There is a version of MDM deployment that works well, and a version that does not. The version that does not work is when each element of the deployment is handled by a different vendor without coordination between them. A hardware vendor who sells the player without knowing which MDM platform will manage it. A software company whose CMS does not account for the device management layer. An MDM vendor whose support team is unfamiliar with the specific hardware in the deployment. Each element functions in isolation, but the combination does not function as a system.
The version that works is when hardware, software, and managed services are selected and configured as integrated parts of a unified solution, with each component designed to support the others. This is what Moki’s partner ecosystem is built around, and it is what separates deployments that operate reliably for years from ones that create ongoing operational headaches.
Why Integration Matters More Than Individual Quality
A high-quality BrightSign player managed by an MDM platform that does not have a native BrightSign integration is a more difficult deployment than a slightly less capable player managed by a platform with deep hardware integration. The quality of each component matters, but the quality of the connections between components matters more.
This is the fundamental insight behind how Moki approaches partnerships. Moki’s native BrightSign integration is the result of a deliberate partnership with BrightSign that goes beyond API compatibility. The management capabilities, the enrollment process, the monitoring data, and the remote management features are designed specifically for how BrightSign hardware actually operates. The result is a deployment where the device management layer genuinely understands the hardware it is managing rather than treating it as a generic endpoint.
The same principle applies to Android hardware partnerships and iOS. Devices from Moki’s certified hardware partners have been tested against Moki’s management platform to confirm compatibility, validate the depth of available management features, and identify any hardware-specific behaviors that affect configuration or monitoring. A certified device is a known quantity in a Moki deployment. An uncertified device introduces variables that can surface as unexpected behavior during installation or ongoing operation.
The Three Components of a Great MDM Partnership
Great MDM partnerships consistently combine three elements: hardware that is certified for the management platform, a software layer that accounts for device management in its design, and a service capability that can support the combined system throughout its operational life.
Hardware partnerships provide the physical foundation. When a reseller or customer purchases hardware through a Moki certified hardware partner, they are getting a device that has been validated for Moki’s management capabilities, is eligible for zero-touch enrollment through the appropriate provisioning program, and is supported by a vendor relationship that allows hardware and software issues to be resolved without the customer being caught between two vendors pointing at each other.
Moki’s certified partners page lists the current hardware partners across Android, BrightSign, and peripheral categories. The certification is maintained through ongoing compatibility testing as both Moki’s platform and the hardware’s firmware evolve, so a certified status reflects current compatibility rather than a historical test that may no longer be accurate.
Software partnerships address the content and application layer. Digital signage content management systems, kiosk applications, and POS software all interact with the device management layer, and the quality of that interaction affects the operational experience significantly. Moki’s partnership with Carousel Digital Signage is the clearest example of a software partnership that produces a genuinely integrated solution. Carousel handles the content workflow and Moki handles the device management layer, with the two platforms designed to complement each other rather than creating overlap or conflict.
For kiosk and POS deployments, the application that runs on the device needs to be compatible with Moki’s kiosk lockdown configuration and, where the application uses the Moki SDK, can surface custom application events and performance data in the Moki dashboard. This SDK integration turns the monitoring layer from device-level health tracking into a complete view of how the application is performing in addition to whether the hardware is online.
Service partnerships provide the operational layer. For clients who do not have internal IT capacity to manage a device fleet, the managed service component of the partnership is what ensures the system continues to operate well after installation. Moki’s Managed Services provides direct managed fleet operations for clients who want Moki’s team handling day-to-day monitoring and response. For clients working through a reseller partner, the reseller’s managed service practice, backed by Moki’s platform and support team, provides equivalent operational coverage with the additional value of a local service relationship.
What Sets Certified Partnerships Apart
The distinction between a certified Moki partner and an uncertified vendor who happens to sell compatible hardware is not primarily technical. Both may produce hardware that can be enrolled in Moki. What a certified partnership provides that an uncertified relationship does not is:
A validated, documented compatibility claim based on actual testing rather than assumed API compatibility. The support relationship that allows hardware and software issues to be resolved through a coordinated channel rather than requiring the customer to coordinate between two separate vendor support teams. The procurement integration that enables zero-touch enrollment as part of the ordering process rather than as a separate step requiring coordination after purchase. And the ongoing relationship that keeps the compatibility validation current as both the hardware and the platform evolve.
For resellers building an MDM practice, the certified partner ecosystem is the vendor selection shortlist for hardware recommendations. For end customers building a deployment, it is the validated set of hardware options that eliminates compatibility uncertainty before purchase.
Building Partnerships Into the Sales and Delivery Process
The value of the partner ecosystem is realized most fully when it is built into how resellers and integrators approach new deployments rather than treated as a post-sale consideration.
The ideal process starts with hardware selection from the certified partner list, moves through pre-registration of devices in Moki before they ship, and proceeds through automated enrollment and configuration when devices arrive at the deployment site. The CMS or application layer is configured to work within the managed device environment. Monitoring and alerting are set up before the client’s first operational day. And the managed service relationship, whether delivered by Moki directly or through the reseller, provides ongoing operational coverage from day one.
When each of these elements is in place from the start, the deployment operates as a coherent system rather than a collection of individually purchased components. That is the standard that great MDM partnerships produce consistently.
Explore Moki’s partner ecosystem to see the current hardware and software partners, or learn about the Moki Momentum Partner Program to understand how resellers and integrators build their Moki practice. Schedule a demo to see the integrated platform capabilities in action.