Insights for IT Operations

Simplify Apple Device Management, Anywhere

One platform, full Apple device lifecycle.

2025-05-30

The 2025 May 20th IT Hardware Tariff Landscape Strategic Update

As of May 20, 2025, significant developments in tariff policies are reshaping the landscape for IT procurement.

2025-05-20

The True Cost of Not Updating IT Logistics

From device provisioning to secure retrieval, Firstbase automates global IT logistics, reducing manual work, increasing security, and enhancing employee experience.

2025-04-25

The April 2025 IT Hardware Tariff Landscape Strategic Guide

New tariffs are driving IT hardware prices up 8–20%, disrupting global supply chains and forcing companies to rethink procurement. Firstbase breaks down what’s happening, who’s impacted, and how to stay ahead with smart buying strategies.

2025-04-08

What AI Means for IT Operations

Get the practical framework for AI adoption in IT with this guide to AI in IT. Learn how IT plays a critical role in IT governance and why IT leaders will become central to businesses leveraging AI.

2025-04-01

ITAD Services - Secure IT Asset Disposition Matters

As devices reach the end of their life cycle, organizations face significant risks related to data security, compliance, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

2025-03-05

Streamline IT Employee Offboarding and Asset Retrieval

Learn how to simplify IT offboarding, recover lost assets, and enhance security—without the headaches.

2025-03-05

How Docebo Uses Firstbase to Bridge Global HR and IT

Docebo partnered with Firstbase to replace manual IT and HR workflows with automated, secure, and scalable processes.

2025-03-04

How Cresta Uses Firstbase to Save 250+ IT Hours and 2x Global Headcount in One Year

Home office closets are usually filled with winter coats or workout gear. But one year ago, Cresta’s Head of IT Jared Allenbrand had a closet crammed with approximately 100 employee laptops. Not anymore.

2025-02-18

The Offshore Playbook for Equipping LATAM Teams

When you try to scale in LATAM on your own, IT organizations often bear the brunt of execution.

2025-02-14

Finances Guide to IT Device Management

2025-02-13

The Future of Remote Work: Insights from Firstbase Founder & CEO Chris Herd

The shift to remote and hybrid models isn’t just a trend—it’s a transformation that will define the next decade of work says CEO Chris Herd on the CIO Influence Interview.

2025-02-12

Meet AppDirect—The leading B2B subscription commerce platform

AppDirect is a recognized industry-leading B2B subscription commerce platform.

2025-01-23

How to Secure Assets and Offboard Employees

Streamlining employee offboarding is critical for securing data, retrieving assets, and reducing costs.

2025-01-14

Offshore IT Ops: A Guide to Equipping Teams in India and Beyond

That’s exactly why 66% of U.S. companies outsource at least one department, a trend that translates to approximately 300,000 American jobs being transitioned offshore each year.

2025-01-09

The Winning Formula for Managing Distributed Teams

Learn proven strategies for leading distributed teams—streamlining remote onboarding, boosting productivity, and fostering accountability without micromanagement.

2024-12-18

Modernizing End-User Computing for Distributed Work

Learn how to modernize end-user computing to meet the needs of the remote and hybrid workforce

2024-12-18

How to Equip Distributed Teams with WeWork & Firstbase

Discover how Firstbase and WeWork are redefining distributed work by combining global workspace access with zero-touch IT provisioning for seamless, scalable team management.

2024-11-13

Overcoming IT Logistics for Strategic Success

Unlock the secrets to IT operational excellence with our comprehensive guide, designed specifically for CIOs. It offers proven strategies and insights to streamline your IT logistics and enhance productivity.

2024-11-06

Managing the Apple M4 Launch for Businesses: What You Need to Know

Apple’s new M4 MacBook Pro introduces AI-powered performance gains, and Firstbase helps businesses simplify global procurement, upgrades, and device management at scale.

2024-10-24

New Relic Shares Their Strategy for Success at Scale

Thomas Olson from New Relic is the Manager of IT Program Management and the driving force behind leveraging Firstbase to streamline their IT Logistics globally.

