Intel redefines desktop and mobile computing
There’s never been a better time for a business to refresh its devices
The obsolescence of XP-based systems, the rise of BYOD and the impending end of the financial year make this the perfect time to have a discussion with your clients about Intel and the opportunities its range of products has to offer.
Intel is no stranger to innovation, with the company’s products always being at the forefront of PC technology, for both desktops and portables. It has built up a lot of trust in its name, mainly due to the reliability and class-leading performance of its technology and the products that it enables.
There is no doubt that there is a storied history there when it comes to processors and chip technology, but Intel is much more than just a chip company, with a multitude of new products ready to make a serious impact on business; products which can enable your business to reach new markets and offer excellent upgrade paths to existing clients.
SMB: IT spending on the up
Current research from IDC on trends in the SMB market indicates the coming financial year will see strong investment in ICT. As organisations make the transition to a more mobile and dynamic workplace, they will be looking for products that make this transition easy and flexible.
IDC vice-president of SMB research, Raymond Boggs, said the analyst firm is predicting record worldwide SMB IT spending for 2014 of $US560 billion, with exceptional gains in key regions and across key technologies.
SMBs are being transformed through the use of mobile devices and Cloud computing, two key components of what IDC calls the 3rd Platform. Changes in how technology is acquired and used will cause major disruptions for some IT players. However, as Boggs notes, “The opportunity for firms to sharpen their products, refine distribution strategy, and appeal to new customers has never been greater.”
Respondents to IDG’s State of the IT Channel Survey 2013 overwhelmingly said securing new customers was their top management priority for the year ahead. The report also showed that 80 per cent of resellers said that the most valuable thing vendors provide is training and certification.
Intel’s range of innovative products will ensure resellers have options to break into markets that were previously not accessible. Furthermore, Intel is committed to channel relations and understands the importance of being able to properly train customers so they can get the most out of their products.
Telsyte senior analyst, Rodney Gedda, said the purchasing cycle for technology is changing. While the purchasing cycle for desktops has remained static, the tablet and smartphone sector has exploded and cycles are considerably shorter. The analyst firm estimates 9.4 million Australians are now using tablets.
With almost half the population using the technology, there is a change in the way we see and use computers.
Instead of waiting for clients to reach the end of their traditional purchasing cycle, Intel products can provide opportunities to access new customers eager to transition into the mobile lifestyle but perhaps unaware how to best harness the technology.
The goal should be to help clients maximise productivity rather than having them worry about price points. Many of them may be looking at products that hit specific price points but, at the same time, they should be looking at products that are the best solution for their needs.
New products, more opportunities
Intel is renowned for having the latest desktop processors and the most modern laptop technology but that is just part of the Intel story. At the same time, Intel’s new range of products can be used to reach out to customers who have a need for unique computing solutions that traditional desktops and laptops can’t fulfil.
Take the Next Unit of Computing, or NUC, as it’s known. This is a pint-sized computer that has been borne out of a need for more compact, yet still powerful computers. Or the 2-in-1 devices, which Intel has helped pioneer through its advanced system on chip (SoC) technology and through Core CPU-powered Ultrabooks, allowing one device to be used both as a tablet and as a regular laptop.
And then there is solid state storage. Intel has been offering solid state drives (SSDs) for many years, and the company has just launched a high-speed product that is designed to not only be reliable, but also fast enough to tickle the fancy of the fussiest enthusiast PC builders.
Finally, there are the server products, which are perhaps the unsung heroes of the company’s product portfolio, as they enable many small business customers to more efficiently store and access data, in ways some may have thought were only reserved for big business. These products allow you to help provide services and build better, longer-term relationships with your clients.