With this increasing transition to a remote workplace, it can be challenging to coordinate and manage the technology required for employees to perform their work effectively. Companies often have employees spread out across a country—or even throughout the world—making it complicated to deploy and manage the devices provided by the company.
Due to the continual transformation of technology, the shift towards a remote-working world is more evident than ever. A 2020 Gartner survey found that 74 percent of companies plan to permanently shift more employees to remote work, with an estimated 70 percent of the workforce expected to be working remotely at least five days per month by 2025.
This is where Windows Autopilot comes in. Windows Autopilot is a system that relies on cloud-based services to set up and preconfigure devices. The system has revolutionized device management, making it easier for companies to provision, troubleshoot, and manage the lifecycle of the technology used by their employees, reducing unnecessary costs and time wasted.
Deploying devices used to be a hassle. They would need to be passed from person to person to get everything set up, and the process could take weeks. However, Windows Autopilot enables a zero-touch deployment, and the devices arrive ready to go. That way, when employees get a new computer, they can quickly jump into their work and skip the tedious phone calls with the IT department as they try to log into every program and get set up with each company system. Instead, Windows Autopilot is an all-in-one solution that eliminates the need for manual configuration. When employees log in for the first time, no matter where they are in the world, the device already knows what company they are with and automatically launches everything they need.
Once devices are set up with Windows Autopilot, they can be easily managed with Microsoft tools—such as Microsoft Endpoint Manager, Windows Update for Business, Microsoft Intune, and more. Other unique features include the ability to automatically join devices to the Azure Active Directory (an authentication platform to prevent cybersecurity attacks), restrict the administrator account creation, create and auto-assign devices to configuration groups based on a device’s profile, and customize OOBE content specific to the organization, which enables new users to have a customized device start-up experience. Everything is cloud-based, so no matter where you are in the world, the processes work seamlessly.
What happens when someone runs into a technical difficulty during the deployment process of a new device? While employees would traditionally have to ship their devices elsewhere and risk the loss of all their files and data, this is no longer the case. With Windows Autopilot, devices can be reset quickly from a distance.
Troubleshooting requires much less effort from both the employee encountering the problem as well as the company’s IT department. In the end, this saves the company time and money and reduces the loss of productivity that often accompanies deployments.
Every device has a lifecycle—from its purchase to its retirement. Once it has been provisioned, Windows Autopilot enables the company to continually manage the device throughout the cycle. While it is in use, it is easy to keep the programs and systems current and updated with little effort. For example, Windows Autopilot uses the OEM-optimized version of Windows 10, which can automatically update the edition of Windows 10 to support new features. The system can also apply company settings and policies and install apps configured by the company.
Windows Autopilot also aids in repurposing devices. If a device is passed from one person to another, the device can be easily reconfigured for its new owner—all without skipping a beat. With cloud technology, all of this can be done from a distance, making it an ideal system for any company with remote workers.
No more wasting time managing company devices: Windows Autopilot simplifies the process from start to finish, making it easier than ever to keep employees productive and keep companies running smoothly. For more information on how Windows Autopilot can help your remote workforce get connected and stay connected, reach out to us.