2024-10-01

How to Align Finance and IT for Business Outcomes

Watch how IT leaders and Finance leaders need to come together to fuel business growth.

2024-09-13

How Brightwheel Spends 8X Less Time on Equipment Management for their Remote Team with Firstbase

Discover how Brightwheel streamlined IT operations with Firstbase, reducing time spent on IT equipment management, enhancing efficiency, and empowering focus on core educational goals.

2024-09-13

Firstbase and MDMs: Elevated Global Equipment Management

Firstbase and MDMs are complementary tools for IT security and efficiency. Elevate all your IT logistics from one centralized hub.

2024-07-19

Advancing IT Operations: Expanding Zero-Touch Management

Zero-touch IT environments are considered the gold standard of IT environments, yet device provisioning and asset management can pose challenges beyond the scope of MDM solutions. This eBook details how to extend the power of JAMF, Kandji, JumpCloud, and Intune by focusing on the first touch point from procuring a device until your employees receive their new device.

2024-07-01

Devices and Employee Experience - A Guide for HR Leaders

Struggling with delayed onboarding, cumbersome offboarding, and increased HR/IT workload? Discover how Firstbase can streamline equipment management, ensuring smooth operations and boosting productivity for your global workforce.

2024-06-19

Mastering IT Logistics: The 3 Rs

Learn how to master IT logistics with our e-book, ‘Mastering IT Logistics: The Three Rs,’ and discover strategies for efficient Retrieval, Reuse, and Recycling of IT assets to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability.

2024-06-12

ServiceNow Integration With Firstbase

Efficiently sync and manage hardware assets across platforms in the physical and digital world.

2024-06-12

14 Features For Remote Device Lifecycle Management

2024-05-14

Planning Your Next Device Refresh

In an era where technology evolves at breakneck speed, ensuring your team has the most efficient

2024-04-10

CIO Top Priorities for 2024

CIO.com recently published 10 Top Priorities for CIOs in 2024 and in the ever-evolving landscape of IT leadership.

2024-02-06

Okta Integration

Streamline SSO and automate onboarding/offboarding securely

2024-01-26

Download the Firstbase One Pager

Seamlessly manage global assets from procurement to recycling

2024-01-17

How to Run Great Remote IT Off-Boarding (and Why it Matters)

Discover the significance of effective off-boarding for organizations, both from HR and IT perspectives, and gain insights into establishing a robust IT off-boarding process for remote employees in this on-demand webinar.

2023-11-17

Does Your Team [Really] Need The M3 Processor

Apple’s newest processor boasts a large increase in compute power, yet the recent introduction of the M3 processor has many business leaders asking do we really need it?

2023-10-12

What’s In Your Digital Workforce Tech Stack?

The right digital workforce solutions can drive productivity, collaboration, and employee engagement, improving business outcomes.

2023-08-31

Built for Scale: Centralized IT Asset Management for Growth

In this case study, we explore how an enterprise technology consulting firm tackled the challenges of managing an increasing headcount and device lifecycle needs.

2023-08-31

Benefex Streamlines Global Operations with Firstbase's Virtual IT Closet

Discover how Benefex, the innovative team behind the award-winning employee experience platform OneHub, streamlined its internal processes for managing devices across its global workforce.

2023-08-30

Overcome Challenges With Remote Employees Returning Equipment

With a distributed workforce where workers are scattered across the world, achieving high rates of remote employees returning equipment is very complex and time-consuming for your IT team to handle.

2023-08-25

What is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)?

Let's assess the strengths and limitations original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have in providing and managing your employee's corporate devices on a global scale.

2023-08-17

Firstbase Is Now an Apple Authorized Reseller

Firstbase is now an Apple Authorized Reseller, highlighting its top-tier remote equipment management. Elevate your hybrid work experience with us.

2023-08-09

What is a Value-Added Reseller (VAR)?

