Optimizing ROI in the Hybrid Workplace: The One Factor That Impacts Mobility, Performance, and Security

Optimizing ROI in the Hybrid Workplace: The One Factor That Impacts Mobility, Performance, and Security

December 16, 2021

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A hybrid work environment is the new reality for most organizations. After the rush to get distributed workforces set up for working from home, organizations are starting to look ahead to the next phase of work, with employees expecting robust solutions to support hybrid workplaces, regardless of where they are — in an office, at home, or virtually anywhere. GartnerOpens a new window predicts that as offices reopen this year, more than half (51%) of employees worldwide will be working in a hybrid environment.

Are organizations prepared to manage the next wave of flexible work revolution and meet the unique needs of end-users and IT teams? More importantly, what steps should organizations take to keep employees productive everywhere, on any device, at any time? While lockdown pressures forced IT to rapidly deploy technology solutions to keep the wheels turning, organizations are now entering an exciting new phase. This phase offers IT leaders the opportunity to strategically build for the new hybrid workplace ecosystem, tailored for the always-on, work-from-anywhere generation.

It all begins with the endpoint device fleet, firmly rooted at the center of employees’ professional lives.

The PC is fundamental to driving efficient day-to-day technology experience, connecting users with applications and tools, and making them productive, engaged, and empowered. A 2020 Forrester study commissioned by Intel and Lenovo, Empower Your Employees with the Right Technology, underscores how next-gen technology improves employee satisfaction, helping users feel more productive, empowered and connected. The studyOpens a new window found that nearly 60% of IT decision makers observed upwards of 10% increase in EX scores by leveraging technology to drive employee satisfaction.

And as the PC’s ascendancy continues in lockstep with digital transformation, the surging demand for more powerful, efficient and sleeker form factors makes it central to the future of work. With GartnerOpens a new window predicting that PC and tablet shipments would exceed 500 million units in 2021, endpoint devices stand at the epicenter of hybrid workplaces. Updating the PC fleet is now critical for driving business innovation and equipping employees for the ‘work from anywhere’ movement.

For technology leaders assembling the building blocks of the digital workplace, a next-gen business PC platform can boost employee productivity, drive cutting-edge mobile experience, and provide IT teams the much-needed tools to manage and secure the anywhere-workforce remotely.

See More: Distributed Workforces Demand Superior Digital Experience: 4 Ways High-Performance, Ultra-Light Laptops Can Empower Employees

The ROI Question

Despite a year of uncertainty, shifts in IT spendingOpens a new window indicate organizations are making plans to incorporate transformative technology solutions. However, investing in the right technology only can help organizations stay ahead of their competitors and demonstrate a positive ROI.

But, how does one assess whether a new technology is worth the investment?

In 2022 and beyond, savvy IT leaders should build the modern workplace through the lens of three key factors — operational efficiency, productivity, and downtime. Put simply, a business-grade PC fleet that empowers IT teams to streamline PC fleet management and increase IT operational efficiency delivers on all three fronts and is worth investing in. In decentralized work environments, productivity is critical to organizations of all sizes as they strive to grow.

Downtime resulting from outdated and malfunctioning devices can hurt business efficiency and affect employee engagement. The Intel® vPro® platform provides remote management capabilities embedded in the PC hardware, enabling IT administrators to remotely access devices and resolve incidents quickly, so users see a minimal impact on their productivity. This, in turn, saves time and costs by reducing the need for onsite visits.

With more organizations stressing on business efficiency and ROI, now more than ever, a next-gen PC platform that meets the computing needs of hybrid workers, lowers operating costs and helps stretched IT teams effectively navigate today’s dynamic work landscape should be a high-priority investment.

In an Intel-commissioned Total Economic Impact study, Forrester ConsultingOpens a new window used a composite organization of 800 PCs to estimate that the Intel vPro platform can result in annual avoided IT costs of $87,000. This highlights how migrating to a next-gen technology platform can optimize spending due to increased IT operational efficiency and lift ROI.

Is Your PC Fleet Ready for The Road Ahead?

With workforces becoming increasingly distributed, employees rely on endpoint devices to power day-to-day business operations. They expect devices that afford the flexibility to work securely and effectively in any environment. By meeting that expectation with PCs that deliver an edge in speed, productivity, and mobility, organizations can elevate employee engagement and boost the bottom line.

Upgrading to the Intel® vPro® platform can be a force multiplier for organizations heading into a hybrid future. Not only can it provide all the ingredients required to delight end-users in terms of security, mobility and productivity, it also supports overwhelmed IT teams who otherwise spend their day putting out fires while delivering a tangible ROI on the technology investment.

See More: Keeping it Nimble in Hybrid Era: Maximize Connectivity, Collaboration & Mobility With the Right PC Platform

Here are four ways updating an endpoint device fleet can deliver a tangible ROI.

1. Attain new levels of speed, productivity, and mobility
Employees seek new levels of PC performance without sacrificing portability or battery life. In addition to the flexibility to work however they need to in any environment, employees demand powerful devices that pack portability with strong performance and usability. Because end-users spend more time on collaboration apps, the Intel vPro platform has made significant advancements that make a meaningful difference to employees. For instance, a new PC powered by the 11th Gen Intel vPro® platform delivers 52% better Microsoft Office performance, a significant advancement that makes a meaningful difference to employees.1

Uncontrolled internet usage from unsecured home routers brings high risk while offering patchy connectivity. Devices powered by the Intel vPro platform come with Wi-Fi 6. This next generation of Wi-Fi provides advanced security coupled with encryption and raises the Wi-Fi 5 speed limit of 3.5 Gbps to an incredible 9.6 Gbps. The upside – these enhancements lead to the most blazing fast, smooth and immersive video conferencing experience ever. For example, the 11th Gen Intel vPro platform provides 41% faster office productivity during a video call.2

ROI factor: Forrester’s The Total Economic Impact of the Intel vPro® Platform: Spotlight On Midmarket OrganizationsOpens a new window conducted in 2021 found that 51% of midmarket organizations reported improved employee productivity after deploying the Intel vPro platform.

