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IT hardware used to be simple. You would choose a laptop and buy the same model for everyone in your company. But that approach no longer cuts the mustard. It’s not cost-efficient, it’s not sustainable and it doesn't optimise your organisation for the future.
We talk to Steve Robinson, Product Specialist at Datacom, about how to move beyond a one-size-fits-all mindset.
People and their roles vary widely, which impacts their hardware requirements. Some people need devices that are mobile and robust, while others need huge screens and massive processing power for video editing.
“Look at the Lenovo T14 Thinkpad, which is popular because it’s a real workhorse of a laptop. You used to just choose a screen size and whether you wanted the smaller or larger processor,” says Robinson. “Now you have so many choices to make. When my customers see the range, it’s a real stroke-beard moment because they suddenly realise how much they have to think about,” Robinson says.
Using personas is enormously useful, he says, because it allows companies to match hardware to each role. Datacom is able to measure workloads for devices, look at app use, licenses and downloads to translate work styles into infrastructure blueprints. This helps businesses choose the right mix of endpoint devices, high-performance compute and smart displays.
A surprising number of companies are still operating on Windows 10, which is now receiving only limited support from Microsoft. That presents security risks for those devices, so it’s essential that organisations upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible.
And when those businesses do upgrade, they need to think about future-proofing against the increasing prevalence of AI in the workplace. Laptops more than a year old typically only have a CPU, while newer models now have NPUs (neural processing units).
“If your laptop doesn’t have an NPU in it, you’re asking the CPU to do things it wasn’t designed to do,” he explains. “AI backgrounds and noise cancelling on Teams calls, live translations, photo and video editing. Older laptops will be working hard to keep up, which means lower battery life and slower processing,” explains Robinson.
Performance of NPU-equipped devices is measured in trillions of operations per second, or TOPS. They are slightly more expensive than non-NPU devices, but that cost is falling fast.
“Three years ago we weren’t talking about NPUs at all and now we’re looking at up to 1,000 TOPS next year – this is moving really fast. Today, I’m pointing customers towards higher end devices with more than 40 TOPS, because even if you don’t need them now, you’ll probably still be using the same devices in three or four years, so this helps to future-proof your hardware,” says Robinson.
A well-planned and well-executed hardware refresh can be much more cost-effective when buying laptops in bulk. Trying to distribute large numbers of new devices across an organisation can put tremendous pressure on IT departments.
“We’ve seen customers with brand-new laptops that have been sitting in cupboards for two years, because they haven’t been able to roll them all out effectively.” says Robinson. “Phased rollouts deliver better results for large organisations, especially if an IT partner like Datacom is engaged to help with deployment and logistics.”
The other time-saver is device preconfiguration, which allows for preloaded software and system integration across hundreds of units at once.
“A lot can be done at the factory as the device is being built, so it arrives ready to go,” explains Robinson. “That can include asset tags, custom BIOS systems, company logos and admin passwords. This saves your IT people a lot of time and money, and they can spend their time in more useful ways.”
Organisations can donate or recycle old IT hardware, and might even get paid for it.
“Datacom will take the serial numbers of all the devices, then contact recycling companies for a quote – there’s often value in devices that are three or four years old.”
New devices are also built more sustainably. Lenovo packaging is entirely compostable or recyclable, and you can add CO2 offsetting for around 1% of the value of the device. If Datacom does the rollout, it will take away and recycle all the packaging material, which can be a surprisingly big job. Plus, thanks, in part, to EU initiatives, devices are becoming easier to repair and upgrade.
“Every Lenovo Thinkpad now has customer replaceable batteries, and it only requires removing two screws to take the keyboard out. Many parts are upgradable, including the RAM, so you can start small and add extra processing power later. That lets companies sweat devices for longer, increasing the ROI of your fleet.”
By matching companies with the right hardware, choosing devices that are future-ready and having extra upgradability, Robinson is able to maximise cost-efficiency and cashflow for his clients.
“There’s a lot that I can help people with, especially when it comes to their AI journey,” he adds. “And I sleep well at night recommending Lenovo because I know it’s a great product. I’ve even got an old 10-year-old Lenovo that just won’t die – they’re tough machines!”
