The transition to Windows 11 is emerging as more than just an operating system upgrade—it’s become a pivotal moment for organizations reevaluating their entire device strategies, especially as AI-powered PCs step to the forefront. New research from Dell Technologies and Intel reveals that a striking 71% of IT leaders perceive this migration as an opportunity to overhaul aging hardware, a process seen as both critical for operational continuity and strategic in the race to infuse workplaces with advanced AI capabilities.
Despite launching nearly four years ago, Windows 11 adoption has been a slow burn. The main reason? Windows 10’s enduring popularity meant enterprises were comfortable postponing the upgrade, and many held out for as long as possible. However, with Microsoft’s end-of-support deadline for Windows 10 fast approaching, the call to action for organizations has become urgent and unavoidable.
The Dell-Intel study reports that 79% of organizations have at least begun the transition to Windows 11, with 35% already complete. Yet, a significant 20% are still to even start, raising concerns about cybersecurity gaps, unsupported hardware, and potential disruption in the months ahead. Security experts universally agree that delaying migration increases vulnerability, not just due to the lack of ongoing patches but because older machines are often less equipped to manage today’s threats and workloads.
Louise Quennell, UK senior director for Dell Technologies’ Client Solutions Group, summarizes the risk succinctly: “In addition to losing technical support, inaction means businesses may rely on less secure devices that can’t keep up with the latest applications.” The imperative is thus twofold: avoid downtime and seize the window to modernize fleets.
AI PCs, sometimes called “AI-ready” machines, typically boast features such as dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) or integrated hardware accelerators designed to offload and optimize AI workloads. These can support functions ranging from real-time language translation and voice commands to on-device cyber threat detection. Importantly, many of these tasks benefit from being run locally rather than in the cloud, offering tangible improvements to privacy, latency, and reliability.
Steve Young, senior vice president and managing director for Dell Technologies in the UK, puts the case plainly: Windows 11 migration is a “key moment for UK businesses to align their technology with their strategic ambitions.” AI PC adoption, he argues, shouldn’t be seen as a side benefit but rather as an intentional step towards more secure, efficient, and productive operations.
Productivity gains from newer hardware and smarter applications are also central to the allure. AI PCs can handle background processes, automate administrative tasks, and deliver a more seamless user experience, all without bogging down performance. Manufacturers, including Dell and Intel, have leaned heavily into these talking points, promoting devices that “learn” user habits and adapt to maximize efficiency.
But the journey isn’t frictionless. The study notes that nearly half (45%) of respondents are concerned about software compatibility—many legacy applications still have rough edges in Windows 11, and some may require costly updates or replacements. Hardware compatibility is another sticking point for 35%, with older peripherals and devices often falling short of the new minimum requirements. And despite all the talk of “seamless” transitions, 32% fear potential disruption to daily operations during the migration process.
These concerns echo findings from other research, such as a 2023 ControlUp study that flagged service disruption as the top anxiety among enterprise IT leaders contemplating the move. The consensus is clear: while technical gains are substantial, the risks of incompatibility and downtime remain real.
Brian Horsburgh, UK small business country manager for Dell Technologies, acknowledges this hesitancy: “We understand that for small businesses, every investment must have a clear return so the need to upgrade isn’t always immediately obvious.” The pitch to SMBs, then, hinges on business cases: AI PCs are framed not just as tools for compliance, but as enablers of smarter, faster workflows and proactive security that scales with business growth.
This argument is persuasive in theory, but many SMB leaders remain cautious, adopting a “wait and see” approach until more concrete use cases (and ROI data) are available. In fact, only about a quarter of IT leaders at these firms say they’re keen to invest in AI PCs right away.
Yet, prudent organizations will weigh the tangible benefits against the very real risks of disruption, runaway costs, and overpromised gadgetry. For those with clear-eyed assessments, the convergence of Windows 11 and AI-capable PCs offers a unique chance to leap ahead—not just to keep up with Microsoft’s roadmap, but to shape their digital destinies on their own terms.
As migration deadlines loom, the question isn’t just whether to upgrade, but how to leverage this inflection point. Done right, it’s not simply a technical refresh, but a wholesale modernization of what the enterprise PC can—and should—do in the age of AI.
