In our earlier post, we provided an in-depth look at Plentics Smart Packages, a vital component of our comprehensive device/endpoint management solution. However, we haven’t yet explained the maintenance process for Smart Packages. As you may already know, the Plentics solution is highly automated, but how does it handle updates to applications and configurations? What routines and tasks does the solution perform behind the scenes to ensure secure and functional updates before distribution to Plentics’ direct customers and Managed Service Providers (MSP) partners? In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the update process to provide a comprehensive understanding of how it’s managed. With our insights, you can ensure that your Plentics Smart Packages are well-maintained and up to date.

The maintenance process operates through the so-called Plentics factory, which runs on a weekly basis throughout the year. Plentics aims to provide a turnkey solution, allowing customers and partners to avoid spending excess time on application and configuration maintenance. The following image illustrates how the Plentics factory ensures a seamless update process on a weekly basis for customers. 

The Plentics factory follows a specific weekly process for each maintenance cycle, starting on Tuesdays. We utilize MS Power Platform to automatically check for available updates for packaged applications within the tenants managed by our partners on behalf of their end customers or by our direct customers. We then prepare and package the updates, deploying them to our extensive testing environment. 

Our test environment minimizes potential incompatibilities and errors that could arise. It includes virtual machines, devices with the most used Windows operating system versions, macOS machines, and other essential hardware. On Wednesdays, we conduct further testing on Plentics company devices to confirm that the updates function correctly in real-world scenarios. This rigorous testing process is vital to guarantee safe updates that work properly upon distribution to our customers and partners. 

After thorough testing and upon final approval, we notify our customers and partners of the upcoming package deployment on Thursdays via agreed-upon communication channels, which can be private or shared. Additionally, MSPs can customize the message and its delivery to their customers, allowing alignment with their branding and communication strategy. Following this notification, we deploy the updated Plentics Smart Packages to all customers. This ensures that all end customers are up to date with the latest version of our Smart Packages, which typically include applications but can sometimes include configurations as well.

In summary, the maintenance process of Plentics Smart Packages operates on a weekly basis, ensuring the quality of updates through rigorous testing and strict guidelines. This process allows customers to receive reliable and secure updates without any extra effort.

Plentics’ MSP partners and direct customers are notified of upcoming package distributions ahead of time, allowing them to prepare accordingly. This process relieves them of tracking various updates, freeing their time to focus on core business. By automating updates, we minimize security vulnerabilities and ensure all our customers have the latest application and configuration versions. This approach guarantees automation, security, and reliability, enhancing the digital employee experience, providing our customers peace of mind, and allowing them to focus on driving their businesses forward.