In a bold step toward digital transformation, Tlalnepantla de Baz, a major municipality in the State of Mexico, has redefined how it manages street vendors and public marketplaces. Previously reliant on manual record-keeping and face-to-face cash transactions, the city’s Inspection and Verification Department has now adopted a mobile, data-driven approach powered by AirDroid Business.
By deploying rugged mobile devices to its field teams and managing them remotely via AirDroid’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform, Tlalnepantla de Baz has significantly improved operational efficiency, reduced opportunities for corruption, and enhanced transparency across all vendor-related activities.
The Challenge: Manual Processes Hindered Effective Management of Public Commerce
Street vendors and mobile markets (tianguis) are vital to the local economy—but managing these dynamic and dispersed commercial spaces poses logistical and administrative challenges. Tlalnepantla’s inspection teams are tasked with:
- Registering and maintaining an up-to-date census of vendors
- Ensuring compliance with local regulations
- Collecting usage fees directly from vendors on-site
Before digitization, this critical function was constrained by outdated processes:
Manual Collections: Field inspectors issued paper receipts for vendor payments, with no way to track or validate transactions in real time.
Fragmented Records: Vendor information and payment histories were scattered or incomplete, complicating audits and enforcement.
Corruption Risks: The cash-based nature of fee collection, combined with a lack of real-time oversight, left the system vulnerable to inconsistencies and misconduct.
No Field Visibility: Supervisors could not track inspector routes or confirm that visits and collections were being carried out as assigned.
These limitations impacted both revenue and public trust, prompting the municipality to seek a smarter, more transparent solution.
The Solution: Equipping Field Teams with Smart Tools and Central Oversight
To bring efficiency and accountability to street-level governance, the municipality outfitted its inspectors with purpose-built mobile devices. These devices—used for vendor registration, data entry, and fee processing—needed to be managed securely and remotely to ensure consistent performance and data integrity.
- After evaluating multiple platforms, AirDroid Business was selected for its:
- Quick and straightforward device enrollment
- Strong support for remote operations
- Feature set tailored for field-based government teams
The core features used in Tlalnepantla’s deployment include:
Geolocation: To verify inspector routes and presence in assigned areas
Remote View & Remote Control: For real-time technical support from headquarters
Data Usage Monitoring: To manage mobile data costs and connectivity across active devices
Device Status Monitoring: To ensure operational readiness with battery and performance alerts
Kiosk Mode: To restrict devices to official applications, safeguarding focus and compliance
Implementation in Action: Digitized Vendor Oversight, From Streets to Screens
With AirDroid Business in place, Tlalnepantla’s mobile workforce is now fully supported, connected, and monitored. Inspection teams can move confidently through markets, knowing their activities are being securely recorded and supported.
Operational improvements include:
Live Inspector Location Tracking: Supervisors have full visibility into inspectors’ movements, enabling them to validate routes and align activity with real-world vendor locations.
Instant Field Support: When inspectors encounter issues, IT staff can remotely access and troubleshoot mobile devices—keeping operations smooth without delays.
Focused Workflows with Kiosk Mode: Devices are locked to official inspection and collection apps, ensuring inspectors remain on-task and devices are used solely for municipal purposes.
Proactive Monitor: Device health metrics and alerts—such as battery status or signal loss—allow the central team to respond before issues impact daily operations.
The Results: Greater Transparency, Reduced Risk, and Streamlined Operations
Since deploying AirDroid Business, the municipality has reported measurable improvements across its vendor management workflows:
- Enhanced Transparency: Every transaction and inspector visit is time-stamped, location-verified, and stored in a central system—creating a clear audit trail.
- Corruption Deterrence: Real-time monitoring leaves little room for unauthorized activity, reinforcing public confidence in municipal oversight.
- Operational Efficiency: Inspectors complete more visits in less time, and back-office staff benefit from standardized, digital reporting.
- Better Use of Mobile Resources: Devices are optimized for performance and securely managed, extending their lifespan and lowering operational risks.
Looking Forward: Scaling to Other Municipal Teams
Buoyed by these successes, Tlalnepantla de Baz plans to expand the use of AirDroid Business beyond vendor oversight and into other departments with mobile field teams.
By embracing AirDroid Business, Tlalnepantla de Baz has created a replicable model for modern governance—showing how digital tools, when thoughtfully applied, can elevate public service delivery, accountability, and transparency in even the most complex field environments.
