5 Factors to Consider Before Investing in a Business Laptop

Can hybrid work benefit your business?

Today’s workplace isn’t solely in the office. By 2025, 22% of the entire workforce will be on hybrid schedules, joining the 28% of full-time employees who are already there. These team members will need the full support of owners, office managers and security professionals.

For employers, one of the best ways to facilitate hybrid work is by providing their teams with business laptop computers. With the right systems, employees can gain access to the same resources as their teams, even while attending conferences or meeting customers. To that end, let’s take a look at how a business laptop can help you support everyone on your team.

1. Why are laptops good for business? 

Before you buy a single business laptop, consider how it might support your business goals—will it lower costs, for example, or allow for more flexibility? If you manage a dedicated office, most staff likely have desktop computers—but desktops aren’t helpful for employees attending conferences or traveling to meet with clients. They’re also immensely helpful when you have a remote or hybrid team and want to make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of computer and software access. 

Even for on-site employees, laptops can be invaluable for certain staff positions and tasks. Technicians and maintenance teams might carry a laptop with them to troubleshoot a workstation or server that needs attention. Anyone who works directly with clients can bring a laptop preloaded with the information they need. Laptops make it easy to give presentations anywhere, especially when docking stations are available that connect to larger displays. 

Thinking about these issues in advance doesn’t just help you get the right laptop—it tells you how many you’ll need to support your employees.

2. What do laptops need?

A business laptop isn’t enough by itself—it still needs the software, support and connectivity options that let employees be productive wherever they take it.

• Software: Business laptops should include the same software as their desktop equivalents. At a minimum, that includes word processors, email clients and web browsers. Any custom applications, such as in-house analytics software, should also be preinstalled.

• Accessories: A portable laptop isn’t necessarily ergonomic—which means long-term use can be uncomfortable or even painful. Consider buying accessories like laptop stands or lightweight charging cables to help minimize strain.

• Battery life: Try to choose a laptop with enough battery life to last an entire business day.

3. Which laptops work with your existing systems?

When researching laptops, choose models that are compatible with what your business already uses. If most work systems use one operating system while the laptops use another, your IT team might have difficulty troubleshooting common support issues.

Once your laptops arrive, it’s a good idea to let your IT team prepare all the required software and infrastructure. This process ensures that employees have access to essential features, such as logging into work accounts. More importantly, it also lets your IT department implement crucial security and maintenance processes, such as automatic software updates or background scans.

Once everything is set up, employees will be able to log in and start working without worrying about installation or maintenance issues.

4. How can you keep business laptops secure?

When you’re sending computers off-site with employees, cybersecurity should always be a top priority. You’ll have little control over the networks employees connect to, which can lead to all kinds of data leaks—or worse, compromise your business network.

There are two primary cybersecurity concerns:

• Preventing malware infections such as viruses, ransomware and other malicious software

• Securing confidential data that is stored on a local hard drive or transmitted across a network connection

Many business laptop vendors and manufacturers will offer to install cybersecurity solutions or trial software as a baseline. You might also invest in additional software that encrypts network communications. 

Don’t stop there—these measures still don’t protect against the physical laptop itself. RFID tracking can help you locate the device if it’s lost or stolen.

5. Are there any budget constraints?

Once you’ve settled on a business laptop and the peripherals your staff needs, it’s time to think about the price tag. Not every business will have the budget to buy a high-end laptop for every employee, but depending on what you’ll be using them for, that might not matter. Keep these tips in mind:

• Will a less expensive laptop meet your business goals? Not every company needs to equip employees with state-of-the-art laptops. If your immediate needs are off-site email, word processing and network connectivity, there may be an inexpensive model that does what you need.

• Does every employee need a laptop? You don’t necessarily need to equip each employee with a business laptop. You can maintain a small collection that staff can sign out as needed for remote shifts, off-site client meetings or conferences. With this option, the laptops also spend more time at the office, making it easier for IT to keep the software and security up to date.

Ready for a business laptop? Walmart can help.

Knowing that laptops make your business more effective is one thing. Finding the right laptop at the right price is another. That’s where Walmart Business comes in. We offer a wide selection of laptop and PC computers at low prices. If you already have an account, you can upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership and gain free shipping access,¹ free delivery from store on orders over $35² and 2% rewards back for purchases over $250.³ You may even save over $500 a year.⁴ Learn more here.

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply.

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).