Why Companies Are Switching from Windows to Android...and Why it's Paying Off for Enterprise Users

Microsoft Windows has been the go-to operating system for enterprise desktop and mobile computing for decades, but things have changed dramatically in recent years. Many businesses are migrating from Windows to Android as their mobile OS of choice, and the top enterprise-grade mobile computer manufacturers have also switched to Android as their primary platform.

Why are organizations switching to Android?

There are some crucial reasons why this is happening, including how much easier Android is for workers to use, how customizable the OS is, and how much faster and more easily companies can deploy or develop apps with Android.

But the biggest factor in the switch from Windows to Android is Microsoft’s waning and poor support for enterprise mobile computing. This includes the fact that Windows mobile operating systems no longer support many of the screen sizes and device form factors that companies use in their operations, and Microsoft has dramatically reduced the number of years that it will support and continue to patch and update each version of its OS.

There is also no direct upgrade path from older versions of Windows Embedded Handheld systems to Windows 10 IoT, and upgrading to Windows 10 IoT requires rewriting apps and databases as well as reconfiguring company wireless networks.

It all adds up to a world of headaches and obstacles for company IT personnel, who’ve largely continued to rely on older versions of Windows mobile. These older versions are no longer supported and don’t provide security updates or patches, which leaves companies at major risk.

For device manufacturers like Zebra Technologies, they saw the writing on the wall years ago and spent the past several years developing entire fleets of Android mobile devices that make updating and migrating vastly easier. These devices offer much longer support periods with ongoing security updates, and provide a more modern and familiar interface to improve mobile efficiency and productivity in the workplace.

The switch to Android is paying off for 5 major reasons

1. Android is Now a Highly Secure Enterprise OS. Thanks to mobile device management tools developed by Zebra Technologies and available on the latest Zebra Android mobile computers, Android OS is now a highly secure enterprise platform.

With Zebra’s mobile device management and security tools, companies have complete control over every device, connection and user. You can completely control each device and application as well as network and data access. Over-the-air updates also make it easy to apply the latest security patches and keep your devices secure.

Ultimately, you can lock down every device and you can monitor and control authentication, usage, apps, and connections in the same way you’ve always done with Windows mobile.

2. Android is Easier to Use. Since it was designed from the ground up to be extremely intuitive, simple, and easy to use with touch interactions, Android offers the best ease of use of any enterprise-grade mobile OS.

Android’s touch screen simplicity streamlines workflows with easy-to-use app interfaces plus the ability to customize enterprise home screens, create single-button app launches, and use virtual keyboards to improve data entry efficiency and error-proof processes.

Also, since many enterprise workers already use Android on their personal smartphones and tablets, it’s easy for them to learn the OS on their enterprise devices, and it significantly reduces training time requirements.

3. Android is an Open-Source OS. Android is a flexible and open-source OS, which means you can modify the platform and add capabilities and restrictions that aren’t supported in the core OS. Zebra has done this by creating an extensive set of barcode scanning, security, device management, and other tools you can use to turn your Android devices into enterprise automation and mobility powerhouses.

4. Development is Faster & Easier. Android has a whole host of development resources, a massive global developer community, and access to help resources, sample code, and thousands of enterprise app store apps. These combine to make it much faster and easier for companies to migrate to a more modern OS and rewrite or create new apps for their mobile workflows.

5. You Can Get Lifetime Support with Android. As of the release of Windows 8, Microsoft eliminated extended support options for its mobile operating systems, but you can get OS support and security updates for the lifetime of your devices with Android.

As a starter, Google offers a standard support period of 5 years, but with extended support options from manufacturers such as Zebra, you can get up to 10 years of guaranteed OS support and security updates.

With Zebra’s LifeGuard™ for Android, for example, you can add up to 5 years of support to Google’s standard 5 years, for a full decade of peace of mind, security, and over-the-air updates that make it easy to keep your hardware updated and protected.

Getting Help with Windows to Android Migration

There are many great reasons to consider a switch from Windows to Android for your enterprise mobile workflows, but a lot of businesses are busy with the challenges of their day-to-day operations, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and other issues. So the prospect of changing mobile operating systems can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.

With Android, migrating and updating your OS has never been easier, and our team at Sequoia Technologies can help you by providing end-to-end consultation, migration, development, deployment, and support.

If you’d like to learn more about migrating from Windows to Android, start by connecting with us and scheduling a discovery call. We’ll share insights, how the process might work for your company, and more information on use cases, benefits, and what you can expect.