How to choose a tablet stand for your business

When people talk about tablet stands, it’s important to appreciate there are often two components involved.

They generally include the enclosure which goes around the device that then attaches to the physical stand, which positions the tablet where you want it.

Featured products: Elite Tablet Stands

Enclosures come in a variety of models and types. There are secure enclosures that can be locked to protect your device against theft, and there are also enclosures with metal faceplates to protect the device against damage.

These enclosures then pair with a range of stands that allow you to mount your device to a wall or position it where you want to.

Featured products: Elite Tablet Stand

Stand types then include:

Wall mounts – These allow you to affix a tablet to a wall. The tablet can sit flush with the wall or have a stand with a slight protrusion that allows the tablet to be set or shifted to a 45-degree angle or pivot between landscape and portrait mode.

Desktop stands – Desktop stands can be freestanding or securely affixed to a desk or tabletop. They can also offer features like a 45-degree angle for ease of use or might include the ability to pivot, swivel, or flip the tablet.

Freestanding floor stands – As the name implies, a freestanding floor stand allows the tablet to be positioned at use height on a stand which is either affixed to the floor or can be moved. Again, these are available with features like 45-degree angles and the ability to pivot, swivel or flip.

As much as every business would love to enjoy unlimited financial resources, that’s rarely a reality, so the budget will obviously come into play.

When it comes to the economic side of things, it’s also not about going for the cheapest immediate option.

Instead, it would be best to look for durable stands suited to your business environment, then consider whether these tablet stands will be adaptable enough to suit your business over time.

For example, ask yourself:

• Can they accommodate devices in different sizes as new tablet models roll out?

• Are replacement parts available, or will you need to replace the entire stand?

• Are the materials used suited to your environment?

Featured products: Touch Universal Tablet Stands

When it comes to selecting the right stand for your business environment, these are the top questions to ask yourself:

• How will the tablet be used?
  This determines the materials required (for example, whether they need to be highly durable). It also helps determine the type of stand (wall mount, desktop, freestanding) along with whether additional security features like enclosure locks are needed or whether you require the tablet stand to pivot, swivel, or flip.
• Where will it be positioned?
  Like the above question, this determines the type of stand required.
• Is my tablet at risk of damage and theft?
  If it’s in an environment where the tablet might be targeted for theft, a lockable enclosure is recommended. Meanwhile, if it’s in a high-traffic area where it could get damaged (for example, a commercial kitchen), steel faceplates and durable enclosures are something to consider.
• What is the look of my environment?
  Stands and enclosures are available in a range of designs, colors, and styles to suit the look of any business.
• What about cable management?
  Cables not only look unsightly, but they can also pose a hazard in a business environment, so it pays to factor cable management into the tablet stand equation.
  If you are wall mounting the tablet, the cables can be run through the wall, while there are a host of stand options that see the cables channeled through the stand directly into the tablet charging port.

To give you an insight into what features you might require, let’s walk through some common ways tablets are used in business.

mPOS

One of the most common uses for tablets and tablet stands is mobile Point of Sale. Here you are probably looking for a durable enclosure and stand that is positioned on a desktop.

The stand might need to rotate between portrait and landscape mode, and you might also want it to be able to pivot so the staff member can show the customer what’s on-screen.

Meanwhile, if you want to take mPOS to the customer on the floor, you’ll need an enclosure that protects the device during day-to-day use. This enclosure might also need to mount quickly to a stand so that the tablet can be used as a more conventional Point of Sale.

Information kiosks and check-in

Information kiosks, visitor check-in, or a booking kiosk for meeting rooms and facilities might call for a different approach to your tablet stand. In these instances, you would likely be looking for a stand that can be mounted to a wall or is freestanding.

As your device is likely to be in a high traffic area, and there may be minimal staff supervision, security is something to consider, so a lockable enclosure is non-negotiable.

Chances are the stand doesn’t need to swivel or pivot, but it may need to be rotated between landscape and portrait mode.

Customer service

Another common place you might find tablets used in business is customer service, such as in a bank or a government service center.

Here, you might want the tablet mounted to a wall or a desktop. If it’s in a customer-facing environment where staff and customers might need to access the tablet simultaneously, the likelihood is the tablet will need to pivot or flip.

But as the area is monitored, security may not be such a pressing issue.

Office productivity

The installation will look different again if tablets are used as an alternative to laptops in an office.

Ergonomics might be important, but security isn’t so critical. The stand also might not need to be affixed to the desktop, so instead could be freestanding.

If you’re looking for a tablet stand for your business, we have a wide range of options available here.

You can also contact our team directly for advice on which options might suit your business best.