Let's break down the advantages and limitations of partnering with value-added resellers (VARs) to outsource device lifecycle management.

2023-08-04

Your Best Practice Onboarding Guide

Onboarding best practices go beyond day one.

2023-08-01

What is a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

As an IT admin or procurement manager, it is vital to understand the benefits and constraints of partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) to provide device lifecycle management.

2023-07-28

How to Enable a Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) Strategy for Laptops & Smartphones

Let's compare BYOD, COPE, COBO, and CYOD employee equipment provisioning models to see which is best for your organization.

2023-07-21

Hard ROI: Reducing Remote Work Equipment Costs by Two-Thirds

Equipping and supporting a distributed workforce with all the IT and ergonomics they need to start and stay productive is challenging. It’s also more costly than most realize.

2023-07-20

Assessing Your Digital Workplace Solutions for Ultimate Efficiency

Digital workplace solutions have become integral in shaping the future of work and increasing employee and customer retention. Here's what to consider when choosing your infrastructure of tools, apps, and platforms.

2023-07-19

How PC as a Service (PCaaS) Works for IT Teams

With PCaaS (PC as a Service), organizations can simplify IT, reduce costs, streamline business needs, and improve the employee experience.

2023-07-17

Optimizing Remote Work Device Lifecycle Management

Device lifecycle management (DLM) has been complicated by remote work. Here's how automation helps streamline management end-to-end to improve productivity and the employee experience.

2023-07-13

How to Automate Your Remote Workforce Equipment Process

This webinar explains the need for automating end-user computing processes to effectively manage remote workers, asserting that efficient management can boost revenue growth by 25%. The video presents a comprehensive look at transitioning from outdated legacy systems to automated processes and showcases how the Firstbase platform can simplify the employee equipment process.

2023-07-13

The Remote Workspace Revolution

Here's what to expect out of remote workspaces, including tips for designing a comfortable environment and how to overcome unique challenges.

2023-07-10

How to Set Up a Successful Remote Work Onboarding Process

Remote work onboarding creates unique challenges for organizations. Learn how to overcome these challenges including equipping distributed workers for success.

2023-07-07

Why You Need a Virtual IT Closet

In office settings, supplying IT accessories on demand to workers was easy, but it gets harder with a distributed workforce, especially when employees are global. This is where a cloud-based virtual IT closet comes into play.

2023-07-05

IT Operations Blueprint for Distributed Work

The "IT Operations Blueprint for Distributed Work" eBook provides comprehensive best practices for managing IT processes in a remote or hybrid work environment. Compiled by a highly experienced Ops team, the guide covers everything from equipping employees to managing equipment breakages and retrievals in a distributed work setting.

2023-06-29

Firstbase Awarded RemoteTech Breakthrough’s Employee Onboarding Solution of the Year

We're thrilled to announce that Firstbase has received the prestigious 2023 RemoteTech Breakthrough Award for our game-changing Employee Onboarding Solution. Transform your remote onboarding process and boost productivity with Firstbase. Request a demo today.

2023-06-22

Beyond Delivering Laptops: Why PCaaS is Not Enough

Join us in this illuminating webinar as we explore the shifting landscape of end-user computing in response to the rise of flexible work.

2023-06-21

The State of IT Report: How Top-Performing Companies Rethink Efficiency

Learn how modern IT leaders are thinking about the challenges they face in 2023, in this report co-sponsored by Firstbase.

2023-06-13

Transforming Remote Work: Verse's Success with Firstbase's Automation Solution

This case study reveals how Verse used Firstbase's solution to enhance its remote employee experience and automate the full lifecycle of equipment management.

2023-06-12

How to Create a Winning Remote IT Onboarding Experience

Discover how to boost employee retention and productivity through effective onboarding and an empowering digital environment in this essential guide for HR professionals and team leaders.

2023-06-02

How to Defeat Remote Work IT Shipping Costs

Why are remote work IT shipping costs so high? And how do you solve for them? Find out in this blog that you'll want to share with your CFO.

