A year ago, we thought dedicated devices were destined for kiosk mode — single-purpose, locked down, laser-focused. And for good reason: kiosk mode brings real benefits. A single-use POS, digital sign, or guest kiosk is easier to manage (there’s only one app), tamper-proof, secure, and less attractive to thieves. One job, done simply and effectively.
But in 2025, dedicated device fleets are expanding fast — and IT leaders want more. According to the 2025 State of Device Management, many fleet managers are moving to multi-app mode, using advanced tools and workflows to streamline application management while keeping devices secure.
So, how do you know if multi-app mode is right for you? Let’s break down the trends, the tradeoffs, and how companies are making it work at scale.
Kiosk Mode vs Multi-App Mode in 2025
Kiosk mode shines for public-facing devices like self-checkout stations, price checkers, or loyalty kiosks. These devices are typically standalone, unsupervised, and need to be theft-resistant, glitch-free, and reliable. In these environments, simplicity, speed, and security outweigh the flexibility of multi-app mode.
It’s no surprise that one industry has seen the most growth in kiosk-mode devices over the past year: retail. From grocery to fashion, retailers use them to streamline checkout, improve navigation, and enhance customer experience. To meet these needs, the retail industry, has jumped from 24% kiosk mode in 2024 to 85% 2025. But most other industries, from restaurants to healthcare to education, are operating more devices in multi-app mode.
The benefits of multi-app mode in high-volume environments
In workplaces where staff juggle multiple tasks across the day, multi-app mode delivers a clear operational advantage. Restaurants can run ordering, delivery integrations, staff scheduling, and training apps on a single tablet, eliminating the need for multiple devices and, by extension, fewer workstations in the same kitchen or service area. Healthcare teams can manage patient check-in, telehealth consultations, EHR access, and diagnostic tools without swapping devices mid-shift. Retail associates, too, can use the same handheld for inventory lookups, clienteling, mobile checkout, and internal communications — as long as those devices aren’t left unattended or unsecured in public spaces.
The multi-app advantage: Fewer devices, higher ROI
Multi-app mode delivers four big advantages:
- Lower hardware costs by consolidating workflows onto fewer devices.
- Reduced management overhead, with fewer device profiles and larger configuration groups — a trend already accelerating, according to the report.
- Greater operational agility, enabling new apps or AI-driven workflows without new hardware procurement.
- More staff flexibility, as training and education can happen on the floor during downtime, allowing associates to toggle back to POS apps when needed.
What Are the Challenges of Multi-App Mode?
But multi-app mode isn’t without challenges, especially at fleet scale:
- Multi-app use, particularly with shared devices, requires tamper-proof settings and strict policy management.
- Each device becomes more critical than ever; downtime can mean losing a scanner, POS system, and training hub all at once.
- While IT teams manage fewer devices, updating multiple apps and files adds complexity at the device level.
That’s why scalable multi-app mode is only possible with advanced management tools and processes. We’re talking about sophisticated application management, scalable compliance and policy enforcement, and granular access controls.
How to Make Multi-App Mode Work at Scale
For IT decision-makers, the challenge is making multi-app fleets secure, reliable, and manageable — without adding workload. Right now, we’re seeing four trends that enable today’s organizations to manage multi-app devices at scale:
1. Standardize and simplify device grouping to reduce management overhead
Managing multiple apps introduces more technical and operational dependencies. Our data shows fleet managers using device grouping within their management tools to efficiently coordinate workflows, push content updates, and maintain the same security and compliance benefits that kiosk mode once provided.
The trick to scaling up with multi-app mode? Bigger groups, but closely managed and more dynamic, using role-based permissions and geofencing to aid security and access.
2. Invest in mature application pipelines
The more apps on a device, the more moving parts in deployment. Right now, teams are leaning heavily on edge application pipelines to coordinate app, AI model, and file deployments. This includes using rigorous testing and rollback capabilities to streamline processes and cut downtime.
3. Prioritize security and compliance early
Regulations like PCI and HIPAA mean security isn’t optional, and kiosk mode is an almost guaranteed way to lock things down. But advanced security and compliance tools are better than ever for multi-function devices. Today’s teams use proactive compliance monitoring tools, paired with automation to keep things in check. And right now, we’re seeing more role- and location-based permissions, and geofencing to protect data and deter theft.
4. Monitor relentlessly and proactively
More apps mean more potential points of failure. Today’s teams are leaning on real-time analytics, automated alerts, and remote management tools to keep growing fleets healthy. If you’re operating a diverse fleet, look for broad OS and form-factor visibility to keep monitoring simple and scalable.
The Path to Multi-App ROI
As fleets grow faster than IT headcount, multi-app mode offers a path to greater ROI — one device doing the work of many. The complex management considerations of multi-app mode become possible with next-generation device management solutions to help simplify and automate these processes. It demands advanced visibility solutions, tools to make device health and security more proactive, and application deployment pipelines to ensure successful deployments.
But it’s not just a technology choice. It’s a strategic shift that demands careful planning, disciplined execution, and a willingness to rethink the device management playbook. And we’re already seeing how organizations that master multi-app mode won’t just keep up with operational change — they’ll transform device fleets into a true competitive advantage.
Get the data behind the trends. Download the 2025 State of Device Management ↓
FAQ
Keep Exploring
-25.svg){kind=small}
