Defining What the Next Generation of Mobile Workstations Should Deliver
A global OEM was looking ahead to the next generation of mobile workstations as customer expectations grew more complex. Users still depended on powerful devices for specialized workflows, but greater mobility, changing software environments, and new advances in processing technology were reshaping what they needed from these systems. The company needed to understand how those forces were changing what customers would value most.
How We Got There
The Challenge
In the workstation market, better performance often comes with tradeoffs in size, heat, weight, and battery life. At the same time, some of the specialized applications that once drove the need for maximum local performance were beginning to evolve, including movement to cloud-based environments and the introduction of AI. The client needed to understand how these shifts were changing customer expectations, how users were weighing competing priorities, and what that meant for the future shape of the portfolio.
What We Did
We created space for the client to hear how customers worked through real tradeoffs. Through customer council workshops and in-person focus groups across North America and Europe, participants reacted to early prototypes and explored how evolving workflows, software environments, and mobility demands were changing what they needed from a mobile workstation.
What Changed
The work helped the client see more clearly where customer expectations were holding, where they were shifting, and what those changes meant for the future of the portfolio. Instead of relying on assumptions about performance or feature demand, the team had a stronger view of what users would continue to value and where new opportunities for differentiation were emerging.
Details modified to protect client confidentiality.