The Hybrid Shift: Europe’s IT Budget Boom
Dynabook Europe GmbH just dropped a fresh research report titled “The Hybrid Shift: Managing an increasingly remote workforce”. The findings? A 65% lift in IT budgets across Europe this year, thanks to a surge in remote and hybrid working and a newfound focus on business continuity.
Where Did the Money Go?
- Spain leads the charge with 71% of firms spending more on tech.
- The Netherlands follows close behind at 70%.
- Financial services? 76% ramped up their budgets.
- Manufacturing firms said 73% were pulling out the cash.
- Retail is the laggard—only 54% increased spend, but still a sizable portion.
Why Remote Work Is Here to Stay
Before the pandemic, a cool 53% of workers were already juggling office and home. Now that number has jumped to 67%. That’s a clear sign companies are committing to the work-from-anywhere DNA.
When asked how to keep remote employees productive, more than half (51%) said they’ll focus on remote support and assistance. That’s a huge rise from the 29% back in 2018.
Security and collaboration tools also top the list:
- Secure communication and collaboration tools: 41%
- IT training: 37%
Digital Transformation Takes the Stage
Across the board, businesses are revamping their IT ecosystems. The cloud and remote IT assistance are front‑and‑center:
- Cloud solutions: 50% of respondents rank it #1
- Remote IT support: 50% also #1
UK firms are especially keen on remote support—63% of them say it’s a priority.
Cybersecurity is no joke: 48% want stronger security infrastructure next year, followed by 40% for staff training and 37% for device gear.
Since pre‑pandemic times, attitudes have shifted dramatically:
- Security software is now 77% more critical.
- Collaboration tools: 73%.
- Cloud platforms: 70%.
- Device accessories: 62%.
Laptops Rise to the Top
The pandemic gave the humble laptop a big boost. 74% of firms now view laptops as a must‑haves, and 66% plan to bulk up their laptop inventory over the next year.
In the UK, 90% prefer laptops over desktops for remote work, while Spain, France, and the Netherlands still give desktops a fair share (52%, 47%, and 46% respectively).
When picking a new laptop, European businesses care about:
- Security feature: 81%
- Connectivity: 80%
- Performance: 76%
- Battery life: 72%
- Portability: 70%
Interestingly, 28% consider performance the most crucial attribute, while 20% rank security as top.
Final Thoughts
“The last year has been a whirlwind,” said Damian Jaume, President of Dynabook Europe. “Our research shows that European firms are burning through their budgets to power the new remote and hybrid work model. They’re realizing that the right blend of hardware and software is key to keeping employees safe, plugged in, and productive in the next normal.”
Stay Updated
Want the latest scoop on this topic? Subscribe to get real‑time updates straight to your device—no fuss, just the news you crave.
