Devices

Overview

For airlines, pilots and their cabin crew, mobile devices are critical to day-to-day operational efficiency, safety, and profitability. The devices serve as both an EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) and an in-flight POS (Point-of-Sale) tool.

When a world leading airline needed to refresh its existing flight attendant mobile solution, Denali delivered a solution with Apple devices that increased efficiency and improved the passenger experience.

Challenge

When the airline approached Denali in July, 2019, it needed to replace its current mobile device solution fast, as their current inventory of Android devices was due to become obsolete by December 2021.

The airline wanted a new solution that would be simple to launch, maintain, and had longevity. In particular, the company was also looking to:

  • Switch to Apple iOS® devices to deliver a better experience for its flight attendants
  • Achieve more transparent reporting and analytics on its fleet health
  • Improve the passenger experience for inflight payments

The airline faced difficult logistical challenges in achieving its objectives. A managed service provider needed to have all components required for this project available and up and running before December 2021, imposing a tight timeframe of just one year for completion.

Additionally, ensuring receipt of the devices by 28,000 individuals who are constantly travelling – with variable schedules and short stays in any one location – presented exceptional implementation challenges.

Solution

Switching to Apple iOS® devices enabled flight attendants to perform flight management, safety tasks and onboard sales more easily. The iOS® devices hosted purpose-built software applications that automate other functions previously carried out manually. EFBs are a mandatory, federally-regulated component of flight attendants’ workday. Both EFBs and in-flight POS systems are paramount to the smooth and secure running of flight operations around the globe.

  • Our inventory management and scheduling capabilities ensured secure and reliable delivery of iPhone® 12 for all flight attendants.
  • Denali set-up an ordering portal that allowed flight attendants to select both the location and arrival day of their mobile device kits.
  • Denali worked closely with the client to ensure standard applications were deployed across all devices.
  • We supported a custom solution, with peripherals coming from different vendors around the world integrated into one combined solution.
  • Assisted the transition from the existing SOTI platform to the Jamf Apple device management solution within just one month.
  • Designed a custom-branded unboxing experience for flight attendants that also served as reverse logistics for legacy retired phones.
  • Denali’s global 24/7 managed service desk was implemented, supported by hundreds of knowledge-based articles and knowledge transfer content.
  • Help desk services were ramped up based on the volume of deployments needed.
  • Implemented 2D barcoding for optimized ongoing asset management, helping to safeguard the company’s assets throughout their deployment.

Results

Device deployment was successfully completed in less than 3 months. Denali’s faster and easier device delivery, deployment, and activation ensured that each flight attendant was quickly equipped and ready to go.

30,000+

mobile devices secured

3 mo.

Full depoyment in less than 3 months

28,000

flight attendants across America fully equipped

Ready to get an enterprise IT partner for the long haul?