December 17, 2018
"I want to keep in touch with friends."
"I enjoy photo editing."
"I work from home."
"I want to play the latest games."
We all want different things from a PC. But many people struggle to relate PC specifications to their real-world needs. Faced with an overwhelming choice of configurations and options, many worry they'll make the wrong decision or get a bad deal.
UL is making it easier to buy the right PC
"Buying a PC can be daunting for some people. With UL's help, we are aiming to make it easier than ever," says Christian Hansen, communications manager at Elkjøp Nordic AS.
Elkjøp is one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in the Nordic region with 400 stores in six countries. UL is working with consumer electronics retailers, like Elkjøp, to improve the way PCs are sold online and in-store.
Elkøp, Dell, Dixons Carphone group and AGANDO are some of the retailers now using PC performance data from UL to help their customers choose the right PC for their needs.
Categorizing PCs by their capabilities
These PC retailers recognize that the sales process starts with the customer's needs. They wanted to create categories that describe different types of PC use but found it difficult to define the categories and determine which one was most appropriate for each system.
UL develops benchmarking software that tests and measures PC performance. Its PCMark 10 benchmark measures PC performance for everyday tasks and activities such as web browsing and personal productivity. 3DMark tests gaming performance while VRMark evaluates PC performance for virtual reality games and applications.
Using its comprehensive PC performance data, UL helps retailers create categories that describe PCs in terms of their capabilities rather than their specifications.
The easy way to choose a new computer
Grouping similarly performing computers into easy to understand categories helps customers choose a PC that best meets their needs and budget.
Comparing PCs within a category is now easier too. UL benchmarks produce scores that reflect performance. The higher the benchmark score, the better the PC's performance.
Benchmark scores also provide a transparent way for sales staff to recommend upgrades and alternatives. Comparing systems is as easy as comparing numbers.
For the high-value gaming PC category, retailers are using UL's performance data to show how well popular games run on each system. Gamers can buy a PC with confidence knowing that it will deliver the experience they want in the latest games.
Coming to a store near you
UL is working with PC retailers in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and the Nordic region. UL is looking to expand these programs in 2019, with the aim of making UL the most trusted source of impartial PC performance data for retailers and consumers.
To learn more, please visit the UL Benchmarks website.