For hybrid work, every employee needs a device that works in both places without plugging things in again or asking IT: a managed laptop, a smartphone where needed, and accessories at the desk. The simplest way to get there is a workplace as a service provider like Everphone, which takes care of choice, shipping and replacement.
Around one in four people in Germany works from home at least part of the time. The ifo Institute has measured a similar share for years, and in the services sector it is even 35 percent. Hybrid work is no longer the exception but the normal mode of working. Even so, many device processes are still built around the desk in the office.
Our view: in hybrid work, equipment shapes satisfaction more than any office perk. If you start the morning at home with a laptop that has a weak battery and a shaky VPN connection, you notice it every day. A fruit basket in the office does not make up for that.
Which devices do employees need for hybrid work?
The basic setup is a laptop that is mobile enough for everyday use and powerful enough for daily work. A smartphone is for people who need to be reachable on the move or who confirm two-factor approvals. Everything else depends on the location.
In the office there is usually a monitor, a docking station and a keyboard. At home these are often missing. Anyone who works there more than occasionally needs at least an external monitor and a headset, otherwise every video call becomes a test of patience.
| Work pattern | Typical equipment | What to look out for |
|---|---|---|
| One to two home office days a week | Laptop, smartphone, headset | Battery, weight, fast access to company data |
| Mostly at home | Laptop, monitor, docking station, headset | Ergonomics, a second desk standard |
| Often on the road, rarely in the office | Laptop, smartphone, tablet if needed | Mobile data, durability, replacement without waiting |
The table is a guide, not a fixed standard package. What matters is how employees really work, because IT equipment should of course follow their actual needs.
Not everyone wants a second monitor, for example; some prefer to stay on the laptop alone. A fast device, on the other hand, is something everyone wants.
Who pays for home office equipment?
Usually the employer. If employees buy work equipment themselves, they may have a right to reimbursement under section 670 of the German Civil Code (BGB) if the purchase is mainly in the employer's interest.
For telework with a fixed screen workstation at home, the German Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV) also applies. It sets requirements for the setup, which you should document.
In practice: put in writing what is provided and who pays, ideally in a works agreement with your works council. That settles disputes before they start and stops every department from inventing its own rules.
Why BYOD is rarely the best option for hybrid work
Private devices save budget at first glance. In return, you lose control: updates, encryption and the removal of company data when someone leaves can only be enforced to a limited extent on private devices. Data protection is another issue, because work and private data mix on a personal device.
Which ownership models exist and where their limits lie is covered in our comparison BYOD vs COPE vs CYOD.
Our recommendation for hybrid teams: company devices that are managed but can also be used privately in a sensible way. That avoids duplicate devices and keeps data separation clean.
How do devices reach employees working from home?
Ideally straight to the address they choose, preconfigured and without a detour via IT. The alternative is the classic: the new colleague collects her device at the office even though she does not work there, or IT sends parcels by hand.
Everphone ships devices to a site or to the user's home address, as you prefer. The devices arrive preconfigured, and shipping is free. How to link this to onboarding is described in our article on automated device provisioning in onboarding.
An example: Lena starts in sales and works from home three days a week. The day before her start, her laptop is waiting on the kitchen table. IT did not lift a finger, and the login details came from the onboarding system.
How does device as a service improve the employee experience?
Device as a service improves the employee experience in three concrete places: choice, replacement and maintenance.
For choice, Choose-your-own-Device helps. Employees choose from a defined range, optionally with their own co-payment. Someone who picked their own device takes better care of it and complains less.
For replacement, speed counts. If a laptop fails at home, the person is stuck, and your IT team cannot just walk over. Damaged devices are replaced free of charge as part of the DaaS service.
For maintenance, the service takes load off your team: mobile device management, rollout, replacement and asset management are included. Your IT team works on projects, not on parcel lists.
You can do this without Everphone too. But if you organise choice, shipping and replacement separately, you are building the same process from several providers.
Who should make the switch
If most of your employees work from home at least part of the time, a single device process almost always pays off. That applies to companies of every size.
Everphone serves companies of every size. If you want it direct and fast, companies with up to 250 employees can order straight from the Everphone shop. For larger organisations, we recommend talking to our team about locations and requirements.
How satisfaction and equipment connect beyond hardware is shown in our employee benefits ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Which devices do employees need for hybrid work?
At least one managed laptop. Depending on the role, add a smartphone, an external monitor, a docking station and a headset for home. The setup depends on how many days someone works at home and how many on the road.
Does the employer have to equip the home office?
There is no blanket obligation, but in practice the employer usually provides the work equipment. If employees buy it themselves, they may be entitled to reimbursement under section 670 BGB. Put the scope and who pays in writing.
How do employees get their device at home?
By shipping to the address they choose. Everphone sends preconfigured devices to a site or to a home address. Nobody needs an appointment at the office just to pick up a laptop.
Is BYOD enough for hybrid work?
Technically it works, but you lose control over updates, encryption and the removal of company data. For teams with sensitive data, we recommend managed company devices. Where BYOD still makes sense depends on how you assess data protection.
What happens if a device fails at home?
With device as a service, we replace damaged devices as part of the service. Employees report the failure, and the replacement goes to the address where they are working at that moment.