The Last Mile of AI: Modern Devices at Scale

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Outdated devices are a direct barrier to AI adoption, with 81% of organizations confirming that underpowered endpoints limit their ability to adopt AI-enabled tools.

• Modern AI PCs improve collaboration quality, support on-device AI workloads and embed security at the endpoint, making them foundational to an AI-ready workforce.

• Workplace modernization delivers the greatest value when it’s aligned to an organization’s broader AI strategy, security posture and long-term business outcomes, supported by a strategic partner.

Most enterprises treat workplace modernization as a routine IT matter. Refresh the devices, maintain the fleet, move on. But the data from the Modern Enterprise Readiness Study tells a different story. When 81% of organizations agree that outdated devices limit their ability to adopt new tools, including AI-enabled applications, the device sitting on an employee’s desk stops being an operational detail and starts being a strategic variable.

AI adoption isn’t slowing down. Organizations are investing in infrastructure, models and data pipelines at a significant pace. But those investments have to reach people eventually, and they reach people through devices. When the endpoint can’t support the workload, the entire upstream investment underperforms. Workplace modernization isn’t a separate initiative from AI strategy. It’s the last mile of it.

When outdated devices become a business problem

The cost of falling behind on devices is rarely captured in a single line item. It shows up in meeting disruptions, stalled tool rollouts and employees spending time working around limitations rather than toward outcomes. According to the study, 78% of organizations report that outdated or underpowered devices create visible frustration among employees and managers.

That frustration has a business consequence. When 67% of organizations admit that the impact of underpowered devices is often underestimated internally, it signals a gap between what IT knows and what leadership is accounting for. The underestimation is part of the problem. It keeps workplace modernization off the executive agenda, even as it quietly slows the business down.

The connection to AI adoption makes it more urgent. AI-enabled tools, from intelligent assistants to real-time analytics and workflow automation, are built to run on modern hardware. When devices don’t meet those requirements, tools underperform, adoption stalls and employees lose confidence in AI before it’s had a fair opportunity to prove its value.

What modern devices actually enable

The benefits of modern AI PCs aren’t abstract. Ninety-two percent of organizations agree that modern devices make a noticeable difference in collaboration and meeting quality. For a hybrid workforce that relies on consistent digital communication across locations and time zones, that difference compounds quickly.

Beyond collaboration, modern AI PCs are built to run AI workloads efficiently, keeping intelligent tools running in the background while employees stay focused on their work. That’s not a marginal improvement in performance. It’s the foundation of an AI-ready workplace, one where the tools organizations have invested in can actually operate as intended.

Security is part of that foundation, too. Modern workplace environments extend well beyond the office, and devices that travel with employees carry risk. With 90% of organizations expecting security to be embedded in every proposal from a strategic partner, not treated as a separate add-on, endpoint security has to be part of the modernization conversation from the start, not an afterthought.

Connecting workplace modernization to the broader strategy

One of the more consistent findings in the study is the cost of fragmentation. When AI adoption, workplace modernization and data center strategy are managed as separate initiatives, they tend to slow each other down. Seventy percent of organizations agree that running these as separate tracks makes it harder to operate efficiently.

The most effective workplace modernization programs don’t stand alone. They connect to the organization’s AI roadmap, its security posture and its long-term view of how work should get done. That connection is what separates a device refresh from a genuine transformation initiative.

Macroeconomic pressure is also shaping how organizations invest. Eighty-two percent say current conditions are forcing them to be more selective and outcome-driven in their technology investments. Selectivity doesn’t mean slowing down. It means choosing the platforms and partners that deliver compounding value, not just point-in-time performance.

Here are three practical starting points for approaching workplace modernization strategically:

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Connect device decisions to AI adoption goals. Map the AI-enabled tools your organization plans to deploy over the next three years, then ask honestly whether your current devices can support them.

• Quantify the cost of underperformance. Outdated devices create hidden costs in lost productivity and delayed adoption. That number makes the case for modernization far more effectively than a feature list.

• Treat it as a transformation initiative. When device strategy aligns with AI goals, security posture and long-term business outcomes, it earns executive support and delivers more durable results.

The right partner makes the difference

Workplace modernization at enterprise scale requires more than good devices. It requires a partner with the supply chain depth to deliver globally, the services expertise to deploy and manage at scale and the ability to connect end-user environments to the broader technology strategy being built across the organization.

Eighty-two percent of organizations say they would prefer to join more of their technology needs with a single strategic partner. And 75% are actively replacing transactional vendors with partners who co-create multi-year roadmaps and share accountability for outcomes.

The workplace is where transformation becomes tangible for the people doing the work. Modern AI PCs, integrated security and intelligent collaboration tools are available now. What makes the difference is approaching workplace modernization as a strategic priority and working with a partner who can connect it to everything else you’re building.

Your people are ready to move forward. Register for a Dell Technologies Forum near you, or join virtually, to explore how a modern workplace strategy can accelerate AI adoption, strengthen security and help your organization stay ahead of what’s coming next.

Source: Modern Enterprise Readiness Study, a Dell Technologies and Vanson Bourne survey across 2,950 business and IT decision makers from 35 countries, Jun 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why does device choice matter for AI adoption?

 AI applications require modern hardware to perform effectively. In the Modern Enterprise Readiness Study, 81% of organizations say outdated devices limit their ability to adopt AI and other new technologies. 

What’s the business cost of outdated devices?

Outdated devices reduce productivity, delay AI adoption and frustrate employees. Seventy-eight percent of organizations report visible employee frustration, while 67% believe the impact of underpowered devices is often underestimated.

How do modern AI PCs improve collaboration?

 Modern AI PCs enhance meeting quality, collaboration and hybrid work experiences. Ninety-two percent of organizations say modern devices make a noticeable difference in team collaboration and communication.

Should security be part of workplace modernization?

 Absolutely. Modern AI PCs help extend enterprise security to the endpoint, wherever employees work. Ninety percent of organizations expect security to be built into technology solutions, not added later. 

How is workplace modernization different from a device refresh?

 Workplace modernization connects device investments to AI, security and business strategies. Because 70% of organizations say siloed modernization efforts reduce efficiency, a unified approach delivers greater long-term value.

What should organizations look for in a modernization partner?

 Look for a partner that offers devices, deployment expertise, managed services and strategic guidance. Eighty-two percent of organizations prefer consolidating technology needs with a trusted partner, while 75% are moving away from transactional vendors toward outcome-focused relationships.