Can Microsoft Autopilot Really Enhance the User Experience and Save Time for Busy IT Teams?
If you have deployed new Windows devices to your organization in the past, you’ll be all too familiar with the (sometimes timely) process required for a successful deployment. Traditionally, IT teams would get new devices delivered to where they were physically located and then work on the device to get it set up and configured. Once the device was ready to hand over to an employee, it would likely need to be packed up and shipped to a new location depending on where the person that needed the new device was located. All in all, from the moment the device was purchased to an employee actually logging in to use it could be a long-winded and time-consuming process.
Thankfully, with Windows Autopilot there is a much better way. Microsoft’s Windows Autopilot takes all the effort that an IT team would normally exude when setting Windows upon a new device. Instead, it provides a much quicker and more reliable way to deploy Windows on organizational devices, saving your IT department time and money when deploying, repurposing, and retiring devices.
In this article, we will take a deep dive into the benefits Windows Autopilot can bring to your organization, but first things first, what exactly is Microsoft Autopilot?
What is Microsoft’s Windows Autopilot?
Windows Autopilot is a group of cloud-based technologies that work together to make it as easy as possible to pre-configure new devices to get them ready for employees to use.
With Windows Autopilot, you can send brand new devices directly to your users from the OEM or reseller partner. When the device arrives, the user just needs to sign in, and within minutes the device is fully configured with all of your organization’s software, apps, and settings. It is all automated, your IT team never has to physically touch the device meaning that configuration and setup can be done from anywhere – a huge bonus, especially when many people are working from home and flexible work schedules are on the rise.
There is no longer a need to keep images up to date, your IT teams can simply configure the changes by adjusting the settings in Microsoft Intune. Not only does this simple process save hours upon hours for your IT Team, but it’s also a much easier and straightforward experience for the user. It’s a win-win all around!
Is it Worth Using Microsoft’s Windows Autopilot for Setting up Devices?
Windows Autopilot makes deploying new devices, a once lengthy task, quick and easy at every touchpoint. Not only does this improve the experience for your IT team, but for your end users too. There are a number of benefits Microsoft’s Windows autopilot can present your organization, but here are some of the most impactful:
Saves your IT team Time and Money
Thanks to Windows Autopilot, your IT department can pre-provision new devices making their setup a breeze. They will no longer need to spend a number of hands-on hours setting up new devices. Instead, they can configure the required settings remotely from Microsoft Intune.
Saves the End Users Time and Boosts User Experience
When an end user is given a device that has been registered with Microsoft Autopilot, the setup required by the end user can be completed within a matter of minutes. When the user opens the device for the first time, it will already be associated with the organization. All they need to do is login with their company credentials, wait for a few minutes and they will be ready to get to work in short order – it couldn’t be easier! Not only does this save them time getting set up, but it also provides a much more seamless user experience.
Simplifies Maintenance and Device Redeployment
Whenever you have an issue with a device, or a device simply needs to be reset to put back into circulation with a new owner, Autopilot enables IT teams to easily wipe devices within a matter of minutes. Once this has been completed, the device will be ready to hand to someone else with the settings, software, and configurations required by the new user. This again saves your IT team a considerable amount of time and resources previously spent managing and resetting devices and as such boosts productivity.
How Windows Autopilot Can Save You on Shipping and Duties
Beyond the above benefits of Windows Autopilot, it also provides great opportunities for organizations with a global network of offices or a vastly spread workforce to save money on shipping and duties thanks to the zero-touch setup.
As Windows Autopilot enables the device to be sent directly to the user’s location, this cuts out the shipping time, delays in customs, and cost that would have previously been required to first send the device to the IT team for setup. When working with a widespread team across locations, this benefit can quickly add up to produce great savings not only in time but in shipping costs and duties too.
What’s more, the device will be locked to your organization’s Azure tenant so it will be associated with your company from the day it gets shipped from the OEM. This means that in the unfortunate event that the device is stolen, it’s prevented from being used outside of your organization even if the device is reset. Plus, you would also be able to track the device as it sits within your organization’s tenant making it easier to recover.
How to Get Started with Windows Autopilot
If the many benefits of Windows Autopilot have inspired you to give it a go, then Steeves and Associates are here to help. Our team of Microsoft experts can help you complete the transition to Windows Autopilot, making it as easy as possible for you to untap the many benefits it has to offer.
Even if you aren’t at the stage where you want to use Autopilot just yet, it can still be worth onboarding your devices with Azure now in case you do decide to use autopilot in the future. A simple setup now could save you hours of IT resources in the future!
Interested in learning more about how Windows Autopilot could provide great benefits to your organization? Get in touch today by emailing sales@steeves.net. We can’t wait to hear from you!