Monitors make the difference

A monitor is just a monitor, right? Like when you look through a window, it’s the view that’s important. If you agree with this statement you wouldn’t be alone, but you could be overlooking a good source of margin and service revenue.

Over the past decade or so, much emphasis has been put on the PC’s processor power, speed and memory, but much less on the importance the monitor has as the key user interface.

Monitor manufacturers have continually improved performance, but they have done a poor job of talking about technical or business benefits, and continue to slash prices. This doe s not help the dealer, who can only pile high, sell cheap and look elsewhere for margin.

However, employers would do well to consider the benefits of upgrading display equipment, according to research. Examining the attitudes of 2,700 European office workers, the survey shows that the quality of the viewing experience is linked to a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.

Staff perform better if they have the right IT equipment. Their motivation will flourish if they feel valued and they will suffer fewer headaches and eyestrain if they have good-quality monitors.

But 35 per cent of the UK’s office workers are using desktop equipment that is more than five years old. These users are 18 per cent more likely to take a week or more sick leave every year, and 11 per cent take 10 days or more absence.

When asked if they would be more productive in their day-to-day role if their workspace was upgraded, 77 per cent said they would be. Sixty per cent said a better monitor would make “a big improvement” in their workspace.

Productivity, sick leave and motivation are huge issues in the UK. In May the Confederation of British Industry said staff absence costs the UK economy £13bn. So quite a clear business argument emerges for upgrading desktop monitors.

Today’s premium monitors offer advanced management features, such as asset tracking and anti-theft measures, improvements in response times and a raft of ergonomic options. Combine these two aspects and it’s easy to see that there are huge benefits for companies that upgrade their computer equipment. And channel players can capitalise on this.

Mel Taylor is vice-president of European marketing at ViewSonic Europe.