App Packages

App Packages allow you to deploy applications to managed mobile devices. ZEM Cloud supports two deployment methods: Managed Google Play for Android devices and manual APK uploads for Device Owner mode devices.

Overview

App Packages provide centralised application management for your mobile fleet. You can approve apps, configure deployment settings, and push apps to targeted devices.

Deployment Methods

Managed Google Play

Deploy apps from the Google Play Store to managed Android devices. This is the recommended method for most scenarios.

• Benefits - Automatic updates, licence management, wide app availability
• Requirements - Android Enterprise must be configured
• Supported Modes - Device Owner and Work Profile

Manual APK Upload

Upload and deploy custom APK files directly to devices. Use this for internal apps or apps not available on the Play Store.

• Benefits - Deploy any APK without Play Store
• Requirements - Device Owner mode only
• File Limit - Maximum APK size of 500 MB

Adding Apps from Managed Play

1. Navigate to Mobile Devices > App Packages
2. Click Add App
3. Select Managed Google Play
4. The Managed Play Store opens in an embedded window
5. Search for and select the app you want to deploy
6. Click Approve to approve the app for your organisation
7. Configure app settings (name, description, management mode)
8. Set targeting rules or select assignment groups
9. Click Save

Uploading a Manual APK

1. Navigate to Mobile Devices > App Packages
2. Click Add App
3. Select Manual APK
4. Click Choose File and select your APK file
5. The APK is analysed and app details are extracted automatically
6. Review the extracted information (name, package name, version)
7. Add a description and configure settings
8. Set targeting rules or select assignment groups
9. Click Upload & Save

APK Analysis

When you upload an APK, ZEM Cloud automatically extracts:

• App Name - Display name from the manifest
• Package Name - Unique package identifier (e.g., com.example.app)
• Version - Version string and version code
• Icon - App icon for display in the dashboard
• SDK Requirements - Minimum and target Android SDK versions
• SHA256 Hash - Checksum for integrity verification

App Settings

Management Mode

Specify which device types can receive the app:

• Device Owner - Only fully managed devices
• Work Profile - Only Work Profile devices (Managed Play only)
• Both - All managed devices

Install Type

For Managed Play apps:

• Available - App appears in the managed Play Store for users to install
• Required - App is automatically installed on targeted devices
• Pre-installed - App is installed during device provisioning

Targeting Devices

Apps can be targeted using:

Assignment Groups

Select one or more assignment groups to control which devices receive the app. This enables:

• Staged rollouts across environments (DEV, UAT, PROD)
• Reusable device targeting
• Easy management of app distribution

Direct Targeting Rules

• All Devices - Deploy to all compatible devices
• OS Versions - Target specific Android versions
• Management Mode - Device Owner or Work Profile
• Manufacturers - Target specific manufacturers
• Models - Target specific device models
• Specific Devices - Select individual devices

Deploying Apps

Initial Deployment

1. Open the app package details
2. Review the targeted devices
3. Click Deploy
4. Confirm the deployment

For Managed Play apps, the Play Store handles download and installation. For manual APKs, ZEM Cloud queues an install action that the ZSync app processes.

Staged Deployment

When using assignment groups with different environments, you can perform staged rollouts:

1. Deploy to DEV/UAT environment first
2. Verify the app works correctly on test devices
3. Click Promote to advance to the next environment
4. Continue until all environments are deployed

Updating Apps

Managed Play Apps

Updates are handled automatically by the Play Store based on your auto-update settings.

Manual APK Apps

To update a manually uploaded app:

1. Open the app package details
2. Click Upload New Version
3. Select the updated APK file
4. The new version is validated against the existing package name
5. Click Save
6. Re-deploy to push the update to devices

Version history is maintained, allowing you to see previous versions and their deployment status.

Installation Status

Track app installation across your device fleet:

• Pending - Install queued, awaiting device
• Downloading - Device is downloading the app
• Installing - App is being installed
• Installed - Successfully installed
• Failed - Installation failed (check failure reason)

Removing Apps

Uninstall from Devices

1. Open the app package details
2. Click Uninstall
3. Select which devices to uninstall from (or all)
4. Confirm the uninstallation

Delete App Package

To remove an app package from ZEM Cloud:

1. Open the app package details
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm deletion

Dashboard Statistics

The App Packages dashboard shows:

• Total Apps - Number of configured app packages
• Managed Play - Apps from Google Play
• Manual APK - Uploaded APK files
• Pending Installs - Installations awaiting completion

Best Practices

• Use Managed Google Play when possible for automatic updates
• Test apps on a small group before wide deployment
• Use Assignment Groups for staged rollouts
• Monitor installation status and address failures promptly
• Keep APK files organised with clear version numbers
• Document any required permissions or configurations
• For internal apps, maintain a version history

Troubleshooting

App Not Installing

• Verify the device meets SDK requirements
• Check device has sufficient storage space
• For manual APKs, ensure device is in Device Owner mode
• Review failure reason in installation status
• Check device connectivity

APK Upload Fails

• Verify APK file is not corrupted
• Check file size is under 500 MB
• Ensure APK is signed correctly
• Verify package name doesn't conflict with existing apps