2023-05-31

Modernizing End User Computing for Hybrid Work

Modernizing End User Computing for Hybrid Work is a comprehensive webinar offering insights into the rapidly changing landscape of end-user computing, brought on by the rise of hybrid and remote work.

2023-05-30

How to Double Your Laptop Retrievals from Remote Workers

Retrieving remote worker equipment is hard, and most companies are losing a significant percentage of their deployed remote work IT assets. Learn why and how you can dramatically improve your retrieval rates.

2023-05-24

Understanding End-User Computing

End-user computing (EUC) is an IT discipline that refers to a set of technologies that enable workers to access remote applications and data safely and securely. EUC encompasses a range of different technologies and processes that address deployment, configuration, maintenance, security, and performance management of devices, software, and cloud-based services.

2023-05-15

Understanding Hardware as a Service (HaaS)

Hardware as a service (HaaS) is the latest method for procuring and maintaining IT infrastructure, combining procurement and lifecycle services on a subscription basis.

2023-05-09

Delivering the Right Work From Home Equipment for Employee Success

According to industry estimates, up to 80 million (out of 255 million) desk jobs will be primarily remote by 2030.

2023-05-07

Implementing Remote Equipment Management for a Distributed Workforce

Remote work has undeniably changed the traditional structure of the workplace.

2023-05-02

Spring ‘23 Release Event Recap

On March 15th, 2023, we announced our Spring ‘23 Release, our biggest release yet. Thank you to those who were able to join us! There were a lot of new features and enhancements announced, so we've prepared a brief recap to get you up to speed with everything in Spring ‘23.

2023-03-21

Announcing the Firstbase Integration Hub powered by Workato

We're excited to announce the Firstbase Integration Hub powered by Workato’s Intelligent Integration and Automation platform. The Firstbase Integration Hub will enable our customers to connect to 1,000+ SaaS apps, databases, AI services, APIs, and more without writing any code.

2023-03-15

Is your IT Ops model a digital winner?

Enterprises are striving to become increasingly digital in their business model. But is your IT operating model strong enough to help achieve your organization's digital ambition?

2023-03-01

How to equip Fintech remote workers for success

Many Fintech companies have leaned into remote work. A recent search on builtin.com showed over five hundred Fintechs with remote work programs, and 185 that were fully remote. In this blog, we’ll look at the drivers for the growth of remote work in Fintechs and key considerations for how to best equip remote workers to maximize retention, engagement, and productivity.

2023-02-13

How to Best Equip Home Workers -- a Gartner Research Read-Out

2023-02-08

Don't Fall for a Trojan HaaS

Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) is a powerful way to procure end-user computing equipment. It offers an effective way to conserve cash, keep IT equipment off your balance sheet, and keep your employees happy with the most up-to-date equipment. When combined with self-service automation, HaaS is an attractive path for organizations looking to better serve remote workers.

2023-01-31

The Four Steps to Equipping Home Workers

These steps are drawn from the Gartner research report “How to Best Equip Home Workers,” by Stephen Kleynhans, which is the Firstbase highlighted research report for January 2023. You can get that report until the end of January with complimentary access.

2023-01-25

What IT Teams Should Put on and Take Off Their Plates in 2023

I am a foodie. I love cooking. I love eating, drinking good wine (and other stuff too). So as the holidays have come and gone my mind naturally goes back to all the eating.

2022-12-28

From Remote Work Migration to Remote Work Maturity

During the pandemic, IT teams moved mountains to adapt to the sudden shift to work from home (WFH). Now that remote and flexible work has become a steady state reality, it’s high time to mature the entire process of supporting remote workers, including how IT teams manage their end user computing fleet.

2022-12-08

It’s Time to Modernize End User Computing for Flexible Work

In a recent webinar on this topic, I shared how I ran across an early pandemic era article by Intel that declared that “the status quo is officially dead” for end user computing (EUC), due to the need to adapt to remote work.

