Road to Windows 11

Have you run technical assessments to identify whether your customers devices are among the 3 million that still need attention? That’s the recent figure from Microsoft, who’ve confirmed there are 3 million active devices in Australia alone that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. There are less than 130 business days until Windows 10 reaches End of Support. Crunching the numbers, that's approximately 20,000 device sales per day needed to meet the deadline. It’s a big job we need to tackle as an industry. 

Redefining Priorities and Overcoming Customer Objections 

“I will move to Windows 11 eventually”   

“Can’t get budget until…”  

“We’re doing just fine as we are”  

“We’re so busy with other projects right now”  

If you’ve heard one of the above customer objections, or similar, our advice is to shift the conversation and help align the Windows 10 refresh opportunity to your customers business priorities. We know your customers are focused on security, employee productivity (achieving more with less) and looking for financial benefits. If your customers don’t make the move to Windows 11 before End of Support, their businesses will experience, cybersecurity risks, compliance risks, limited user experience and potential financial risk.  

The risks of not upgrading are significant and exposure level is indiscriminate. Let’s think from a cyber criminal’s perspective, they most likely have October 15th circled (the day after we reach Windows 10 End of Support) in their diary to launch their next attack on unsupported devices across Australia and the world. It won’t matter if your customer has 5 users or 500. 

Prevent an oh D.A.M.M.I.T Moment

Overcome customer blockers with these responses! 

Devices that aren’t compatible? Offer an assessment service 

Apps that aren’t compatible? 99.7% of Apps are compatible from Win 10. Offer an app assessment service. 

Money and budget constraints? Offer OPEX Financial solutions or trade-in, cashback offers. 

Manpower or resources lacking? Windows 11 is an update not an upgrade, partners have resources to support. 

Intune: “I’ll get Modern Management first, then I’ll migrate to Windows 11” – Reduce risk & reverse this. Upgrade now current management tools. 

Technical problems are preventing them from completing the move. Partners can provide support, for large complex issues we can connect to Microsoft Windows engineering. 

“Migration to Windows 11 requires time and planning. Our Dicker Data team have been through this exact journey, upgrading over 900 devices and users across ANZ. We've mapped out what steps we took along the way, so you can accelerate your ‘Road to Windows 11’. We’ve also highlighted how our Dicker Data team can help support you and your customers, let’s break this down together.” - Yasser Elgammal, General Manager -Sales, Dicker Data. 

This is your Road to Windows 11 

January - March: Audit & Identify 

By now, you should have started to audit your customer’s environments. If you need any assistance with conducting technical assessments and identifying all devices that need to be upgraded, please book a session with me. The sooner your customers know what needs to be refreshed or updated, the sooner you can secure the budget needed to buy inventory.

We’re also urging partners to consider Modern Device Management Solutions. You can use solutions like Microsoft SCCM and Microsoft Intune to easily identify which devices can be upgraded and which need to be refreshed. If you need support with this stage of the journey, our Dicker Data team offer complimentary technical assessments, training and support on moving to modern device management. Book a technical assessment with me.

April - June: Provide Recommendations 

By April (now) you should be identifying which device is right for your customer. For help on this, I've broken down the main categories of Windows 11 devices here or get in touch to discuss further.   

This step provides the perfect opportunity to speak to your customers around what role AI will play in their future success. Are your customers looking to be compliant when the deadline rolls around, or are they looking at the role AI will play in future proofing their organisation? If you’re upgrading hardware, we encourage you to future proof your customers business with AI devices that evolve and adapt to users emerging needs. Not all machines that can run Windows 11 will be ready for AI, so it’s a smart option to make the investment into AI-embedded PCs now so your customers don’t have to upgrade again in the near future. 

If you do go with a Copilot+ PC, you should really be looking to get a Copilot license with this to ensure users are able to maximise their experience and everyday productivity. 

June - July: Secure Budget 

Have you thought about how the EOFY will impact your customers budget?     

“We are encouraging partners to secure customer budget for new devices before EOFY. If you want to secure your preferred stock, you'll need to place orders by end of June to avoid any potential stock shortages. We will have EOFY offers that partners can leverage when placing orders and securing stock. If your customer does not have budget available until July, our advice is to look at reallocating existing budget.”- Yasser Elgammal, General Manager - Sales, Dicker Data. 

By July, ideally, you’ll have your inventory, or it’ll be on the way. Leverage our team to help secure your preferred devices and manage deal registrations for your upcoming opportunities. If you’re wanting to secure stock early, we encourage you to talk with our 3PL team who can support with stock holding.   

July - September: Streamline Deployment

We’re recommending customers to consider Modern Device Management Solutions to deploy, streamline and simplify large-scale device rollouts, especially for hybrid and remote teams. Microsoft Intune and Autopilot create a seamless zero touch experience. Deployment of Windows 11 devices using Windows Autopilot is 25% more efficient than other methods.  

If you need support with deployment, we encourage you to speak with our Dicker Data Services team. 

“Our team becomes an extension of your team, which unlocks key benefits for your organisation with the ability for you to scale your operations, unlock time and cost savings. Experience rapid deployment with our expert team, who will configure your new devices in our dedicated staging centre, for a simple turnkey solution. Ready to scale during the deployment phase? Reach out to us today!” – Doug Jurd, Sales Manager, Dicker Data Services.    

Explore our comprehensive guide to Windows 11. Identify the areas where you need assistance and lean on Dicker Data, your trusted local value-added distributor, to support you at any point in your journey. 

Understand your Readiness: Customer Challenge

In closing, our advice is to take a moment to reflect on where you and your customers are at: Ask your customers:  

1. Where are you on your Windows 11 journey? 

2. Where will you be by EOS October 14th? 

3. Have you tested key apps or do you plan to? 

4. Have you assessed your devices eligibility, or do you plan to? 

5. Do you enough hands and budget to finish? 

6. Are there any technical problems you need help with? 

Accelerate your Road to Windows 11

Windows 11 is the catalyst for business growth, innovation and long-term financial success. Our Dicker Data team is here to help you every step of the way on your Windows 11 journey. Whether it's running technical assessments, figuring out which devices need an upgrade, or giving expert advice and securing budgets, we've got you covered. Our team provides full support with modern device management, deployment strategies and stock management. Leverage our expertise to help you tackle customer objections, streamline your operations and future-proof your business with AI-ready devices. Let's navigate the upgrade to Windows 11 and keep your customers' businesses safe from cybersecurity and compliance risks together. You need to act now, get in touch with our team today to get started. 

Additional Resources:

Utilise Dicker Data’s unique financial services as an extension of your existing trusted partnership that enables you to offer customers with a Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) model and pay-by-the-month finance. Bundle hardware, software, and services to create comprehensive financial solutions for your customers.

Dicker Data Financial Services | Device as a Service | Reseller Finance

Download the End of Support for Windows 10 Report

In collaboration with CRN and Microsoft, we’ve produced a comprehensive report designed to guide our channel partners in the refresh to Windows 11. We’ll give you an in depth walk through on exactly how you can unpack the opportunity and create your action plan moving forward.

Please download the Windows 10 Refresh Guide: End of Support for Windows 10: A guide for Channel Partners

To further educate your end customers, IT News has published an article detailing the benefits and risks of not updating or refreshing their systems.

IT News: Taking a lifecycle approach is critical to Windows 11 upgrade success - Partner Content - iTnews