The Biggest Mistakes Businesses Make with Mobile Deployment Programs

If you’ve bought mobile devices in a rush, and handed them out to employees even quicker, only to later ask, “Have we actually thought about how we’re going to manage and secure these things?”, you’ve come to the right place. Many businesses purchase devices, give them to employees, and only deal with the IT issues afterwards. That’s a big pain.

All the headaches that this causes start with one common misconception: thinking that deployment solely means distributing devices. Contrary to popular belief, deployment is about building a secure, manageable, and scalable environment. If you skip the planning stage, the problems creep in later: hidden costs, frustrated employees, unsupported devices, and serious security risks.

I know this because I’ve spent years helping businesses roll out mobile devices. So I’ve seen companies of every size make the same mistakes — not because they’re careless, but because they don’t know what deployment really involves. But luckily, we have the ability to learn from the mistakes of others.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the biggest pitfalls, explain why they matter, and show you how to avoid them so your business can get mobile deployment right the first time (or turn things around if you’re struggling).

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What This Blog Covers:

• Treating Deployment as Just “Handing Out Phones”
• Underestimating the Real Costs
• Leaving Out Employees in the Rollout
• Weak (or No) Security
  
• Overlooking Lifecycle Management
• Buying Older Devices to Save Money
• Struggling in Silence
  
  

Mistake 1: Treating Deployment as Just “Handing Out Phones”

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen so many businesses make is thinking that deployment simply means the act of distributing devices. In other words, mobile deployment is only looked at from a logistics perspective, and not the IT strategy that it is. I can’t tell you how many times companies have bought devices and handed them out without involving IT, only to realise later that they hadn’t thought about management or security. Even though these would be corporate-owned devices, if deployment is treated as an afterthought, you’ll face the same risks as having unmanaged personal devices: gaps in security, poor visibility of devices, and a lot of wasted time.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Involve IT from the very start: Don’t separate “buying phones” from “managing phones” – they’re the same program.
• Think beyond distribution: Plan for security, updates, and long-term management before rollout.
• Make security a priority: Treat mobile devices as business endpoints, no different to laptops or desktops.

Mistake 2: Underestimating the Real Costs

Businesses often budget for devices but overlook the hidden costs: securing them, configuring them, training end-users, and ongoing support. It’s common to underestimate the costs of deployment because people assume everyone already knows how to use a phone responsibly. While that may be true, using a phone in a corporate environment is quite different and requires a comprehensive mobile strategy.

If you haven’t factored these costs in early, you’re bound to run into some resistance from higher up the chain. When these additional costs creep up, you’ll be left with the daunting task of requesting a budget to secure devices. But because you would’ve been under the misconception that deployment solely entailed handing out phones – and therefore, communicated that with leadership – it will look like an unplanned expense. Trust me, it’s much easier if it’s budgeted for in the first place.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Budget for security, configuration, and training from day one.
• Factor in the cost of potential downtime if devices aren’t managed properly.
• Work with a partner who can help you make the business case to senior leadership and help them understand that these are necessary expenses.

Mistake 3: Leaving Out Employees in the Rollout

Arguably, the most important people you need to get buy-in from are the employees who are expected to use the phones. If you don’t involve the end users ahead of the deployment, you won’t really know how they’re using the devices (if they’re actually using them in the first place) — and that creates risks. Staff will often turn to their own solutions if the company-issued ones don’t fit their needs. That’s where shadow IT creeps in: unapproved apps, personal devices, and risky workarounds.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Pilot devices with a test group of employees before rolling out devices across the business.
• Gather feedback to understand their pain points and how they use the devices day-to-day.
• Provide proper training — even if you think “everyone knows how to use a phone.” They don’t necessarily know how to use it securely at work.

Mistake 4: Weak (or No) Security

This one sends chills down my spine and is something many of us are guilty of with our personal devices. Many businesses rely on default passcodes – that could be 1234 for all they know – or biometrics and call that “security.” Without mobile device management (MDM) or unified endpoint management (UEM), you’re leaving the back door open.

This is why having mobile security policies – like password hygiene – firmly in place ahead of deployment is crucial: it avoids exposing your business to all kinds of security risks. I like to refer to mobiles as “pocket computers” because a mobile phone is an endpoint. Just like a laptop or tablet, it holds company data that needs to be kept secure at all costs.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Use strong passcodes, biometrics, and enforce MFA (multi-factor authentication).
• Deploy MDM/UEM so devices can be locked or wiped remotely.
• Apply conditional access policies (e.g., through Microsoft environments) for added control.

Mistake 5: Overlooking Lifecycle Management

Many smaller businesses don’t have visibility of their devices – usually because they have lean IT teams who simply can’t afford to be stretched any further. They might keep a spreadsheet to keep track of all the devices in the company (which is in itself a full-time job), but it’s often out of date and reliant on one person walking around the office asking everyone questions about their phones. But what happens when that person leaves? The system collapses, leaving devices unmanaged and unaccounted for.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Use a proper lifecycle management system — don’t rely on spreadsheets.
• Plan refresh cycles — selling or recycling devices earlier often saves money in the long term.

Mistake 6: Buying Older Devices to Save Money

Look, I get that “sweating” devices (i.e., keeping them until they stop working) or buying older devices makes financial sense on paper. However, doing so only multiplies your risks: I’m talking failing batteries, unsupported operating systems, lower resale value, and security vulnerabilities. It’s about balance: you don’t always need the latest model, but you shouldn’t buy something already on its way out.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Check the support lifespan of any device before you purchase it.
• Avoid devices more than two years old — they won’t be secure for long enough.

Mistake 7: Struggling in Silence

Last but certainly not least is the mistake of IT managers trying to do everything manually and assuming that’s just how it has to be. (Remember that bloke I mentioned earlier, trying to keep track of everything on a spreadsheet? That’s something you don’t want to do.) If configuring and updating devices is eating up your time, it’s probably because you don’t have the right tools or support in place. There are far easier ways to do this, and the right partner can show you how – or better yet, do it for you.

How to avoid this mistake:

• If deployment feels painful, take that as a sign to look into simplifying the process.
• Ask your provider for demos of management tools that can automate the heavy lifting.
• Look at how solutions can improve other areas of your business, not just mobile.

Ready to Get Deployment Right?

Mobile deployment doesn’t need to be as overwhelming as it feels. With the right approach, you can take control, avoid common pitfalls, and roll out devices in a way that’s secure, scalable, and far less stressful.

Too many businesses still treat deployment as just “handing out phones” — and that’s where costs rise, employees get frustrated, and the business is left dangerously exposed. The reality is, if you don’t plan properly, you’ll pay for it later.

As someone who has helped many businesses navigate these challenges, I can give guidance on what a successful mobile deployment program looks like. This has also come from witnessing firsthand where businesses tend to go wrong. By fleshing these out in this article, you now have a better understanding of how to build a mobile strategy that works for the long term.

To make this easier, you’re more than welcome to get in touch with me directly. I’ll evaluate your current approach, uncover hidden risks, and make sure your next rollout is set up for success.