December 8, 2025
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Modern, AI-optimized devices are the missing link to higher productivity, stronger scalability, and bigger business outcomes
As 2026 approaches, business leaders don’t just need to plan for growth. They need to define how their teams will get work done efficiently and effectively. In the hybrid work era, success hinges on the tools, workflows, and processes that enable distributed teams to move quickly, make smart decisions, and stay aligned. Hybrid work is no longer a fringe model or a perk. It’s an industry standard, and the organizations that thrive are the ones that leverage the right modern AI technology to keep pace and turn forward-thinking strategy into real-time action.
The hybrid challenge: friction at every turn
Hybrid work is now the dominant model for roles where remote work is possible, which creates flexibility, but also amplifies inefficiencies. According to Forrester, 30% of economic labor in the U.S. is performed from home daily, making hybrid work the most common setup for knowledge-based roles. Teams are dispersed across home offices, coworking spaces, and regional hubs, often juggling different networks, hardware, and software environments. Even small hiccups like slow-loading applications, lagging devices, or delays in data access can compound across projects and departments.
Consider a marketing team spread across multiple time zones. When a business laptop struggles with AI-powered analytics or cloud collaboration tools, or even just handling video calls smoothly, insights slow down, approvals drag, and campaigns miss key windows of opportunity. For finance or operations teams, delays in data consolidation or forecasting tools—or waiting on sluggish systems to process large datasets—can ripple into missed deadlines or inaccurate projections. Across the board, hybrid work complicates performance planning, resource allocation, and the predictability of business outcomes.
Device performance: the hidden driver of productivity
It’s tempting to think productivity is all about headcount or process. But research and real-world experience show that the performance of business laptops employees rely on every day is just as critical. Modern, AI-optimized devices handle complex tasks faster, streamline workflows, and reduce the friction that accumulates when tools can’t keep up. Microsoft’s 2024 research found that employees using AI-enabled tools reported a 29% increase in productivity, with faster decision-making and reduced time spent on repetitive tasks like preparing presentations, automating routine approvals, or analyzing campaign performance.
AI for companies is no longer a theoretical advantage. It’s becoming table stakes. Teams that can run AI-powered analytics, automation, and predictive planning without delay generate faster insights and more strategic decision-making. For example, when a distributed sales team can quickly access and analyze customer behavior data on reliable devices, they move from reacting to opportunities to anticipating them. Teams aren’t just working faster; they’re thinking smarter, making decisions with confidence, and turning insights into action in real time.
Investing in scalable productivity
Being ready for 2026 means thinking beyond short-term fixes. Leaders aren’t just upgrading hardware to solve today’s slowdowns. They’re investing in scalable productivity. That means equipping teams with devices that:
Scalable workflow isn’t about piling on more tools or hiring more people. It’s about giving teams the foundation to perform at their best without roadblocks, and the flexibility to pivot quickly as business priorities evolve. In other words, the right device infrastructure transforms hybrid work from a challenge into a competitive advantage.
The payoff: speed, agility, and better business outcomes
Organizations that prioritize modern, AI-ready devices see measurable gains: faster project completion, fewer delays, and more effective use of team talent. IT teams spend less time troubleshooting, employees experience less frustration, and leadership gains better visibility into operational performance.
For business leaders, the benefits compound. A high-performing, hybrid-ready workforce can scale without proportionally increasing headcount. Companies harnessing AI amplify human capabilities, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives instead of manual tasks. Departments become more agile, and decision-making accelerates across the organization. Simply put, investing in productivity-focused technology unlocks bigger business outcomes, faster.
Stop next trend thinking: turn obstacles into advantages
Hybrid work isn’t going away, and neither is the pressure to act on insights quickly. Waiting until next quarter—or the next AI upgrade—may feel practical or safe, but organizations that delay risk falling behind. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 75% of organizations will face measurable productivity loss if hybrid work complexity isn’t addressed. And that deficit only compounds over time as you try to play catch up with technology that has already surpassed your capabilities. McKinsey reports that companies scaling AI see 3x higher total shareholder returns, underscoring the cost of delay.
Planning for 2026 means preparing people and technology to move together. And making the investment now so gains compound over time. IDC estimates that every $1 invested in AI delivers $4.90 in economic impact, proving that early adoption is not just economical, it’s a strategic advantage.
When collaboration flows smoothly and workflows move without friction, devices stop being an obstacle and start supporting the work teams actually need to get done. Infrastructure that empowers rather than hinders performance.
Business leaders who act now aren’t just solving today’s challenges. They’re building the foundation for sustainable growth, scalable operations, and a workforce ready to excel in an AI-optimized future.
Turn hybrid friction into advantage—start your 2026 device readiness plan now
Take a hard look at how your hybrid workforce is equipped, and explore how modern business laptops can eliminate friction, amplify productivity, and empower your organization to make a bigger impact with inclusive, AI-enhanced experiences 1 on the latest Windows 11 Pro PCs powered by Intel® Core™ Ultra processors with Intel vPro®. Whether you’re on a team or working solo, you can maintain productivity from anywhere with smarter meetings, easy access to files and information, and features to help you get organized quickly. Speed up everyday tasks with AI assistance in familiar Windows apps, including smart suggestions in Windows search, quick screenshot edits in Snipping Tool, and easy content revision with Microsoft Copilot 2 and Microsoft 365 Copilot. 3 Personalized experiences like intelligent recommendations 4 in File Explorer, Start Menu, and taskbar help surface the right content at the right time.
Copilot+ PCs 5 unlock even more productivity with exclusive features like Click to Do, 6 Recall, 7 improved Windows search, and Live Captions with real-time translation,8 helping you save hours every week from anywhere. 9 Get smart, proactive suggestions as you work by highlighting any text or image to instantly revise content, launch apps, schedule meetings, and more. Keep ideas flowing by turning highlighted text into a Word draft, whether it’s from an email or a screen snippet. Save time by searching across your past activities, websites, and business files and information, helping you find the most relevant documents and conversations faster than ever. Doing great work is as easy as a conversation. Use your own words to get things done, from meeting with global colleagues to finding files and transforming content.