2022-11-10

The State of RTO: What Workers Want

Companies’ return to the office or “RTO” has become a hot-button issue that has gripped headlines for weeks. Fortune has called the tension between RTO and WFH (work from home) a “war.” Yet with hybrid work emerging as a dominant work model moving forward, most companies have initiated RTOs.

2022-11-07

Fall 2022 Release Webinar Recap

In our first ever seasonal release webinar, Ian, our VP of Product & Design, discussed how for our Fall Release we're helping you manage the entire equipment lifecycle without the manual hassles by focusing on three key themes. Read below for a quick recap and click here to watch the on-demand recording.

2022-11-01

Go Green! Reuse your equipment, reduce your carbon footprint, and save costs with Firstbase

IT administrators need flexibility and control to optimize deployment of used versus new devices. Firstbase makes this easy so you can reduce your carbon footprint, maximize your assets, and deliver the best possible employee experiences.

2022-10-20

Manage the entire equipment lifecycle by initiating returns, replacements, and upgrades at a click of a button

With on-platform returns, replacements, and upgrades, we’re equipping IT and HR administrators with the tools and infrastructure they need to maximize productivity for their employees across the entire employee journey. Firstbase empowers you to manage the entire equipment lifecycle–starting but not ending with great onboarding–so you can deliver the best employee experience at all times.

2022-10-19

Creating the best employee onboarding experience with the power of Firstbase and Enboarder

With Firstbase and Enboarder, we’re combining personalized, digital onboarding with seamless equipment outfitting, creating the best onboarding experience for your employees. Make your employees feel welcomed and set up for success well before day one and beyond with the power of Firstbase and Enboarder.

2022-10-18

Automate manual workflows such as onboarding and offboarding by connecting to the new Firstbase API

With the new Firstbase API, we’re helping IT and HR administrators save time by automating manual workflows such as onboarding and offboarding across their HRIS and IdP systems. Firstbase empowers you to orchestrate the entire equipment lifecycle across each step of the employee journey, without the manual hassles.

2022-10-17

How to Pull a Spotify and Reduce Employee Turnover by 15%

Fortune recently published an article on how Spotify reduced employee turnover by 15% between 2019 and 2022 by embracing work from anywhere. This result is impressive, so the question is “how did they get there?” Let’s explore how you can create a successful “Work from Anywhere” framework, boost retention and empower your best workforce.

2022-08-11

Flexible work can drive productivity—but only when done right.

When companies contemplate adopting more flexible work like remote work and hybrid work, productivity is often top-of-mind.

2022-07-28

Is Your IT Operating Model A Digital Winner? A Gartner Research Readout

2022-05-19

Announcing Firstbase’s $50M Series B

We are thrilled to announce $50M in Series B funding, led by Kleiner Perkins, and welcome Josh Coyne to our board. Today is an important day for Firstbase.

2022-03-25

Announcing Firstbase's $2M Seed Round and $13M Series A from A16Z and Alpaca Ventures

Today is an important day for Firstbase and all of us personally. We are announcing a $2M Series Seed led by David Goldberg at Alpaca and a $13M Series A led by David Ulevitch at A16Z.

2021-04-29

20 Lessons 100 Leading Remote Companies Taught us About Building a Great Remote Team

Over the last 3 years, we've spoken to 100+ of the leading remote-first companies on the planet These are the 20 lessons they taught us about how to build a great remote team 1. ✍️ Documentation: documentation is the unspoken superpower of remote teams

2021-02-22

The Tools and Equipment Remote Workers Need to do Great Work at Home

Table stakes for doing great work are the right tools and equipment. Everybody know this, it's the reason everything is provided for you in an office. Without those things, you won't be as safe, comfortable, or productive as you should be.

2020-12-03

Remote Work Let me See my Kids's First Steps

I'm so passionate about remote work because of everything it has given me. Time, opportunity, happiness and freedom. The chance to let my daughters know their father far better than they otherwise would have. Freedom to drop and pick them up from school, attend events without having to get permission from my boss.