2. Remotely manage and maintain dispersed PC fleets
Nothing disrupts workflows like frequent crashes, slow internet and software malfunctions. If a user can’t power on, boot up, or load the OS, they must ship the failing laptop to the IT team, limiting the user’s productivity. IT administrators at their end can also attest to the difficulty in managing distributed PC fleets, with issues running the gamut from maintenance updates to software patches.

What’s needed instead are hardware-level access and control features for out-of-band-management devices. This allows the IT team to perform PC setup and configuration, maintenance, and security updates remotely, including for powered-off or unresponsive PCs. For instance, Intel® Active Management Technology provides out-of-band management, allowing IT teams to perform repairs, OS management, and install any security update with full KVM capability as if they are sitting in front of the PC. They can remotely discover, monitor, repair, restore, and help protect PCs, even if they’re unresponsive or turned off, resulting in reduced wait time.

ROI factor: The Forrester TEI reportOpens a new window estimates that for a midmarket organization with 800 employees and an average of 4,800 help desk incidents per year, the Intel vPro platform can reduce help desk incidents each year, resulting in annual savings of up to $20,000 per year. With the Intel vPro platform, organizations with fewer resources can also benefit by reducing the ratio of IT resources to employees from 1:200 to 1:230.

3. Stepping up endpoint security from the hardware up
The shift to cloud and a proliferation of devices has IT administrators struggling to patch and secure remote endpoint devices. Too often, IT teams hope deploying software such as antivirus and malware detection solutions can give them peace of mind — at least until the next update. However, a sharp rise in cyber attacks and breaches has IT leaders thinking about what might come ahead. It’s essential to recognize that software alone can’t address the risk of vulnerabilities going undetected — only silicon-level security systems can protect hybrid workers and organizations against advanced threats like ransomware. For instance, Intel® Hardware Shield is a collection of security capabilities that can help protect a user’s applications and data below and within the operating system.

ROI factor: With Intel® Hardware Shield, exclusive to the Intel vPro platform, 98% of mid-market IT decision-makers reported PCs are more secure with the Intel vPro platform, the Forrester TEI reportOpens a new window found. Additionally, reduced security-related help desk tickets can lead to an average of $19,000 savings each year.

4. Empower IT with device fleet stability:
In the wake of transformation in work, IT professionals need reliable, stable solutions that help streamline device fleet management, resulting in fewer hardware changes and allowing IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives. The Intel vPro platform delivers the latest technologies into a fully integrated and validated solution, making it easier to manage image deployment, setup and configuration from a trusted business PC platform. This is delivered through the Intel® Stable IT Platform Program (Intel® SIPP)Opens a new window , part of the Intel vPro platform, which aims for zero hardware changes throughout the buying cycle for a minimum of 15 months or until the next generational release.

ROI factor: According to the Forrester TEI reportOpens a new window , a midmarket organization with an installed base of 800 computers, the Intel vPro platform can help reduce imaging failures and patch failures, resulting in an average savings of $20,000 annually.

Reimagining PC Experience for Hybrid Workforces

Having the right hybrid workforce strategy in place can provide a substantial competitive advantage to any organization considering a leap into the future of work. The road to hybrid starts with investing in a PC infrastructure that can enable sustained hybrid and flexible work in a dynamic environment, keep employees delighted and safe, and take the operational load off IT when it comes to remote PC fleet management.

Technology leaders redesigning cyber protection will also want a robust PC infrastructure that can take on the increasing risks while enabling cost-effectiveness in the long term. Enhanced responsiveness, long battery life, sleek form factor and comprehensive security features make the Intel vPro platform a great investment for an organization in terms of speed, productivity, and ROI.


Notes & Disclaimers

1 Source: As measured by PC Mark 10 Application overall score 11th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro® i7-1185G7 Processor vs. 8th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro® i7-8650U Processor.
2 Source: As measured by Productivity and Collaboration Workflow 11th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro® i7-1185G7 Processor vs. 8th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro® i7-8650U Processor.

Performance varies by use, configuration and other factors. Learn more at www.Intel.com/11thgenvpro.
For workloads and configurations visit www.Intel.com/PerformanceIndex.
Performance results are based on testing as of dates shown in configurations and may not reflect all publicly available updates. See configuration disclosure for details.
No product or component can be absolutely secure.
Your costs and results may vary.
Intel technologies may require enabled hardware, software or service activation.
Intel does not control or audit third-party data. You should consult other sources to evaluate accuracy.
© Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Trevor Eddolls
A popular speaker and blogger, Trevor currently chairs the Virtual IMS and Virtual CICS user groups. He's editorial director for the Arcati Mainframe Yearbook and for many years edited Xephon's Update publications. Trevor has an extensive 40-year background in mainframes and IT, and has been recognized as an IBM Champion from 2009 to 2022 for his leadership and contributions to the Information Management community. He's written numerous technical articles and published 3 mainframe-related books. He's an accomplished web designer and recognized social media expert.
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