New research reveals that 34 per cent of Australia’s SMEs are expected to convert to a 100 per cent laptop setup post-COVID-19 and that 39 per cent plan to increase their laptop investments by 2022, highlighting the mobile shift in the sector.
The IDC Survey commissioned by ASUS, the IDC Asia/Pacific Laptops and Workspace Trends Survey 2020, found that 68 per cent of Australian SMEs were ready for the work-from-home arrangements brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, 33 per cent said they were not completely prepared and didn’t have the office equipment and software to enable remote working. It also uncovered the fact that 50 per cent of employers expect their workforce to return to the office when they are allowed to do so.
“It’s encouraging to see from the survey that about 40 per cent of APAC SMEs are looking to invest in technologies that will enable them to become more resilient in the future,” Emma Ou, Country Manager for ASUS ANZ said.
“Businesses that adopt more modern, flexible ways of working with the help of digital technology will reap the benefits of greater resource management, streamlined processes, more efficient workflows, and deeper, more actionable insights based on their data.”
The study also provided key advice for businesses to equip their employees with the latest devices that can support both a remote and hybrid work environment, which will have a significant impact not only on employee productivity and experience, as well as provide a competitive edge to organisations to attract and retain talent.
“The need for remote working increased tremendously in 2020 and there was still great uncertainty about how coronavirus will shape business in the coming years”, Ou said.
“Equipping staff with the appropriate technologies for remote working has turned pivotal in enabling a positive employee experience and enhancing productivity,” Simon Piff, Vice President for Asia/Pacific at IDC, said. “Purchasing decisions on devices – laptops in particular – need to be reassessed to keep pace with employee expectations, especially among the younger generation of workers who are more digitally astute, and are demanding more flexible working arrangements.”
And Leon Brumen, Head of Commercial Business at ASUS stressed that the office desk will not be the only place to work in the piost-pandemic working environment.
“Ensuring reliable connectivity and performance means that businesses can offer employees a more consistent experience,” Brumen said. “Organisations in ANZ need to move beyond the one-size-fits-all approach, and allocate devices based on computing needs and function.”
Other key findings from the survey include:
- 54 per cent of employees in Australia want to have a say in the allotment of their devices.
- 49 per cent of employees believe that businesses that offer advanced equipment and flexible working arrangements have a competitive edge over other companies.
- Australian SMEs hold onto their laptops longer than their APAC counterparts (ASUS believe this is because they buy more expensive and powerful systems that extends service life).
- 63 per cent of Australia’s millennials say mobility is pivotal in their purchase decisions, choosing models with all-day battery life, a light weight, fast-charging ability and compact size.
