Standard input devices are often treated as low-priority commodities, but our survey of IT managers shows they have a direct impact on employee experience, productivity, and IT efficiency.

Most organizations reliably provide a basic mouse and keyboard, so “the basics are covered.” However, when you look at options beyond that, such as trackballs, ergonomic devices, or precision input tools, availability drops off sharply. These devices are often:

• Available only on request
• Classified as non-standard options
• Not offered at all

This matters because:

• Employee experience: Knowledge workers and power users benefit from devices that fit their work style and physical needs. Limited choice can lead to discomfort and lower satisfaction.
• Productivity: Role-specific or ergonomic devices can help employees work more efficiently, especially in high-input or precision tasks.
• IT efficiency: A narrow standard list often leads to more exception requests, manual approvals, and support tickets.

Organizations that proactively include ergonomic or role-specific devices in their standard catalog are starting to rethink input devices as productivity tools rather than just line items. This shift helps them better support employees and reduce friction for IT.

The survey highlights a clear gap between availability and standardization of ergonomic and non-standard input devices.

In many organizations, ergonomic devices are:

• Offered only after an employee request
• Treated as a special accommodation
• Approved on a case-by-case basis

Similarly, when employees need non-standard devices, the process is usually manual. Common paths include:

• Submitting an IT ticket or request form
• Seeking direct manager approval
• Providing a business justification for an exception

Few organizations have a streamlined or self-service process for these requests. This creates:

• Friction for employees who may hesitate to ask or face delays
• Administrative overhead for IT due to one-off approvals and tracking

Competitive insight from the survey: organizations that normalize ergonomic devices and clearly define a broader standard list can:

• Reduce the volume of exception requests
• Support employee well-being more proactively
• Reimagine input devices as part of a thoughtful workplace experience strategy

In short, expanding and clarifying the standard catalog helps both employees and IT teams work more smoothly.

The survey shows that both refresh cycles and budget models for input devices vary widely across organizations.

Device refresh cycles

When asked how often standard input devices are replaced, IT managers reported very different practices:

• Some refresh devices every 1–2 years
• Others replace devices only when they break
• A significant portion replace devices on an ad-hoc basis or depending on role/department

This inconsistency can lead to:

• Uneven user experiences across teams
• Higher support tickets due to aging or failing devices
• Hidden productivity costs when employees work with suboptimal tools

Establishing a clear lifecycle policy helps IT plan budgets, manage inventory, and set expectations with employees.

Budget ownership and allocation

Budget approaches also differ significantly:

• Some organizations use fixed per-device budgets
• Others vary budgets by role or department
• A notable portion of respondents are unsure of the budget model in use

This lack of clarity often correlates with:

• Inconsistent device offerings
• Approval bottlenecks for anything non-standard

The survey suggests that clear, role-based budget frameworks make it easier to scale input device programs while meeting diverse user needs. When combined with a defined refresh cycle, they help IT teams reimagine input devices as a managed lifecycle asset rather than a one-off purchase.