As chip shortages ease, companies are looking for newer machines to support hybrid and remote workers.
With analysts anticipating a gradual easing of the global chip shortage through the rest of the year, small to midsized businesses (SMBs) are looking to revive long-delayed PC upgrade initiatives. SMBs worldwide are expected to purchase 104.5 million PCs in 2022, a growth of 3.4 percent from the previous year, according to Techaisle’s latest PC market study forecast.
Supply chain backlogs and chip shortages during the past two years have created pent-up demand. A previous Techaisle study found that nearly a third of all SMBs are using outdated PCs, which increases their risk of security breaches and productivity loss while also increasing support and maintenance costs.
While all technology has a limited lifespan, operational changes of the past two years are pushing older PCs beyond their functional limitations. The transition to remote and hybrid work models and the increased reliance on cloud applications and services have amplified the need for faster and more efficient PCs.
New Workloads Require New Tools
In order to provide remote and hybrid workers with better access to cloud applications, edge devices, collaboration tools and virtual workspaces, SMBs must take advantage of PC hardware and software innovations that can make them more competitive. These innovations include faster processors, improved graphics, improved energy efficiency, enhanced communication, better security, better battery life, improved manageability and increased application stability.
At present, many remote workers remain highly dependent on their personal smartphones, laptops and desktop computers. In most cases, these are consumer-grade devices that lack the computing power, reliability and features of a business-grade machine.
Business-grade laptops with the latest processors provide the performance, connectivity and battery-life demands that remote workers require. Investments companies make in device upgrades are paying off in increased productivity. According to an Intel study, remote workers with devices featuring 10th-generation CPUs achieve 40 percent better application performance, 36 percent improvements in productivity and 44 percent faster analytics.
Windows 11 Support Key
New PCs running the Windows 11 operating system offer a number of features that better support remote and hybrid workforces. The streamlined user interface includes a new Start menu that leverages the cloud and Microsoft 365 to display the user’s most recent files on any associated device.
Windows 11 also makes it easy for users to initiate a Microsoft Teams conference through a chat window integrated in the taskbar. Video, voice or text chats can be launched directly from the desktop and connect with PC, Mac, iOS or Android users.
A virtualized Windows 11 desktop can be accessed from any location thanks to the built-in desktop virtualization capabilities of the cloud-based Windows 365 service. Applications, tools, data and settings can be streamed through any web browser and accessed using any device. Because the desktop isn’t linked to any particular device, users can switch devices without losing any updates or changes to the cloud desktop.
Windows 11 improves security with built-in hardware-based isolation, device encryption, virtualization-based security (VBS), hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) and secure boot features. According to Microsoft, these features have been shown to reduce malware by 60 percent on tested devices.
Old Gear Presents Additional Challenges
However, Microsoft has stringent CPU requirements for Windows 11 — a PC must have an Intel 8th-generation or newer CPU and AMD Ryzen 2000 or newer chip for the OS to install. One recent study finds that more than half of all current business PCs can’t run Windows 11 because they don’t meet those minimum hardware requirements.
Besides being unable to support the latest operating systems and features, older PCs have increased maintenance costs. Most important, outdated PCs are a drag on productivity because they run slower and take longer to execute tasks. Limitations in processor speed and memory make it difficult to run multiple applications at once. According to a recent AMD study, the average office worker wastes the equivalent of 24 workdays annually waiting on hardware or software that is slow or outdated.
“As we look toward the future, it’s the user experiences that matter and will determine who the real winners are,” said Bob O’Donnell, president and chief analyst, TECHnalysis Research. “Devices designed to make work easier and to help us collaborate and connect are imperative for wherever or however we work.”