2020-12-03

Giving Your Remote Team a Stipend for Set up at Home is Incredibly Dangerous

Not so fast The danger here is that workers do not buy the right equipment. The outcome is incredibly simple: injuries, lower productivity, and a terrible experience.

2020-12-03

Designing a Great Place to Work for Everyone

Be the best workplace on the planet That is our most important value; our stake in the ground. Everything else falls beneath that banner.

2020-12-03

Every Company Needs a Disaster Continuity Plan that Includes Remote Work Now

Companies who can't operate remotely are in trouble Covid-19 has highlighted the lack of capacity most companies have for remote work. This will be viewed as an existential threat to businesses and every board will push their companies towards developing a strategy to cope with any future situation immediately.

2020-12-03

Companies That Go Back to the Office Full-Time Will Be Replaced by Every Company Who Doesn't

Companies who adopted technology 20 years ago replaced every company that didn’t. Companies that adopt remote working will replace every company that doesn’t. The reason is incredibly simple: talent and efficiency.

2020-12-03

65 Predictions About the Future of Life and Work

The 2020s are the Remote Work decade. Remote work has the potential to be the biggest quality of life upgrade in work history. A few predictions of what is likely to emerge

2020-12-03

The Office is Dead – Long Live Remote Working

The office is dead. I realize that may not be immediately apparent but it's indisputable. The 2008 financial collapse killed the vanity office and marked the rise of co-working spaces.

2020-07-01

The Full-Stack Solution your Team Needs to Go Remote Easily

From the moment I picked up Jason Fried’s book ReWork I was hooked. Much like reading Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin whitepaper.

2020-06-01

The Remote Work Manifesto – How to Build a Culture & Dominate this Decade

Remote work is the biggest workplace revolution in history. It's the most important strategic decision companies will make this decade as it will allow them to become more efficient. The below are not a set of commandments. It's a starting point that will be improved as remote work grows:

2020-04-04

Against the Herd with Chase Warrington (Head of Remote, Doist.com)

Join us on this episode of Against the Herd, where we chat with Chase Warrington, Head of Remote at Doist.

July 4, 2024

Against the Herd with Saket Srivastava (CIO at Asana)

June 4, 2025

Against the Herd with Denise Brouder

Denise Brouder delves into the transformation of work and life in the digital age. Discussing empathy, the value of human touch points, and our role in shaping the future, Brouder offers insightful perspectives. Dive deep into the balance between flexibility and fulfillment. Video & transcript available.

June 4, 2025

Against the Herd with Tracy Keogh

Explore the insightful conversation between Chris Herd and Tracy Keogh as they discuss the future of remote work, the impact on cities, and the importance of work-life balance.

June 4, 2025

Against the Herd with Job - CEO of Remote.com

Join us for an insightful discussion between visionary leaders, Job van der Voort and Chris Herd. Explore the fusion of virtual reality and remote work, the expanding reach of AI, time management insights, and Job's optimal remote work setup. Discover the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in the world of work. Read the full transcript below.

June 4, 2025

Against the Herd with John Winsor

Experience a riveting conversation between tech mavens Chris Herd and John Winsor about the evolving world of work. This blog post offers a snapshot of their chat, exploring insights into distributed teams, adaptability, and the quest to find the sweet spot in a dynamic business environment. Dive in to tap into their wisdom and perspective.

June 4, 2025

Against the Herd With Steve Todd

Join Chris Herd and Steve Todd in this engaging conversation on the future of workspaces. From the impact of the pandemic on real estate to the role of technology in shaping the future of work, they dive into the challenges of staying relevant in a constantly changing world. Tune in as they explore the shift towards a hybrid work model and offer valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of work.

June 12, 2025

Against the Herd with Allison Baum Gates

Dive into the insights shared by Chris Herd and Allison Baum Gates on the future of work. Explore the intersection of generational differences and technology, the evolution of communication, and the rise of visual platforms. Learn about the importance of founder-market fit in entrepreneurship. This discussion paints a vivid picture of the dynamic world of work.

June 4, 2025