Whether your organization uses PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, or a combination of these, a good docking station can take advantage of the high-bandwidth Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C ports on the device to support a variety of needs, from 4K displays to USB power delivery. Such a docking station not only allows employees to connect peripherals such as USB mice and keyboards, but also provides a more stable Internet connection through Gigabit Ethernet, thereby improving the work efficiency of the organization and bringing users greater flexibility to facilitate smooth workflows such as video editing and content creation.
1. Ease of deployment: When deploying docking stations, especially in environments such as schools and hospitals where multiple docking stations need to be set up, it is crucial to ensure that they work properly immediately. Missing drivers or lagging firmware/software updates are often the cause of technical problems, and solving these problems can be time-consuming and annoying. Therefore, ease of deployment is a core consideration when choosing a docking station.
2. Employee experience (EX): When deploying docking stations in an enterprise environment, if they are not selected based on user preferences, it may have a negative impact on employee experience and engagement. According to Qualtrics, only 62% of employees feel engaged at work, and 30% believe that the company takes their feedback into account when making decisions. To improve employee experience and engagement, choose a docking station that meets the specific needs of the team. For example, a graphics worker may need a docking station with an SD card reader, while an employee who uses multiple applications at the same time may benefit from a triple display docking station. Paying attention to the employee experience and listening to their opinions can help choose the best docking station options for the organization.
3. Return on Investment (ROI): As the underlying connection options continue to evolve (such as Thunderbolt 3 replacing Thunderbolt 2, USB standards have been updated multiple times to USB 4 to provide the same peak bandwidth as Thunderbolt 3), the deployment of laptop docking stations may become obsolete. Therefore, it is critical to choose a future-proof docking station that allows for a longer upgrade cycle. Universal hybrid docking stations (such as docking stations that include both USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connection options) generally have a much longer service life than most proprietary docking stations, which are often limited to one connection type and are only compatible with specific OEM computers. Using a universal hybrid docking station like the DS019 can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrade costs while reducing support costs and the environmental impact of e-waste, thereby improving your ROI.
To summarize, ease of deployment, employee experience, and ROI are the three most important features to consider when choosing the best laptop docking station.
