In part of one this two-part blog series, we discussed the recent study by Forrester Research outlining the economic impact of Macs in the enterprise. The study showed that while the initial purchase price of a Mac is $500 more than a comparable PC, its true cost is actually $50.25 less over a 3-year product cycle once hardware and software costs are accounted for. The disparity in costs is even more pronounced once supporting costs such as provisioning, deployment, help desk tickets and energy are factored in. Forrester found the resulting cost savings to be $678.56. In the end, TCO matters far more than the initial price tag.

Little cost savings that add up big returns

In part one of this two-part blog post, we outlined some of the substantial savings that seven companies realized in provisioning and support costs after allowing their employees to transition to Macs through recently implemented employee choice programs. The appreciated cost savings was experienced from many other facets as well though.

For instance, a Mac requires less energy to operate, 50 percent to be exact. Not only does that mean lower energy costs per device, but it also means greater productivity as users can operate on battery for longer periods of time. Decreasing the dependency on power cords means that work can get done whenever and wherever it needs to.

Saving time translates into saving money

PC users are used to waiting. In fact, PC users spend 5 minutes per day just waiting on tasks such as wake or reboot. Compare this to who only spend 1 minute per day. All in all, the study went on to show that Mac users regain 48 hours of improved productivity per year. Now multiply this recapture of time by the average hourly wage of your employees. Then multiply that figure by your number of employees. Forrester goes on to estimate that organizations comparable in size to those that participated in the study can expect 10,000 users to choose Macs the first year of the program. This is based on a 10 percent transition rate the first year, which increases to 20 percent and 30 percent in years 2 and 3 respectively. In business, minutes can quickly compound into serious savings.

Improved employee performance and retention

The productivity gains realized by Mac conversion is due to more than just reduced startup times however. Because the hardware and software operate in seamless cohesion with one another, the machine operates better, thus reducing employee frustration and nonacceptance. It also improved employee engagement which led to improved retention rates. In fact, employees who chose a Mac showed a 20 percent improvement in employee retention rate compared to their fellow PC users.

This recognized boost in productivity has been found elsewhere too. In an article published in , IBM, after implementing a Mac program four years prior, realized a savings of $543 per Mac compared to a PC (a figure very similar to the Forrester Study). They also found that Mac users tended to close sales deals that were 16 percent larger on average than Windows users. Mac users were also 17 percent less likely to leave IBM. No one will debate the expensive cost of employee turnover.

Great security translates into direct cost savings

No article comparing computer platforms would be complete without mentioning security. According to benchmark research conducted by the Ponemon Institute in 2018, the likelihood of a data breach within an organization is 14 percent per year. The Forrester study showed that this likelihood was reduced by 50 percent per device when switching to a Mac. One of the study participants noted they had as much as 90 percent fewer security incidents on their Mac devices. The Mac has a fundamentally more secure architecture than the PC thanks to its T2 security chip that provides the foundation for encrypted storage and secure boot capabilities.

While the Mac is more secure, logic says that the increased level of security should cost more. Again, not the case. The Mac’s security first architecture and included security features negate the need for some of the additional endpoint security licenses that are required for comparable PC deployments. The Forrester study reported a savings of $40 per year, per machine in additional endpoint security licenses. Better protection at lower cost. Apple certainly has their own way of doing things.

Invest in employee happiness

It is rare that a product that so many crave has a lower cost of ownership. By implementing an employee choice program, you can please your employees that embrace their preferred brand, as well as the bean counters that keep track of the nickels and dimes. Except we are not talking about nickels and dimes, we are talking about hundreds of dollars per device. Macs breed happiness, loyalty and heightened productivity, all for less money than comparable machines that exhibit lower benchmarks across the board. Give your employees the choice they want and give your company the ROI it demands.

Questions about implementing a Mac as a Choice program in your company? As an Apple authorized reseller, WEI can help. Learn more about our experience and the white glove services we provide by reading our Apple Services brief below, and contact us to start a discussion.

The post Forrester Study shows that Macs are Actually Less Expensive appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

The digital revolution is changing the way businesses operate and how people work. Employees desire flexibility and the option to work anytime from anywhere from the devices that they prefer. With freedom of choice, employees have more control over their work experience, resulting in higher job satisfaction and increased productivity. Enterprises report that the majority of their . Apple helps companies empower their employees through personalized, optimized work environments. With the Apple Business Manager solution, setup and support of Apple devices is simple and seamless. It has become easier and more cost-effective than ever to give your employees the freedom to choose.

Improving Productivity

Employees often perform better in a personalized work environment. Productivity increases when employees can use the devices and applications that they prefer. Apple supports core business apps and services, like and . Many industry and workflow-specific legacy apps have also been modernized for compatibility with Apple devices. However, employees are not limited only to essential business apps using Apple devices. Self-service tools allow users to install personal productivity apps and other tools that can help them maximize their performance. With Apple’s advanced security architecture, devices can be used for both personal and business needs.

Reducing Demands on IT

Downtime is also reduced when employees use devices that they are familiar with. Many employees already own personal Apple devices and know-how to troubleshoot issues. When staff members can provide their own tech support, it increases productivity throughout the enterprise. Minor issues do not result in hours of downtime, and IT is free to focus on business goals. The addition of further encourages self-support and self-sufficiency. An AppleCare integrated help desk shifts the goal of tech support. Instead of IT professionals fixing every tech issue, employees are taught to investigate, and problem solve. AppleCare also provides support for IT staff to ensure that Apple devices are efficiently integrated and supported.

Attracting Top Talent

Studies show that employees are more productive, efficient, and satisfied when empowered to use the devices that they prefer. The vast majority prefer Apple products. Freedom of choice gives your company an edge in recruiting and keeping top talent. With Apple, your employees will have the tools they need to maximize productivity and innovation.

Apple Business Manager

In the past, devices were purchased in bulk from a single manufacturer to ensure compatibility and easy management. It was impractical for IT to support numerous devices with different requirements. However, technology has advanced, and it is now much easier to manage a variety of devices. Apple Business Manager is designed to work with your mobile device management (MDM) solution. Apple Business Manager simplifies every aspect of Apple device deployment and management.

Automated Deployment – Devices can be automatically enrolled in your MDM solution during setup, eliminating the need for manual configuration.

Content Management – IT can purchase and distribute apps, individually or in bulk, and manage licenses for all users.

Configuration – Accounts, security, apps, and data can be configured over-the-air for each device.

Managed Updates – IT can delay or push updates to devices to ensure constant, effective security.

Security and Control – IT can remotely supervise devices and impose extra restrictions or security solutions.

Apple devices maximize security and privacy for both work-related and personal data. All Apple products have a secure management framework built-in, and every app is verified before launch. Granular management tools give IT valuable insight without sacrificing employee privacy. IT can access the settings and information necessary to keep corporate data secure, but personal data is restricted. This separation helps protect company data and ensures employee privacy.

Employees prefer a modern work experience built on flexibility and personalization. The ability to choose the devices that they prefer is a key element of this new work environment. Freedom of choice generates increased productivity, innovation, and job satisfaction. Surveys show that Apple products are the top choice for the majority of employees. enables enterprises to seamlessly deploy and manage Apple devices. With Apple Business Manager, IT can remotely support and configure devices, apps, and accounts. Apple’s strong security framework ensures that both corporate and personal data remain secure. Apple Business Manager is a streamlined, comprehensive solution to help you provide your employees with freedom of choice.

NEXT STEPS: Discover tips for success in order to deploy Apple devices the right way by downloading our white paper titles “Success Tips for Integrating Apple in the Enterprise”

The post Apple Delivers Choice and Control for the Digital Workplace appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.