Challenge
A growing national pizza restaurant needed a reliable and scalable way to deploy digital Order Tracker displays across its locations.
The existing approach presented several operational challenges, including software lifecycle control, remote management, supportability, and deployment consistency across a growing restaurant footprint.
The IT team wanted a solution that would allow centralized control, remote support, and predictable deployment procedures while maintaining compatibility with existing restaurant infrastructure.
The initiative had the potential to scale significantly, with discussions referencing deployment requirements across hundreds of restaurant locations.
Solution
Geekland worked with the restaurant’s IT team to evaluate Android-based display hardware that could:
- Run the Fresh KDS Order Tracker application
- Integrate with Esper MDM
- Support HDMI-based display output
- Be remotely managed and supported
- Scale from pilot locations to enterprise deployment
The project began with proof-of-concept testing and evolved through multiple hardware validation cycles, including device provisioning, application deployment, HDMI functionality testing, and field validation.
Geekland collaborated closely with the restaurant’s IT team throughout testing and deployment, helping identify the hardware and operating system configurations best suited for its environment.
Technical Obstacles Solved
Centralized Device Management
The restaurant required the ability to remotely provision, support, manage, and update devices through Esper. This requirement eliminated consumer-style deployment approaches and enabled IT-standard operational controls.
HDMI and Display Validation
During early testing, the teams worked through display-output and hardware compatibility challenges to identify the proper configuration for Order Tracker deployments.
Android Version and Network Compatibility
Testing revealed differences between Android 13 and Android 14 behavior within portions of the restaurant’s existing Ubiquiti AP6 infrastructure.
Rather than requiring a broad network replacement initiative, Geekland worked with the restaurant’s IT team to evaluate Android 13 alternatives and verify compatibility with the existing environment.
Business Outcomes
Repeatable Deployment Process
The restaurant established a documented approach for deploying and supporting Order Tracker solutions across its locations.
Reduced Operational Risk
The use of managed Android hardware and Esper allowed the restaurant to maintain control over software distribution and remote support processes.
Infrastructure Preservation
Geekland’s testing helped identify a path forward that aligned with the restaurant’s existing infrastructure rather than immediately requiring widespread wireless access point replacement.
Scalable Rollout Foundation
The engagement progressed from evaluation hardware to discussions involving dozens of units, with future plans referencing deployments across approximately hundreds of restaurants.
Key Takeaway
Geekland did more than provide hardware. The team collaborated with a growing national pizza restaurant to design, validate, and scale a centrally managed Order Tracker platform capable of supporting enterprise restaurant operations while integrating with existing IT management and networking infrastructure.
Ready to Build a Scalable Restaurant Technology Solution?
Contact Geekland to discuss reliable, centrally managed touchscreen tablet solutions for your restaurant technology deployment.