This blog is sponsored by Microsoft, Lenovo, and Intel
When COVID-19 started to spread, most organizations had to suddenly shift to remote work. Though there have been bumps in the road as we all adjust, this is a chance for organizations to embrace the need for employees to have the flexibility to work from home as an option in the future—especially as the demand for remote work will continue to increase by 30%.1
The Problem with Older Devices
Fifty-four percent of HR leaders say that inadequate technology has been the biggest barrier to effective remote working.1 This is because those older devices experience problems twice as frequently. This holds back productivity and drains IT staff efficiency.2
For someone who has been working in a traditional office environment every day (with occasional travel), I didn’t realize how challenging the adaption to working from home would be. As I started to work and collaborate, I realized the difference in user experience I had from working on older devices to making the shift to a modern Lenovo device with the latest Intel® Core™ vPro® processor. PCs from Lenovo with the latest Intel® Core™ processors with Intel® vPro™ technology and Windows 10 deliver across the spectrum of today’s employee needs, providing business users the power, performance, and mobility they need to contribute their best work.
How Intel® vPro® Delivers Performance, Security, and Manageability for Remote Workers
The Intel® vPro® platform delivers out-of-the-box business-class performance to power productivity, analyze data fast, simplify connectivity, and extend battery life. A 2019 study by Forrester Consulting commissioned by Intel® found that 81% of IT managers surveyed reported improved user productivity by deploying new Intel® vPro® platform-based devices.2 With new PCs powered by the Intel® vƒPro® platform, IT and users reap the full benefits of the platform across all form factors.3 Because business users have different needs than everyday consumers, it’s important to choose business-grade PCs that can deliver performance plus security, manageability, and stability to keep employees productive and in a flow. A holistic PC platform helps businesses meet their IT objectives in several ways:
- Equipping employees with the right device form factor to match their job responsibilities helps enhance productivity. A geologist working in the field, for example, requires a laptop with durability features, while a salesperson’s laptop needs to be lightweight, have a long battery life, and support Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
- Shifting IT to a proactive remote maintenance routine adds productivity-enhancing efficiency.
- Executing remote troubleshooting and updates can minimize downtime and reduce support tickets.
Enhancing mobility and connectivity supports data-intensive applications and workloads on both sides of the corporate firewall in a more mobile than ever—and cloud-driven—world. Applying automation for security features and policies helps IT keep pace with evolving threats.
Microsoft Tools for Remote Workers on Modern Devices
Microsoft Teams became an essential tool to stay in touch and work on projects. Thanks to the high-quality audio and video that Lenovo Windows 10 Pro devices provide, I see my teammates every day during video calls, which are answered quickly thanks to the unified communication buttons right on the keyboard. With the increase of video calls, also comes peace of mind with the included ThinkShutter. This ensures the camera lens is covered when not on a call. For those brainstorming meetings, it’s been great for those who have a 2-in-1—like the Lenovo Yoga. This allows them to utilize pens in Microsoft apps—including Microsoft Whiteboard—so they can all collaborate at the same time, just like in the office.
The Lenovo Advantage
Another great advantage of using a modern device from Lenovo is its ability to adapt to a workspace. Thanks to the new Wi-Fi 6 standard, employees are better connected than ever through a wireless signal that uses less battery. Not being tied down to an outlet has been one of the best experiences of working on a modern device, as I can change scenery and move freely from my kitchen table to back patio without worry of interruption. Most Lenovo ThinkPads with 10th gen Intel® vPro® processors—which are far better and faster at multitasking than older devices—have a minimum of 10 hours of battery life, which is longer than most workdays.4 And connectivity options—like Bluetooth and USB-C—allow me to use peripherals without hunting down an adapter. That has been very helpful.
I would even challenge that productivity has been streamlined as the use of OneDrive and Microsoft 365 apps have been a necessity. The peace of mind that document sharing from OneDrive gives as a trusted cloud has decreased the need of attachments in email. One of the biggest contributors to the productivity has been co-authoring on documents at the same time, and comments with @mentions to grab another employee’s attention to one part of the document where their help was needed. All of this integrates fluently on Lenovo Windows 10 devices featuring 10th gen Intel® vPro® processors.
The future of remote work is promising with modern devices. Rather than seeing remote work as a hardship, many organizations are recognizing the human benefits of remote work. With that flexibility also comes opportunity to make your work at home life better. Remember to set appropriate boundaries, stay connected to coworkers, and utilize the right tools—including office furniture, lighting, hardware, software, Wi-Fi, headsets, and accessories.
Footnotes:
1. Jackie Wiles, “With Coronavirus in mind, is your origination ready for remote work?” last modified March 2020, https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/with-coronavirus-in-mind-are-you-ready-for-remote-work/
2. Anurag Agrawal “Older vs Newer PCs – Cost and Productivity Impact for SMBs in Asia-Pacific,” last modified November 2018, https://techaisle.com/blog/347-older-vs-newer-pcs-cost-and-productivity-impact-for-smbs-in-asia-pacific
3. The Total Economic Impact™ of the Intel vPro® platform, Forrester, December 2018. A study commissioned by Intel and conducted by Forrester Consulting, which surveyed 256 IT managers at midsized organizations (100 to 1,000 employees) using Intel vPro® platforms in US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Eighty-five percent either “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that users with newer hardware see even greater productivity improvement. Read the study at Intel.com/vProPlatformTEI.
4. Testing as of 30 September 2019. For systems with FHD displays. Simulated to replicate typical scenario on wireless web browsing workload: Shipped HW/SW configuration running multiple background applications and open web pages; on 802.11 wireless Internet connection, DC battery power, and 250nit screen brightness.
Ashley Lofaro
Ashley is a Product Manager for Workplace Transformation at Connection. In her free time, she enjoys traveling.
