​Shawn Chang is General Manager of ASUS North America, where he drives consumer and commercial business strategy in United States and Canada.gettyFor the last 20 years, the phrase “business-grade technology" has encompassed a type of device, whether it be a laptop, desktop computer or mini tower, that lived on a desk, connected to a corporate network and maybe once a year got a brief review by the IT team. This understanding and description made sense for employees working 9 to 5 in an office setting. But these days, business-grade technology, specifically for small businesses, looks a lot different. According to the Q3 2025 Flex Report, around two-thirds of U.S. companies offer some form of workplace flexibility. Whether it be a hybrid schedule or a fully remote office, flexibility is far more common among small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) than among larger enterprises. Workstations are no longer tied to desks and offices, but are mobile and constantly traveling from homes and offices to co-working spaces and airports. As a result, SMBs’ understanding of business-grade technology reflects a different reality than the one enterprises have traditionally seen. SMBs understand their business-grade technology has to be mobile yet durable, while still being powerful enough to handle the newest AI technology workloads. Built For Mobility, Movement And Durability In the traditional understanding of business grade technology, the idea of mobility has been virtually non-existent. Computers and devices were used on a desk, where they would stay for three to five years. Today, devices are largely expected to be mobile; traveling is no longer limited to sales teams and executives. Laptops and workstations are expected to move and travel with the employee, easily transported between locations, often without ever seeing the inside of a corporate office. As a result, SMBs are investing in laptops and looking for durable devices that can withstand movement and mobility. Business grade means that the device itself also has to be mobile, with extended battery life in cases where there’s limited access to outlets, better and more durable ports (for increased usage plugging devices into different external monitors and systems), lighter weight for working on the move and more efficient displays to reduce eye strain in different lighting scenarios.​As could be expected, with increased flexible workplaces and constant movement comes rougher handling and more accidental drops. The ASUS Future of SMB Report found that roughly 30% of SMB leaders say their devices are frequently dropped or roughly handled, with almost half reporting that hardware malfunctions result in frequent downtime. For small businesses, business-grade technology now comes with the expectation that these devices would be built more durably, as conditions outside of the office result in additional operational hazards. ​Even as devices are increasingly becoming mobile and thus facing more daily wear and tear, SMBs expect those same devices to last longer. This year, Gartner reported that it expects businesses will use computing devices 15% longer, delaying upgrades due to cost. For SMBs, this is especially impactful, as their devices are subjected to more daily movement between locations and environments, and they must withstand more handling. SMBs understand that business-grade technology means their devices need to be built with increased durability: features like spill-resistant keyboards, reinforced chassis and components rated for temperature and impact tolerance. These features are no longer considered upgraded features, but rather are the definition of a business-grade device because they meet the durability standards of real working conditions.Building To Be Future-Proof And AI-Ready The new definition of business-grade technology not only needs to include new physical durability standards, but it also needs to include how the devices are being used daily, specifically how they interact with and enable AI technology. On-device AI, including local models and agentic tools that run on the device itself, is increasingly becoming the standard for business devices. In fact, Gartner reports that AI PCs will account for more than half of all PC sales in 2026, including business PCs, with AI PCs to become the norm by 2029. ​AI PCs have increased processing power and redesigned thermal engineering components to handle the computing power needed for localized AI tasks. The complexity behind the processors themselves has redefined computing, adding new standards and fundamentally changing how we understand business grade.​The New Definition Of Business Grade The definition of business-grade technology has changed to describe what employees need from their hardware. For the better part of the last two decades, this has meant a reliable desk setup, but today, for small businesses, it means a portable, durable and AI-friendly command center. The small businesses that understand this will build a foundation that's ready for wherever work takes them next. ​Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?