This is the Trace Id: ef0449c73af7ad5ab62043dda82fadd4
An open laptop sits on a desk alongside a lamp and headphones, with a video call taking place on the screen

September 26, 2025

The hardware advantage: Using AI automation to streamline workflows and fuel better business outcomes 

Why forward-thinking leaders are upgrading devices to unlock efficiency, productivity, and AI-powered gains

The pressure to “do more with less” isn’t new, but the stakes are higher than ever. Business leaders are racing to keep pace with AI-fueled innovation, rising customer expectations, and leaner budgets. But here’s what often gets overlooked: even the most advanced software can’t run at full power on outdated hardware.

That bottleneck is not just an IT inconvenience. It’s a business drag. Clunky devices and fragmented systems quietly chip away at productivity, slow down decision-making, and limit your ability to fully capitalize on AI and automation. That leads to missed opportunities, delayed outcomes, and teams stuck solving yesterday’s problems instead of scaling for tomorrow.

If your organization is investing in AI tools but hasn’t modernized its hardware in years, you may be blocking the very progress you're trying to accelerate.

The hidden friction stealing your productivity 

Many companies are already experimenting with AI workflow automation, using tools like real-time meeting transcription, data visualization assistants, and content generators to streamline repetitive tasks, analyze reports faster, and enhance collaboration. But when those solutions run on devices that are several years old or struggling to handle modern compute demands, productivity stalls and ROI falls short, slowing the very progress leaders are trying to accelerate while also leaving them less competitive in the marketplace.

Underpowered devices cause lag, crashes, and compatibility issues with newer AI workflow tools. On top of that, disconnected systems force employees to toggle between platforms, re-enter data manually, or wait for outdated machines to load insights that should be instantaneous. These frictions don’t just frustrate employees, they stall the outcomes AI promises to improve.

And the cost goes beyond lost time. When teams can’t rely on their devices to keep up, they delay critical decisions, postpone upgrades, and resist adopting new tools. That resistance creates a ripple effect that slows your organization’s ability to adapt and compete. And eats directly into profits.

How better tech leads to better business

AI has become foundational to how modern businesses operate. From automating workflows in HR and finance to supporting smarter forecasting and customer engagement in sales and marketing, it impacts every part of your operations, and can no longer be put off or ignored.

But to truly automate AI in a way that’s scalable and sustainable, that foundation must be solid. That means modern, secure infrastructure, including devices engineered to handle the compute demands of today’s automation and AI tools. Hardware that supports faster processing, real-time collaboration, and seamless cloud integration doesn’t just improve workflow, it clears the path for scalable innovation.

According to the latest Gartner research, AI investment continues to accelerate, with a sharper emphasis on operational scalability and real-time intelligence, making infrastructure readiness a key enabler of business agility. This underscores how modern hardware plays a foundational role in unlocking the full value of AI and automation to accelerate business outcomes.

This isn’t about ripping and replacing every system overnight. It’s about identifying where legacy hardware is creating friction and where strategic upgrades can drive meaningful gains.

When workflows run smoother, productivity skyrockets

Outdated devices slow everything down—from loading analytics dashboards in internal systems or SaaS platforms to syncing data across tools—creating delays even when the software itself is working fine. Those setbacks, even seemingly minor ones, keep business leaders from acting on insights quickly.

But modern infrastructure, designed for today’s hybrid, AI-driven workforce, keeps teams moving. Built-in security reduces risks. Faster processors power AI tools without lag. And seamless collaboration features eliminate the friction of scattered, siloed work.

When your teams have the tools to automate routine tasks and tap into AI-generated insights, work moves faster and smarter. That means fewer mistakes, quicker decisions, and more time to focus on growth, not busywork.

Upgrading devices isn’t just about IT. It impacts every corner of your business: 

  • Operational efficiency: AI and automation reduce manual work, but modern hardware ensures those tools deliver results in real time. Businesses that integrate AI and automation can reduce operational costs by up to 30%.
  • Employee productivity: Teams stay in flow instead of stuck waiting on laggy machines, so they can focus on high-impact work. Employees using modern PCs are up to 15% more productive than those using older devices.
  • Business agility: With AI-powered workflows running smoothly, your organization can pivot faster, act on insights sooner, and scale smarter. 
  • Cost containment: Fewer crashes, tickets, and compatibility issues means IT spends less time reacting and more time driving innovation. 

Put simply: when you improve workflow from the ground up, better business outcomes follow.

Upgrades aren’t luxuries, they’re growth drivers

AI and automation are reshaping how businesses operate, but only if the hardware behind them can keep up. For business decision makers, this is the strategic moment to assess whether your organization is set up to truly harness those tools or simply gambling that they’ll work on yesterday’s infrastructure.

Modernizing devices isn’t a sunk cost. It’s a fast-track investment in productivity, agility, and long-term resilience. And in an era where speed and efficiency are the ultimate competitive advantages, it’s a move that delivers value as soon as it’s deployed and continues to compound over time. 

Ready to make AI work harder for your business?

Upgrading your devices is one of the simplest, smartest ways to eliminate friction, improve workflow, and unlock the full value of AI and automation across your organization. Because better outcomes begin with a better foundation.

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.

  • DISCLAIMERS:
  • [1] Hardware dependent.
  • [2] Microsoft Copilot requires eligible Microsoft 365 license.
  • [3] Microsoft 365 Copilot requires a per user license; sold separately. Also requires eligible Microsoft 365 plan.
  • [4] Microsoft Entra ID required.
  • [5] Copilot+ PC experiences vary by device and region and may require updates continuing to roll out through 2025; timing varies. See Copilot+ PCs FAQ.
  • [6] Click to Do: Available on Copilot+ PCs with Intel® Core™ Ultra processors starting mid-2025. Text actions available across markets in select character sets. See Copilot+ PCs FAQ.
  • [7] Recall requires Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security. Optimized for select languages (English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish). Content-based and storage limitations apply. Enterprise license required for some policy-enabled management controls. See Copilot+ PCs FAQ.
  • [8] Live Captions translates video and audio subtitles into English from 40+ languages and from 25+ languages into Chinese (Simplified). See Copilot+ PCs FAQ.
  • [9] New Tech: The Projected Total Economic Impact™ of Microsoft Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft-commissioned study by Forrester Consulting, July 2025. Projected benefits for a single composite organization that has US$1 billion annual revenue and 2,000 employees with 80% using Copilot+ PCs. In comparison to a mixed environment of conventional Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs.

Products featured in this article

Windows background display of an abstract design of royal blue ribbons on a midnight blue gradient background

Explore Windows 11 Pro + Intel Core Ultra PCs

Windows background display of an abstract design of royal blue ribbons on a midnight blue gradient background

Find the right business PC

You may also like

An open laptop displaying a Windows bloom background sits on a wooden desk alongside a lamp, notebook, and plants

AI Productivity Tools

Cut through data clutter and unlock faster decisions with embedded AI.
An open laptop displaying a Windows bloom background sits on a wooden desk in a well-lit office, alongside an espresso cup, vase of flowers, a notebook and pencils

Built for Speed with AI

Discover how AI helps fast-moving businesses stay sharp and scale smarter.