Employees today go into the office an average of 1.4 times per week, according to a study from the Advanced Workplace Association.
Many people work remotely, but they lack sustainable IT infrastructure to support them.  
Providing flexible and user-friendly tech can help you sustain a hybrid workforce.

Just a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine a future where employees have autonomy over where and how they work. But today, as workers log into conference calls and answer emails from kitchen tables and neighborhood coffee shops, many can barely fathom the idea of going back to an office five days a week — if at all. According to a recent global study of 80 offices in 13 countries representing roughly 80,000 employees, people go into the office an average of only 1.4 times per week. 

The work-from-home lifestyle has its perks. But with this widespread shift in working patterns comes a number of technological challenges. 

The move away from the traditional office has ushered in the need for modernized technology, and businesses that haven't refreshed their fleet of PCs could fall behind. 

Below are a few considerations to help you support your hybrid workforce with the PC technology they need to succeed. 

Fast Fact: 85% of IT decision-makers prioritize purchasing new PCs that allow employees to work from anywhere.  1. PCs underpin the hybrid workforce

Whether you're under pressure to meet a deadline, collaborating with colleagues on a cloud-based platform, or hosting a video meeting with team members on the go, a stable work computer is a must-have. And most IT leaders understand this necessity: A report from Intel found that 85% of IT decision-makers prioritize purchasing new PCs that allow employees to work from anywhere. 

Older PCs with limited battery life, aging hardware, poor connectivity, or operating systems that are no longer supported, can slow productivity to a crawl. That goes for both individual employees and the IT teams that get pulled away from higher-value priorities to troubleshoot problems with underperforming equipment.

2. Employees expect better user experiences

Companies that want to recruit and retain top talent are increasingly considering how technology impacts the overall employee experience. According to a report by Forrester and commissioned by Intel, mature organizations are 20% more likely to see improvements in employee retention when IT invests in high-performing, stable PCs. 

Eliminating distractions such as updates, low battery life, or slow device response is crucial for enhancing employee productivity and satisfaction. For example, laptops powered by Intel vPro® offer businesses multi-layer security features, modern management capabilities, professional grade performance, and reliable stability to help them scale with confidence. 

Instead of adopting a companywide PC refresh every few years, businesses may see improved employee experiences by implementing alternate approaches, such as ongoing but staggered upgrades, expanding the types of devices employees are allowed to use, or adopting a PC-as-a-service model instead of ownership, a Forrester Consulting survey found.

3. PCs are critical to enterprise sustainability initiatives 

IT has become central to enterprise sustainability efforts, and PC purchases are a key factor in that work. Companies are under more pressure from consumers, regulators, and employees to make environmentally conscious decisions. Today's buyers want devices that last longer and can be easily recycled or reused. 

Nearly nine out of 10 companies are required to submit reports on their sustainability activity, and 64% of IT decision-makers say expanding sustainability efforts is a critical or high priority. The bottom line? If a device — or manufacturer — doesn't factor in sustainability, it can't compete.

Responsible environmental stewardship is a top priority at Intel. In 2021, the company sent only around 5% of its total waste to landfill and is working to drop that number to zero by 2030. Intel also achieved net-positive water in three countries and 100% green power in the US, Europe, Israel, and Malaysia.

 Nearly nine out of 10 companies are required to submit reports on their sustainability activity, and 64% of IT decision-makers say expanding sustainability efforts is a critical or high priority. 4. Remote management helps keep your business secure 

Maintaining a secure device environment while meeting employees' connectivity expectations is a challenge for many companies. But without manageability either added on or baked into each device, IT teams will continue to lack visibility into needed PC improvements, like which devices need updates or specific vulnerabilities that must be addressed.

However, not all remote access features are created equal. Intel vPro Enterprise for Windows OS allows IT teams remote access even when the device is turned off or the operating system isn't working. Meanwhile, Intel® Hardware Shield, which is included with PCs built on Intel vPro, relies on a multilayered security approach that defends at the hardware, BIOS/firmware, hypervisor, VM, OS, and application layers.

5. Tech should be able to handle the unexpected

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, IT teams had to react quickly to support a remote workforce — a shift in workflow that most organizations weren't prepared or set up for. But in many cases, these IT teams needed even more modernized support to optimize their own productivity.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, for example, began upgrading to Intel vPro technology in 2020. This technology allowed IT teams to swiftly respond to technical issues in medical facilities without physically entering patient rooms, resulting in quicker problem-solving and enabling healthcare workers to focus on patient care — at a time when that mattered more than anything else.

Even in non-emergency situations, today's workers need PCs built to help them handle the unexpected. When users can depend on key features like IT support from anywhere or a quick battery recharge, they're free to refocus their energy on tasks that drive their organization forward.

Learn more about how Intel vPro can help you meet the needs of your hybrid workforce.

This post was created by Insider Studios with Intel. 

 

*Disclaimer: Intel technologies may require enabled hardware, software, or service activation. No product or component can be absolutely secure. Results may vary. Intel does not control or audit third-party data. You should consult other sources to evaluate accuracy.​​​ Learn more at intel.com/ITHeroes. © Intel Corporation.