In the technology-driven economy of today, your IT choices can directly impact the productivity of your workforce and consequently your company’s bottom line. The secret to getting your IT strategy right is to plan carefully and invest for choosing the right breed of PC for your business.

In partnership with Lenovo, we’ve outlined some of the top tips and things to look out for.

The appeal of consumer PCs

Many startups and emerging companies tend to pick consumer PC when buying for employees. This may happen for several reasons, including:

  • Lack of awareness of the rigours of business computing
  • Unclear of the differences between consumer PCs and business PCs
  • Overemphasis on aesthetics or price

Most importantly, the seemingly more economical cost of consumer-grade devices make them appear to be the right choice, but the total cost of ownership (TCO) of PCs is far more critical, much like the cost of spares and service for a car over its lifetime.

According to Gartner, a significant bulk of costs associated with PCs appear months and years after purchase, often exceeding the original price. TCO for a PC includes purchase costs plus the cost of spares, service, and support needed to keep them operational over a defined lifetime. Reliability and durability are fundamental to ensuring lower TCO of PCs. Business PCs score much higher than consumer PCs on all factors especially.

Designed to enhance business benefits

Business PCs are purpose-built to perform reliably, efficiently and with ease, even in the most challenging work environments. They are better engineered and equipped with features that are not usually found or needed in consumer-grade devices.

Better productivity: Business PCs come with CPUs optimised for work-related software and tasks, and faster memory and hard drives to prevent performance bottlenecks. They can be customised to suit specific business functions and offer battery life that allows working for hours at a stretch. And better cooling technology ensures business PCs can run faster and for more extended periods of time, without incurring internal damage or performance losses from heat.

Better Reliability & Mobility: On the road, a business PC is visibly better at WiFi and mobile broadband connectivity because of superior antenna design. And because they are built of sturdy and light materials, like carbon fiber and metal alloys, they can withstand years of wear and tear. They also undergo a series of rigorous testing to ensure durability in any work environment and are equipped with rapid charging technology for 80% charge in just sixty-minutes, so you are not dependent on a power outlet.

Better Security and Manageability: Business PCs are quick and easy to deploy, and are designed with security in mind. They offer security features such as self-encrypting hard drives, anti-theft technology, biometric user authentication and more. More importantly, most business PCs come with a comprehensive portfolio of services that include 24/7 technical assistance, extended warranties and on-site visits, if necessary. Unlike most consumer PCs, business PCs can be serviced anywhere in the world.

Planning for the future

The stage at which your organisation is at also needs to be taken into account when selecting PCs, as the benefits that the PC should bring to your business and how it can help the company move forward are essential.

Startups:

PCs purchased at this stage of growth need to be sufficiently equipped to sustain the long hours of work necessary to take a business off the ground. Also, the PCs chosen should be very reliable and easy to use as most startups do not have full-time IT teams.
Look for MIL-spec reliability testing, extended warranties, and accidental damage protection.

High-growth businesses:

Businesses that sustain around 10 percent growth every year tend to be more sophisticated in their IT requirements. The workforce is more diversified and demanding. The PC solution should be matched to different working styles and tasks, and be upgradeable without hassle. Plus, a smartly selected set of accessories for the PC can help employees and the company derive the maximum value from its PC investment.
Look for hot-swap drives, batteries, graphics cards and tool-less access to memory.

Mature businesses:

Mature business need devices that don’t just cater to their current needs but can also meet future requirements. They should opt for the top of the line products that offer top performance and a future-ready feature set, reducing the need for frequent upgrades.
Look for the latest generation of CPU, operating system, display technology, and storage.

Once you have a clear understanding of your requirements, you are better equipped to look for business PCs that best fit your business needs.

From durability and security to customised features and applications for business, and a comprehensive service offering, a business PC will provide you with the confidence necessary to expand your business and focus on what matters – your future.

Check out this handy infographic to help you with your planning depending on the stage of maturity your business is at.

 

As Lenovo Platinum Solution Partners, Complete IT Systems can offer you expert advice on the Lenovo range and how it could be effectively deployed in your business. To find out more give us a call on 01274 396 213 or email  and we’ll get back to you promptly.

 

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