News in the Channel - issue #40

PERIPHERALS

Whether businesses are looking to refresh their devices or not, peripheral sales are a valuable sales route for resellers. Resellers can find sales as part of larger deals for new devices such as PCs, but similarly, for businesses looking to get the most out of their existing devices, peripherals can help to achieve that too. Rory Morgan, senior director global marketing technology peripherals at Kensington, says the peripherals market is growing steadily at around 3% each year. “Influenced by the economic climate and RAM price changes, organisations are extending the life of their hardware by investing in quality peripherals,” he notes. “Kensington’s latest research shows centralised purchasing is becoming more common, with compatibility, durability, cost and sustainability as key criteria.” James Reed, managing director – Endpoint Solutions, UK and Ireland, TD SYNNEX, says the peripherals market is strong across B2B and B2C. “Device refresh cycles, Windows 11 upgrades, and hybrid working are all driving demand, as organisations re-assess the setup around laptops and desktops,” he says. “When devices are refreshed, there’s still a clear knock on effect into monitors, keyboards and mice, headsets and collaboration equipment.” Mike Barron, UK managing director, SYNAXON, notes that recently buyers have been trying to get orders placed for laptops and PCs ahead of expected constraints and price increases. “As those changes begin to bite a little more, I think businesses will turn their focus to productivity and making sure that their employees have the right equipment to do the job,” he says. Keeping employees happy Another driver of peripheral sales is businesses looking for high quality items to ensure employee satisfaction. Rory points to Kensington research that

found that 87% of organisations now provide at least one specialist input device. “Accessibility and comfort are common reasons for non-standard device provision with ergonomic input devices being valued,” he adds. “Employees value accessories that remove friction from their workflows and IT managers value quality products that they can rely on.”

James says employees want peripherals that are fit for purpose, intuitive and designed to work seamlessly with the devices and environments they rely on every day. “When peripherals reduce friction and complexity rather than add to it, they remove small but persistent barriers from the working day,” he adds.

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When peripherals reduce friction and complexity rather than add to it, they remove small but persistent barriers from the working day.

“Trusted brands also contribute to a better experience. Familiarity,

consistency, and intuitive design build confidence, particularly when peripherals are expected to work across multiple locations with minimal setup or support. When products align cleanly with core devices and reduce complexity for users and IT teams alike, the experience is noticeably better. “Ultimately, good quality peripherals are about reliability and suitability. Choosing the right products at the right level, ones that align with the device ecosystem, security requirements and how people actually work, sends a clear signal that organisations care about the experience of their employees, not just the technology specification.”

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