Are You Ready For Next-Gen Workloads?
Take this 2-minute quiz to see how our organization’s devices stack up against the demands of modern work. Based on insights from Forrester’s research on “Why Growing Organizations Are Rethinking The Role Of Laptops,” you’ll learn how peers are preparing for new workloads and AI-enabled work.
How would you rate your organization’s current laptop fleet in meeting the needs of employees?
(Select one per row)
1/8
“How would you rate your organization’s current laptop fleet in meeting the needs of employees?”
Battery life and charging speed Overall performance and speed Manageability (e.g., ease of deployment, monitoring, updates) Sustainability (e.g., energy efficiency or recyclability) Compatibility with AI and advanced workloads Collaboration and communication tools Security and data protection features Device reliability and uptime Very poor Poor Adequate Good ExcellentDid you know?
In small and medium-size business (SMB) environments, every device failure becomes a business failure because the margin for operational disruption is so much smaller. As the complexity and compute intensity of everyday workloads grow, SMBs face a widening gap between what their people need and what their devices can deliver.
Base: 491 decision-makers responsible for cloud-based tools, services, OSes, and devices at their organization
Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Dell, October 2025
2/8
How important are the following factors when making a laptop purchase?
(Select one per row)
3/8
“How important are the following factors when making a laptop purchase?”
Battery life & efficiency – Long-lasting performance and rapid charging capability AI-readiness – Hardware or software optimized for AI workloads and applications Manageability for IT – Remote monitoring, device management, and support tools Upgradeability & future-proofing – Ability to support emerging technologies and workload growth Security features – Hardware and software security, biometric authentication, encryption Performance – Processing power, memory, storage, and graphics capability Design & portability – Aesthetics, weight, and form factor suitable for mobile work Sustainability – Energy efficiency, recycled materials, environmentally responsible production Collaboration features – High-quality webcam, microphone, speakers, conferencing tools Durability & build quality – Device resilience, ruggedness, and resistance to wear/damage Not at all important Not important Nice to have Important CriticalDid you know?
SMBs are explicitly prioritizing AI-ready hardware and long-term capability. AI PCs are no longer a speculative upgrade; they are becoming a strategic requirement as organizations prepare for rising AI usage, increasingly complex workloads, and tighter integration between devices and cloud-based AI services.
Base: 491 decision-makers responsible for cloud-based tools, services, OSes, and devices at their organization
Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Dell, October 2025
4/8
What new types of workloads or tasks are emerging in your business that require improvements in PC capability?
(Select all that apply)
5/8
“What new types of workloads or tasks are emerging in your business that require improvements in PC capability?”
Real-time collaboration with large files or media Advanced spreadsheet modeling and simulations Real-time data analysis and visualization Cybersecurity monitoring and threat analysis High-resolution video editing or rendering Remote desktop or virtualized environments AI/ML model development and testing Generative content creation (e.g., text, image, video) Software development with large codebases or containers 3D design, CAD, or simulation work Virtual or augmented reality applications Other (please specify) Don’t know / does not applyGrowing businesses are pushing aggressively toward AI adoption, richer digital experiences, and faster operational execution, but their existing laptop fleets are simply not built for the new reality of work. Unlike large companies, which have backup staff, redundant systems, and layered operational buffers, SMBs feel the impact of device inefficiencies immediately. When a laptop lags, overheats, crashes, or struggles with heavier workloads, there is often no secondary resource to absorb the delay.
Base: 491 decision-makers responsible for cloud-based tools, services, OSes, and devices at their organization
Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Dell, October 2025
6/8
What is the biggest barrier to increasing your organization’s use of AI?
(Select top three)
7/8
“What is the biggest barrier to increasing your organization’s use of AI?”
Technology infrastructure limitations Lack of skilled staff or training Security or compliance concerns Data quality or availability issues Lack of budget or funding End-user trust Integration challenges with existing systems Data sovereignty Licensing cost / AI usage fees Lack of leadership buy-in Vendor lock-in concerns No clear business case/ROI yetDid You Know?
Unlike large businesses with dedicated data science groups and AI infrastructure budgets, SMBs face sharper constraints: limited specialist skills, smaller IT teams, fragmented device estates, and legacy hardware that cannot support modern compute needs without next-generation processors or AI-ready architecture.
These pressures can be alleviated with PC-as-a-Service models, which allow SMBs to access newer, higher-performance devices on predictable budgets while reducing the operational strain of managing, securing, and refreshing devices internally.
Base: 491 decision-makers responsible for cloud-based tools, services, OSes, and devices at their organization
Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Dell, October 2025
8/8
Register to read the full report
Organizations that succeed will be those that modernize their device strategies, upskill their teams, and choose partners that can reduce operational complexity while preparing them for an AI-driven future.
Read more about how the relationship between IT and security may be leading to increased external asset risk in the Forrester Consulting Thought Leadership Paper, “Why Growing Organizations Are Rethinking The Role Of Laptops.”
