Need Help Integrating Apple Configurator with Apple School Manager and Jamf Pro for New iPad Setups

[KarlHavoc]

I’m looking for advice on how to integrate Apple Configurator into our workflow to streamline the setup process for new iPads. Here’s some background information: we receive iPads purchased from Apple that are already enrolled in Apple School Manager, with Jamf Pro designated as our MDM server. Our goal is to minimize physical setup time and reduce network strain from updates. Ideally, I’d like to prepare new devices using Apple Configurator with minimal touchpoints.

However, I am encountering issues with Configurator, as the setup consistently fails at some point in the process. iPads that have already been set up connect without any problems, but I am facing challenges with new devices.

Is anyone else using Apple Configurator in a similar setup? Any tips, best practices, or troubleshooting advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help!

[obi-k]

Is the software update the main constrait? Sounds like you're setup is going through the OTA process correctly with enrollment and prestage.

Can try a dongle?

[KarlHavoc]

I'd like to automate the first time setup, join it to a network, etc., too, in Configurator so I'm not hands on, too. That may not be a possibility.
I could do the OTA setup and then update them via Configurator, but I'm just aiming to streamline as much as I can.

[Bobbo]

For the network issues, do you use caching servers? Where I work, we use Mac minis at each building to cache commonly downloaded things (apps, OS updates, whatever). We download the update on a test machine, the Mac mini caches it, and when other computers come to download it, they use the cache servers on the LAN instead of your internet connection.

[patrickj]

Are you trying to use Apple Configurator w/Shortcuts (2.17) for this functionality? Or are you using a Blueprint?