International Data Corporation predicts that the personal computer market will see a growth of 4.1 percent in 2025, reaching a total of 274 million units sold. The firm attributes this growth to a temporary pause and exemptions on tariffs for personal computers, which have encouraged manufacturers to increase shipments. While IDC acknowledges potential challenges in the latter half of 2025 due to rising prices and declining consumer sentiment, they anticipate a strong demand for PCs driven by the ongoing migration to Windows 11. In 2024, PC sales were recorded at 254 million units, marking only a 1.3 percent increase from the previous year.
U.S. smartphone prices are set to rise due to ongoing tariffs, leading to a decrease in sales forecasts for 2025. The International Data Corporation has revised its growth prediction for smartphone shipments in the U.S. from 3.3 percent to just 1.9 percent as uncertainty around import taxes persists. Despite a recent ruling that deemed the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration unlawful, these tariffs remain in effect, causing consumers to delay purchases. As a result, the average selling price of smartphones in the U.S. is expected to increase by 4 percent.
A new global study from Kyndryl reveals that despite widespread implementation of artificial intelligence, most organizations are struggling to align their workforce strategies with this technology. The study shows that while 95% of global businesses and 97% of Indian organizations have adopted AI, 71% of global leaders believe their workforces are unprepared to leverage it effectively. The report, which surveyed over 1,000 senior business and technology executives across 25 industries, highlights a significant skills gap in managing AI. For instance, 51% of global leaders and 52% of Indian leaders report a lack of skilled talent to handle AI systems. Furthermore, 61% of Indian leaders identify integration challenges with existing systems as a major obstacle. Only 40% of surveyed leaders utilize AI-powered insights to enhance decision-making, indicating that most organizations are not yet realizing the full potential of AI.
In what should be justification for tracking IT assets, Seventy-four percent of asset tracking projects meet or exceed return on investment expectations, according to the “IoT Asset Tracking & Visibility Adoption Report 2025” by IoT Analytics. Organizations are investing an average of $110 per asset each year for tracking inventory, equipment, or vehicles, indicating that these investments are yielding tangible results. The report also highlights a significant difference in satisfaction levels between commercially available solutions and in-house developed tools. Companies utilizing internal asset tracking systems reported the lowest satisfaction scores, citing issues such as lack of reliability and poor integration.
Why do we care?
The forecasted 4.1% growth in PC shipments for 2025 (274M units) may appear like a rebound, but the story underneath is one of artificial acceleration. This uptick is largely due to temporary tariff pauses, not sustainable demand. With Windows 11 migration cited as a driver, the surge is likely a last hurrah for the current hardware refresh cycle. For IT service providers, this is a reminder to position device procurement as part of broader lifecycle services—not a margin play. The risk: rising prices and weakening consumer sentiment in the second half of 2025 could create inventory hangovers.
The IoT Analytics report is a quiet but important signal: 74% of asset tracking projects deliver ROI, with commercial solutions outperforming DIY efforts. This affirms the business case for managed asset tracking as-a-service—and the risk of internal builds that fail due to integration and reliability issues. For MSPs, this is a blueprint: asset tracking intersects with compliance, security, insurance, and logistics, all of which benefit from outsourced management.