Why a Modular Mounting System Delivers Better Mobile Device Deployments
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Time to read 6 min
When organisations invest in mobile devices for field workers, drivers, technicians or warehouse staff, the focus often falls on the devices themselves. Yet one of the most overlooked components of a successful deployment is the mounting system.
A poorly designed mount can slow workers down, increase equipment failures, create safety risks, and make it difficult to adapt as technology changes. By contrast, a modular mounting system allows organisations to configure solutions around the way people actually work.
The RAM® Mounts ecosystem is a good example of this modular approach.
At Mounts Australia, we find that the mounting hardware is often considered relatively late in a mobile technology rollout. The device may already have been selected before questions such as where it needs to sit, how frequently it will be accessed, whether it needs to be removed during a shift, or how the mounting solution will work across different vehicles and workstations are fully considered.
That can lead to a mounting setup being treated as an accessory purchase rather than part of the overall device deployment. For larger fleets in particular, we believe it makes more sense to consider the mounting system as infrastructure that needs to support both the device being deployed today and the devices that may replace it in the future.
Built Around Three Simple Components
Rather than purchasing a single fixed mount, RAM Mounts uses three interchangeable components:
- Base – Attaches securely to the vehicle, workstation, or other surface.
- Arm – Connects the system and provides adjustable positioning.
- Holder – Secures the mobile device, tablet, or phone.
Together, these three parts create a mounting solution that can be tailored to almost any working environment.
The important part of this approach is not simply that there are three components. It is that each component can be considered separately.
For example, the best base for a forklift may be very different from the base required inside a delivery vehicle, even if both operators use the same tablet. Likewise, two employees using the same vehicle may need different arm lengths or positioning depending on how they interact with the device.
This means organisations can standardise around a mounting platform without necessarily forcing every employee into an identical configuration.
Configure Around the Job
Different workers use technology in different ways.
A delivery driver may need a smartphone positioned for navigation.
A forklift operator may require a rugged tablet mounted where it remains visible but protected.
A field technician might need equipment that can be repositioned throughout the day depending on the task.
Rather than starting with the question, “Which mount fits this device?”, we think organisations should first ask, “How does the worker need to use this device?”
That changes the way the mounting system is selected.
Considerations might include:
- Where the device needs to be positioned
- Whether it needs to be operated while seated or standing
- How frequently it needs to be removed from the mount
- Whether the user is wearing gloves
- Whether charging is required while mounted
- How much vibration the installation may experience
- Whether the same configuration needs to be replicated across dozens or hundreds of vehicles
The holder is often the most visible part of the system, but it is not necessarily the most important component to get right first. The mounting location and base can have a significant influence on ergonomics, stability, installation complexity, and how easily the system can be adapted later.
“One of the most common mistakes we see is choosing the holder first and working backwards. We generally recommend starting with where and how the device needs to be used, then selecting the base, arm, and holder around that workflow,” said Richie Aitsi, Product Specialist at Mounts Australia.
Why a Modular Mounting System Is Easier to Upgrade
Technology changes quickly.
Devices are replaced, vehicles are upgraded, and workflows evolve.
With a modular mounting system, organisations rarely need to replace the entire assembly. In many cases, only the device holder needs changing while the existing base and arm remain in place.
This reduces costs while extending the life of the overall installation.
It also becomes more important as the size of a deployment increases.
Replacing one complete mount is relatively straightforward. Replacing complete mounting systems across 50, 100, or several hundred vehicles is a very different exercise.
There may be hardware costs, installation labour, vehicle downtime and operational disruption to consider.
A modular approach creates the possibility of retaining compatible parts of the existing installation when devices change.
Designed for Everyday Use
A good mounting solution should do more than simply hold a device.
It should provide:
- Secure device retention
- Easy adjustment without tools
- Stable positioning while in motion
- Fast installation and replacement
- Reliable performance in demanding environments
These features help improve both usability and equipment longevity.
For enterprise deployments, however, we would add another requirement: repeatability.
A solution that works well in one vehicle is useful. A solution that can be documented and deployed consistently across an entire fleet is considerably more valuable.
That means considering factors such as installation position, arm length, cable routing, device orientation, and the components required for each vehicle type.
Standardisation Across the Fleet
Many organisations operate mixed fleets with different vehicles and multiple device types.
Using a modular platform makes it easier to standardise installations while still allowing flexibility where needed. Maintenance becomes simpler, spare parts are easier to manage, and new deployments can be completed more efficiently.
Standardisation does not necessarily mean every installation needs to be identical.
A better objective can be to standardise the platform and component families while allowing individual configurations to vary according to the vehicle or role.
For example, an organisation might use the same RAM ball size and arm system across its fleet while selecting different bases and holders for individual vehicle and device combinations.
This can reduce the number of completely different mounting systems that procurement, operations and maintenance teams need to support.
A Question Worth Asking Before a Large Deployment
Before approving a mounting configuration, we recommend asking:
“If we replace this device in two or three years, how much of this installation are we likely to be able to keep?”
That question shifts the discussion from the upfront price of the mount to the longer-term value of the mounting infrastructure.
A Smarter Long-Term Investment
The true value of a mounting solution isn't measured only by how securely it holds a device today. It should also be measured by how easily the system can adapt when the device, vehicle or workflow changes.
By separating the system into interchangeable bases, arms and holders, organisations gain the flexibility to support changing devices, vehicles and work environments without automatically replacing complete mounting systems.
For businesses deploying enterprise mobility at scale, that modularity can help reduce replacement costs, simplify maintenance and provide a more practical foundation for long-term mobile technology investments.
From our perspective, this is where modular mounting delivers its greatest value.
The question should not simply be whether a mount fits the device being purchased today. Organisations should consider whether the mounting platform can continue supporting the operation as devices, vehicles and workflows change.
For a small installation, that flexibility may simply make upgrading easier. Across a large fleet, it can have much broader implications for procurement, installation, maintenance and the total cost of managing mobile technology.
Build a Mounting System Around Your Operation
Looking to build a mounting solution that can adapt with your devices, vehicles and workflows?
Mounts Australia offers a wide range of RAM® Mounts bases, arms, device holders and complete mounting solutions for vehicles, warehouses, field operations and other demanding environments.
Explore the RAM Mounts range at Mounts Australia, or contact our team for help configuring a mounting system around your devices, working environment and deployment requirements.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not choose a tablet mount without checking the tablet case and charging setup. Do not use a temporary base for a high-traffic POS counter if a fixed base is more appropriate. Do not use an arm that is longer than needed.
Also avoid positioning the screen where it creates customer confusion or staff discomfort. A good mount should support the workflow, not slow it down.