October 2021 – Repertoire Magazine
Editor’s note: Technology is playing an increasing role in the day-to-day business of sales reps. In this department, Repertoire will profile the latest developments in software and gadgets that reps can use for work and play.
The Future of Work and Digital Transformation
More than one year after the global remote work revolution, the shift to work from home (WFH) and work from anywhere (WFA) is already resulting in profound effects on businesses’ digital transformation as well as data security concerns, according to Lenovo, which released the results of its Future of Work and Digital Transformation study in the spring.
According to the study, a vast majority of businesses (83%) expect to work remote at least half the time, whereas 60% of employees not only agree but are happy to do so. These new findings are part of a global survey of more than 8,000 employees and IT decision-makers (ITDMs) across 14 markets from companies of all sizes on the impact of remote work, including job satisfaction, technology challenges and solutions conducted in early 2021.
Among the key insights is that workers have hit their stride navigating their new WFH lives. Most employees (83%) want a hybrid work model post-COVID, which businesses say are more than happy to accommodate because they know it’s a way to drive employee engagement and attract new talent. Enabling remote work has meant a change in digital adoption, with an increased usage of personal devices for work; wider adoption of collaboration cloud and software; and a heightened focus on data security among IT functions across businesses of all sizes. The study also shows that trusted technology providers will need to play a key role in developing future digital strategies, while Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) is gaining traction among larger businesses to make it easier to provide employees with up-to-date technology devices and as a way to free up precious resources for more strategic priorities.
“With businesses and their employees both optimistic about a future in hybrid work and remote collaboration, today’s IT departments are faced with the rising resource costs of data security and compliance,” said Gianfranco Lanci, president and COO, Lenovo. “More than ever, businesses need reliable technology partners to fully manage their hardware, software and services to maximize value and boost security.”
Other findings of the study:
- Contrary to initial concerns that remote work would lead to a rise in employee burnout within the first year of the pandemic, the Lenovo study showed that most workers have adapted remarkably well to WFH and WFA – 70% say that the flexibility leaves them more satisfied with their job overall. About 60% of surveyed employees now prefer remote work at least half the time, while over one-third want to WFH/WFA most or all of the time.
- With 90% of workers surveyed still wanting the option to go into the office to connect with colleagues and 56% saying they are more productive at home, it’s clear that the role of the office will be changing. “The office is no longer the place where work gets done; it’s evolving into a place where one can connect and collaborate while leaving deep work for focused time at home.”
- Remote work has also led to a new suite of digital hardware, software and services solutions. One’s collection of devices and technology for work has become increasingly personal and collaborative. “Employees are increasingly leaning into the use of their personal devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets for work, with 79% of employee respondents saying they’re now using their smartphones for work-related tasks such as voice and video calls, email and work chat.”
Dell reports record second quarter
Dell Technologies recorded its best second quarter in the company’s history. Strong demand in the personal computer market was one of the reasons Dell saw record second quarter revenue of $26.1 billion, up 15%. Its Client Solutions Group revenue for the second quarter was up 27% to a record $14.3 billion. Operating income was a second quarter record $995 million, up 39%, and 7% of Client Solutions Group revenue, as the company innovates across the ecosystem to deliver an enhanced experience for customers looking to work and play effectively from anywhere.
Best bets for Chromebooks
If all you’re really looking for in a personal computer is to surf the web and don’t need heavy lifting software, Chromebooks may be your best bet. Fortunately, there are plenty of options of affordable Chromebooks that can get the job done. CNET recently highlighted their top picks in several categories, including:
- Best small Chromebook under $300: Lenovo Chromebook Duet. “A great pick if you’re looking for an affordable Chromebook for pure mobility or as a secondary device that can be
used in tablet mode.”
- Best Chromebook under $500: HP Chromebook x360 14c. “The Core i3 processor and 8GB of memory keep this HP Chromebook running smoothly even with a couple dozen tabs open and streaming video in the background.”
- Best Chromebook 2-in-1 for multitaskers: Acer Chromebook Spin 713. “It gives you more vertical room to work in, but it still has the width of a typical 13.3-inch laptop with a 16:9 ratio.”
To read the full list, visit www.cnet.com/tech/computing/best-chromebook.