Seizing the Windows 10 Refresh Opportunity: A four-step guide

2025 is here and it’s time to make the ‘Big Switch’ to Windows 11 Pro. Over the past few months, our focus has been helping you drive awareness with your end customers about the Windows 10 Refresh Opportunity. Now it’s time to take another look at your action plan and take the next step with confidence. 

By now, you should have already initiated conversations with your customers about transitioning to Windows 11. If you haven’t, it’s imperative to act swiftly. At our recent ‘Unlocking the Windows 10 Refresh Opportunity with Dicker Data’ event in Sydney, we broke down the four-step guide on how to seize the opportunity. 

1. Act Now

There are currently over 3 million active devices in Australia that cannot upgrade to Windows 11. If you haven’t already, you should start by conducting an audit of your customers’ environment and identify any legacy hardware or software that may not be compatible with Windows 11. Do you need help running an audit? Contact Gary, our Microsoft Business Development Manager.

Avoid the impending stock shortages and upgrade to a modern device sooner, rather than later. As an industry, we sell between 1.2m to 1.5m new devices annually to the corporate and commercial segments. With at least 3 million devices needing attention, it’s clear the numbers don’t add up. Acting now will ensure your customers have sufficient stock, a variety of choices and ample time for their upgrades. As of March 2025, there are fewer than 155 business days remaining to replace or upgrade millions of customers’ devices. Talk to our team about ensuring stock continuity with our 3PL services. This allows your customers to purchase stock now, and our team will hold it until they’re ready to roll it out.

Educating your end customers on the risk of not upgrading. Ensure your customers understand the risks of not upgrading by the EOS date. Delaying could disrupt business, expose customers to increased cyberattacks and result in non-compliance with cybersecurity insurance policies. Customers running Windows 10 past the end of support date will become easy targets for cybercriminals, increasing the risk of data breaches, malware infections and financial losses. It may also leave you and your customers exposed with potentially unlimited liabilities for cyber incidents. Many cyber insurance policies mandate supported operating systems.  
“When we migrated from Windows 7 to Windows 10, it was quite a heavy lift. With Windows 10 to Windows 11 Pro, it's a lot more straightforward; a lot faster process.” - Gary Lawrence, Microsoft BDM, Dicker Data.

Windows 11 is the most secure desktop operating system in history. Safeguard your customers operations and defences now. 

2. Provide Recommendations 

Provide specific recommendations and a transition plan based on your customer’s business needs. Windows 11 devices have significant advantages, making the transition a strategic imperative for your customers. From AI-powered productivity to enhanced security and simplified IT management. It’s important to understand the benefits of a modern device and then identify the appropriate devices for your customers.

As Australia’s leading Windows 11 distributor, we are partnered with the world’s top vendors who have the latest Intel Core Ultra Processor powered AI-ready Copilot+ PCs and Windows 11 Pro Devices. Here are some insights from our device vendors about making the switch.

Dell Technologies

“The transition to Windows 11 is an opportunity for organisations to refresh their environments and prepare for the next generation of computing. By looking beyond the immediate need to run a supported operating system, organisations will be able to embrace AI PCs and all the benefits it offers.” - Robert Vinokurov, General Manager, Client Solutions Group, ANZ, Dell Technologies.

Dynabook

“Our laptops are designed to provide not just a seamless transition to Windows 11 but also a secure and productive computing environment. By choosing Dynabook, customers benefit from our unparalleled knowledge in mobile computing, ensuring they receive reliable hardware solutions that enhance their operational efficiency.” - Angela Walker, General Manager ANZ, Dynabook.

HP

“Understanding the current state of your fleet is critical. HP has tools that leverage AI to provide a detailed analysis of your PC fleet to optimise your transition plan. This helps you decide which devices need to be replaced, which can be upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 without a hardware refresh, and which can be redeployed for different applications.” - Aman Sangar, Category Manager, HP.

Lenovo

“The transition to Windows 11 is critical. In Australia, the IT ecosystem of distributors, channel partners, resellers and vendors all have vital roles to play in ensuring the upgrade is smooth and delivers the greatest possible value and prepares users for the future.” - Kirat Khara, Director of Distribution and Commercial, ANZ, Lenovo.

Do you need help identifying which device is right for your customers? Our experts can help.  We break down the different types of devices and their unique use capabilities here. Additionally, please get in touch with our team to discuss a trial or demonstration for a Copilot+ PC for your customers. We currently have plenty of stock available across all vendors.

3. Consider Modernising 

Consider modernising further with Copilot licenses and Modern Device Management solutions to help future proof your customer’s business. Microsoft Copilot is poised to boost productivity across the Australian workforce. Microsoft have conducted a survey of 1000 Australian workers and discovered Copilot has helped with, writing presentations and automating everyday processes, speeding up time to market for new products, faster insights from data capture while elevating customer experience and engagement.

Most employees are comfortable with using AI for admin tasks (71%), while business leaders are more than twice as likely to see AI support their teams rather than replace them. Microsoft Copilot can free up workers to dive into the creative and innovative aspects of their roles, helping drive your customer’s long-term success while maintaining a competitive edge.

Our dedicated Dicker Data Microsoft Team are here to help you empower your customers’ business by harnessing the power of AI. We offer a variety of training sessions and resources to help your customers leverage these advanced technologies. Expand your offerings and expertise by providing your customers with the latest AI-driven solutions, enhancing their productivity and efficiency. You can learn more now.

Modern Device Management (MDM) provides customers the opportunity to secure their devices through the cloud. This is a faster and more scalable option compared to traditional, on-site methods. It streamlines device deployment, software updates and security policy enforcement. Essential tools for a smooth Windows 11 migration are Microsoft Intune, Windows Autopilot and Windows Autopatch. Connect with our team of experts to explore this opportunity further.

4. Allocate Budget

Lastly, ensure your end customers allocate sufficient budget to achieve compliance before the End of Support date. You should be encouraging your end customers to prioritise budget and asses their entire fleet before October. There are different price points for different devices. You can view prices, and bundle offers through our Dicker Data Partner Portal or reach out to our team for a quote. 

Leverage our Dicker Data Financial Services

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

How Dicker Data can support you

Our Dicker Data team is here to support you every step of the way. From starting the conversation with out-of-the-box marketing campaigns, to free technical assessments, training and support for transitioning to modern device management. Our team of dedicated device experts are here to make the transition as seamless as possible for you and your customers. We’ll help you register your deals to protect your upcoming opportunities. The best day to start was yesterday, and the next best day is today. Speak to the Dicker Data team now.