Learn How Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition Supports Agile Working


The terms flexible working and agile working are often used interchangeably, but there are some subtle differences that make the two unique. In a nutshell, flexible working refers primarily to flexibility around working hours, while agile working focuses on removing boundaries to getting work done as efficiently as possible. 

In this blog, we’ll focus on agile working. Agile, aka “smart working”, enables both IT professionals and the employees they support, to work where, when, and how they choose as long as it meets the needs of the business. Enabled by technology, agile working optimizes performance and empowers people to do their best work, with maximum flexibility. There’s that word again. And, here’s why combining flexibility and agility is the winning combo, specifically when Parallels® Desktop for Business is introduced into the equation: 

Bolster Productivity 

Productivity is maximized when IT and employees have fewer disruptions throughout the workday. Parallels makes it possible to use a macOS and Windows OS, side-by-side, without ever having to pause productivity to reboot or to connect to a server.  

Lower Costs 

With Parallels in place, your organization can reduce the cost to perform daily tasks by combining MacOS and Windows OS, sparing IT from having to issue multiple devices.  

Simplify Day-to-Day Business 

Every company faces the prospect of disruption from planned events like office relocation to unplanned catastrophes (Covid-19!). If employees cannot access applications and files, business suffers. Business mobility technologies like Parallels Desktop enable employees to access work data despite disruptions. 

And, for IT specifically, Parallels Desktop for Business enables: 

Mass Deployment in Minutes 

With Parallels, IT may deploy hundreds of installations in no time with Parallels® Mac Management, JAMF Pro and other solutions.  

Easy Admin 

IT may use a single volume license key for all installations. They can tap into insightful usage statistics and real-time licensing activities and manage all deployed licenses with ease. 

Swift and Secure Setup 

IT can enroll new users in just a few clicks through automatically generated emails, each accompanied by a Parallels Desktop download link. 

So again, although flexible and agile working have similar meanings, they’re different. Specifically, agile working supports continuous improvement and uses technology to create a pattern of working that results in greater employee productivity, decreased office costs and a more motivated workforce. And, Parallels makes it easier than ever to work most efficiently from any location, on any device, across operating systems. For businesses, this means real-time access to all working files – whether Mac or PC – less downtime because users may toggle between OSs without rebooting, and a reduction in overhead by alleviating the need for issuing multiple computers with varying operating systems.  

With Parallels, IT can support a remote workforce (from home, from a coffee shop, or from a remote destination) to complete the tasks necessary to their job on any given day. Ultimately, Parallels enables flexible, agile working by: 

In many organizations, the cultural mindset is the key obstacle to agile working. The shift to agile working requires department heads, such as those from IT, human resources, finance and beyond to push agile working collectively. Once implemented, most businesses have noticed a remarkable surge in productivity, an astonishing decrease in stress-related illness and an increase in employee retention.  

When companies began to realize that providing employees with much-needed resources both increased satisfaction and boosted the efficiency of daily tasks, a shift began to occur. Even more interesting is that the companies who realized this early on usually came from IT. Why? Because they need to stay focused, sharp-minded and be able to make decisions fast. If they are not at the top of their game, they will lack motivation and productivity.  

When you consider that IT supports anywhere from dozens to hundreds to even thousands of employees, many remote since the onset of the Coronavirus crisis, you must also consider that their work has become exponentially more complex. Virtualizing tools and applications play a major role in decoupling work from location and a dedicated office desk. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions such as Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) and Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition are important building blocks for granting external workers access to relevant tools while enabling IT departments to retain their authority over access control. This renders software and application systems independent from endpoint devices and location. 

With an agile working environment, flexibility becomes the norm rather than the exception, and the benefits of agile working include similar benefits to flexible working (i.e., working hours and place of work) but it’s agile working that reduces overhead costs, heightens security, enforces policies, and affords every employee access to the apps they need to work most efficiently. 

In conclusion, while agile working may have at one time been considered a perk for those executives and IT leaders who “needed it most”, it’s quickly become an important part of all levels of an organization and leads to the highest employee and business satisfaction. But remember, for agile working to work, it requires trust and flexible infrastructure and Parallels Desktop for Business makes that a reality. 

Learn more about Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition and download a free 30-day trial.

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