Source: IT Pro Dell says Windows 11 migration is a prime opportunity to overhaul ageing PC fleets – and AI devices are in the spotlight
Despite launching nearly four years ago, Windows 11 adoption has been a slow burn. The main reason? Windows 10’s enduring popularity meant enterprises were comfortable postponing the upgrade, and many held out for as long as possible. However, with Microsoft’s end-of-support deadline for Windows 10 fast approaching, the call to action for organizations has become urgent and unavoidable.The Dell-Intel study reports that 79% of organizations have at least begun the transition to Windows 11, with 35% already complete. Yet, a significant 20% are still to even start, raising concerns about cybersecurity gaps, unsupported hardware, and potential disruption in the months ahead. Security experts universally agree that delaying migration increases vulnerability, not just due to the lack of ongoing patches but because older machines are often less equipped to manage today’s threats and workloads.
Louise Quennell, UK senior director for Dell Technologies’ Client Solutions Group, summarizes the risk succinctly: “In addition to losing technical support, inaction means businesses may rely on less secure devices that can’t keep up with the latest applications.” The imperative is thus twofold: avoid downtime and seize the window to modernize fleets.
AI PCs in the Spotlight
Amid the flurry of updates and hardware compatibility checks, AI-capable devices have taken center stage in IT planning discussions. The Dell-Intel data indicates that nearly two-thirds (64%) of IT leaders now see the ability to run AI applications as “critically” or “extremely” important for their organization. This reflects not just the hype around artificial intelligence, but also the practical shift in how organizations envision the future of work—more automation, smarter security, and adaptive software that extracts value from every process.AI PCs, sometimes called “AI-ready” machines, typically boast features such as dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) or integrated hardware accelerators designed to offload and optimize AI workloads. These can support functions ranging from real-time language translation and voice commands to on-device cyber threat detection. Importantly, many of these tasks benefit from being run locally rather than in the cloud, offering tangible improvements to privacy, latency, and reliability.
Steve Young, senior vice president and managing director for Dell Technologies in the UK, puts the case plainly: Windows 11 migration is a “key moment for UK businesses to align their technology with their strategic ambitions.” AI PC adoption, he argues, shouldn’t be seen as a side benefit but rather as an intentional step towards more secure, efficient, and productive operations.
Security and Productivity: The Two Sides of the Upgrade Coin
Among organizations that have already made the transition, 60% highlight improved security as a significant benefit. This isn’t merely theoretical—Windows 11’s foundation is built on security, requiring TPM 2.0 chips, Secure Boot, and enforced hardware-based isolation that thwarts an array of common attack vectors. When these features are paired with the promise of AI-powered endpoint protection and behavioral analytics, the result is a step-change in defense capabilities.Productivity gains from newer hardware and smarter applications are also central to the allure. AI PCs can handle background processes, automate administrative tasks, and deliver a more seamless user experience, all without bogging down performance. Manufacturers, including Dell and Intel, have leaned heavily into these talking points, promoting devices that “learn” user habits and adapt to maximize efficiency.
But the journey isn’t frictionless. The study notes that nearly half (45%) of respondents are concerned about software compatibility—many legacy applications still have rough edges in Windows 11, and some may require costly updates or replacements. Hardware compatibility is another sticking point for 35%, with older peripherals and devices often falling short of the new minimum requirements. And despite all the talk of “seamless” transitions, 32% fear potential disruption to daily operations during the migration process.
These concerns echo findings from other research, such as a 2023 ControlUp study that flagged service disruption as the top anxiety among enterprise IT leaders contemplating the move. The consensus is clear: while technical gains are substantial, the risks of incompatibility and downtime remain real.
The Unique Squeeze on Small and Midsize Businesses
For small and midsize businesses (SMBs), the Windows 11 migration calculus is even more fraught. The Dell-Intel study highlights that 62% of SMBs have yet to begin or complete the migration, lagging well behind the broader enterprise trend. While issues like software compatibility and disruption affect firms of every stripe, smaller organizations report additional pressures—financial constraints, limited in-house IT resources, and skepticism that the upgrade is strictly necessary.Brian Horsburgh, UK small business country manager for Dell Technologies, acknowledges this hesitancy: “We understand that for small businesses, every investment must have a clear return so the need to upgrade isn’t always immediately obvious.” The pitch to SMBs, then, hinges on business cases: AI PCs are framed not just as tools for compliance, but as enablers of smarter, faster workflows and proactive security that scales with business growth.
This argument is persuasive in theory, but many SMB leaders remain cautious, adopting a “wait and see” approach until more concrete use cases (and ROI data) are available. In fact, only about a quarter of IT leaders at these firms say they’re keen to invest in AI PCs right away.
Technical and Logistical Barriers
Any sweeping migration carries a familiar set of hurdles:- Legacy Software Challenges: Many businesses operate on long-tail applications that aren’t fully optimized for the newest OS. Custom software, in particular, can present costly surprises.
