At the start of 2020, no one could have predicted the drastic changes that were about to come. However, one thing that has remained constant is the strong surge in PC shipments across the globe! Despite the pandemic, 2021 has seen a dramatic increase in worldwide PC shipments as more people look to stay connected and work from home. In this blog, we’ll explore how these trends are impacting businesses and consumers alike.
Worldwide PC Shipments Soared in 2021
The pandemic of 2020 provided an unexpected opportunity to assess the impact of changing technology needs on the personal computer (PC) market. With more workers and students transitioning to remote workplaces, PC sales rose dramatically throughout the year. The increase in worldwide PC shipments was led by a rise in laptop and desktop sales. Laptops, especially sleek portables with powerful processors, saw the greatest surge in demand and accounted for a majority market share of units shipped. This trend is unsurprising considering that mobile workstations are needed for efficient productivity from home or remote offices.
On the other hand, desktop systems saw growth as well. Desktop systems often have greater expandability and power at lower cost than laptops and are ideal for gaming PCs or workstations frequently used indoors.With many new customers entering the PC market, vendors worked to meet demand as people exploring new technologies opted for second-hand purchases or budget machines to handle everyday tasks like home office use and homework help for children learning online from home. We also witnessed a drastic rise in gaming-related PC hardware upgrades as millions sought entertainment with their newfound spare time due to lockdowns around the world.
The Impact of the Pandemic on PC Shipments
The pandemic has created a demand for devices that can meet the increased need to work, study and entertain remotely. The rise in demand for PCs worldwide has been remarkable. During the pandemic, year-over-year global shipments grew significantly across all markets except Japan. Growth was particularly strong in Q1 2021, with year-over-year shipments up 20%. In 2020, computer makers shipped just over 270 million PCs worldwide—an increase of 18% compared to 2019—according to data from industry analysts IDC and Canalys. In the first quarter of 2021, despite concerns about a second wave of pandemic infections, PC shipments rose 20% from the same period last year.
Analysts estimate that as many as 300 million PCs were shipped in 2020 and this figure is expected to increase further by the end of 2021. Europe saw some of the highest PC shipment growth during the pandemic and particularly sizeable spikes in laptop shipments across multiple countries including France (+113%), Spain (+91%) Germany (+67%), Sweden (+55%), and Italy (+51%). This strong demand is thought to be due to extended lockdowns during 2020 that prompted more people to purchase laptops and desktops for remote working purposes and home entertainment. China also experienced high growth rates; Gartner reported a staggering surge specifically within desktop PC sales at +36%.
Factors Contributing to the Increase in PC Shipments
The pandemic has caused an unprecedented surge in PC shipments around the world. This is largely attributed to several key factors, including increased teleworking, e-learning and online entertainment adoption. Furthermore, the lockdown period led to a significant shift in consumer attitudes towards PCs as people wanted more control over their computing experiences. PC makers have responded quickly to the changing consumer environment and are now offering new materials and designs tailored to meet current demands – such as lightweight laptops with long battery life, relatively affordable all-in-one desktop PCs with ultra-thin bezels for improved visuals, and gaming devices for immersion in work or play.
The pandemic has also encouraged businesses of all sizes to invest in technology solutions that enable remote working or collaboration between employees who are spread out geographically. This includes not just traditional desktops and notebooks but also a wide array of specialized devices for healthcare, enterprise mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and virtual reality applications.
The Future of PC Shipments
The sharp rise in global PC shipments during the pandemic has been driven by shifting consumer behavior, with greater reliance on work-from-home solutions and the pivot to online education. The surge in PC sales further offers new growth opportunities for vendors who can capitalize on increased demand from both B2B and B2C customers. The future of PC shipments is expected to remain positive throughout 2021 and beyond. This is due to sustained demand for gaming PCs as well as cloud computing platforms, as more companies continue to leverage them in their digital transformation projects.
It also appears that there will be increasing demand due to higher quality components such as enhanced processors and graphics cards, which will further bolster overall PC sales figures. From the vendor’s perspective, this presents an opportunity to invest in product improvements in order to appeal to an increasingly quality-driven customer base. Additionally, resellers should be prepared for a shift towards machines tailored toward enterprise use cases like secure remote working solutions which are soon becoming essential for businesses around the world.
Conclusion
Despite the difficulties brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the outlook for PCs appears to be positive. Shipment volumes for 2020 were higher than expected, driven by unprecedented demand for home computing devices and increased investments in remote work infrastructure. This growth appears likely to continue into 2021, with predictions of shipments increasing further.
As this trend continues, it is important to consider how it affects different countries and industries. Companies should remain vigilant in ensuring their IT infrastructures are updated and well-maintained to accommodate the rising amount of new remote workers since outdated systems can result in lost productivity and data insecurity. In addition, governments must make sure that citizens have access to affordable technology and internet connections so that everyone can benefit from this newfound reliance on remote work infrastructure.
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