- Hardware Incompatibility: Windows 11’s system requirements (including TPM 2.0 and newer CPUs) have left a significant proportion of enterprise fleets officially unsupported, especially for devices older than 3-5 years.
- Operational Disruption: Even a well-planned rollout can face delays, downtime, and employee pushback. For sectors where uptime matters—healthcare, finance, logistics—disruption is a genuine business risk.
- Budget Constraints: Refresh cycles are expensive, and the inflationary environment of recent years has squeezed IT budgets, especially among SMBs.
- Supply Chain Headaches: Overhauling entire fleets produces spikes in hardware demand, potentially colliding with supply chain slowdowns or global component shortages.
The Positive Case for AI PCs and Windows 11 Migration
Notwithstanding the above, the drumbeat for AI-capable hardware is only growing louder. Several distinct advantages stand out:- Enhanced Endpoint Security: AI-based tools can detect and remediate threats more quickly, adapting to zero-day exploits and insider risk in ways static, rule-driven systems simply can’t. When these tools are run locally on chip, organizations see added data sovereignty benefits.
- Productivity and Collaboration: On-device AI can automate transcription, translation, and background note-taking, empowering employees across geographies and abilities to collaborate more effectively.
- Cost Efficiency Over Time: While upfront costs are significant, newer hardware routinely delivers substantial energy and maintenance savings, plus vendor support for the foreseeable future.
- Better User Experience: Support for modern peripherals, improved boot speeds, streamlined updates, and a slicker GUI boost user satisfaction and reduce service desk tickets.
- Future-Readiness: With AI increasingly woven into business process automation, analytics, and customer interactions, having the right foundations now gives organizations a strategic head start.
Critical Caveats and Potential Pitfalls
Still, the promise of “AI PCs for all” deserves a critical second look.- Hype vs. Reality: Many advertised benefits still hinge on use cases that are, at best, emergent. For SMBs, AI-driven applications must show crystal-clear ROI, or risk being seen as expensive gadgets with uncertain payoff.
- Rapid Device Obsolescence: As with all new tech cycles, today’s cutting-edge AI PC can look mid-tier in a year or two. Organizations must weigh the risk of early adoption against the cost of lagging too far behind.
- Vendor Lock-In: Deep integration with particular hardware and cloud-driven services can hamstring future flexibility—especially if standards shift or a vendor alters terms.
- Data Security and Privacy: Bringing AI workloads on device can enhance privacy, but it also raises the stakes for physical device security and endpoint management. The more power at the edge, the greater the risk if a laptop is lost or stolen.
- Accessibility Concerns: As AI powers a growing array of workplace tools, care must be taken to ensure features are accessible to users with disabilities and don’t inadvertently widen digital divides.
How Organizations Can Navigate the Transition
For both large enterprises and SMBs, a successful Windows 11 and AI PC transition depends on several best practices:- Assessment and Inventory: Conduct a thorough audit of device fleets and software stacks to flag incompatible systems and critical legacy dependencies.
- Phased Rollouts: Target non-critical teams or users first to iron out process flaws before a full-scale deployment.
- Staff Training and Change Management: Prepare end-users for new workflows, interfaces, and tools, minimizing friction and resistance.
- Vendor Collaboration: Lean on partners for discounted hardware bundles, migration services, and tailored support—a key advantage in working with established vendors like Dell and Intel.
- Security First: Prioritize implementation of new security features and invest in ongoing endpoint management and patching.
The Road Ahead: Preparing for an AI-Driven Workplace
With AI weaving into everything from cybersecurity to customer service and even creative tasks, the migration to Windows 11 is increasingly inseparable from the wider push to equip organizations for the future of work. Dell and Intel’s findings demonstrate clear intent among IT leaders to use this juncture as a springboard—none more so than the 71% leveraging it to refresh device fleets and futureproof operations.Yet, prudent organizations will weigh the tangible benefits against the very real risks of disruption, runaway costs, and overpromised gadgetry. For those with clear-eyed assessments, the convergence of Windows 11 and AI-capable PCs offers a unique chance to leap ahead—not just to keep up with Microsoft’s roadmap, but to shape their digital destinies on their own terms.
As migration deadlines loom, the question isn’t just whether to upgrade, but how to leverage this inflection point. Done right, it’s not simply a technical refresh, but a wholesale modernization of what the enterprise PC can—and should—do in the age of AI.
Source: IT Pro Dell says Windows 11 migration is a prime opportunity to overhaul ageing PC fleets – and AI devices are in the spotlight