Guest article by Erica Volini
Enterprise functions are converging faster than ever, reshaping how work gets done. With humans and AI agents increasingly sharing the same workflows, the need for integrated platforms has never been clearer.
In this guest post, I want to explore a shift I believe will define the next decade of enterprise IT: the convergence of IT Lifecycle Management and Employee Choice - and why it’s transforming how companies operate.
The pattern behind the convergence
When Salesforce announced its move into the ITSM market at Dreamforce 2025, the message was clear: service shouldn’t be siloed. Whether it’s an employee needing a laptop or a customer needing an update, both expect the same thing: fast, frictionless outcomes.
Across the enterprise landscape, similar patterns are emerging:
- IT and Operational Technology are merging, with convergence projects projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030.
- Customer and Employee Experience are becoming inseparable.
- Physical and Cybersecurity are now two sides of the same coin.
The takeaway? Boundaries that once made sense are now barriers to progress.
Why IT Lifecycle Management and Employee Choice belong together
For years, these two domains lived apart. IT Lifecycle Management focused on control and cost optimization; Employee Choice focused on flexibility and satisfaction. But they were never opposites, they were designed to solve the same problem from different ends.
When employees choose their hardware, they’re asking for empowerment. When IT manages the lifecycle, they’re asking for efficiency and control. The convergence of these goals means one thing: lifecycle management shouldn’t restrict - it should enable.
Four ways this convergence changes everything
1. From hardware dictation to empowered selection
Smart IT lifecycle management gives employees freedom within governance. Developers need performance; designers need graphics; sales need mobility.
According to Velory's "2024's Most Popular Work Devices by Employee Profile" report, hardware preferences vary dramatically across teams - which is exactly why one-size-fits-all approaches fail.
By converging lifecycle management with employee choice, you create a curated marketplace where employees feel valued while IT maintains security standards and budget control.
2. Unified data unlocks strategic insights
When lifecycle management data integrates with MDM systems and employee preferences, you gain unprecedented visibility. You can:
- Identify hardware and software trends across departments before renewal cycles
- Optimize device lifecycles based on actual usage patterns (like monitoring memory usage to avoid unnecessary upgrades)
- Forecast needs using device lifecycle data, not guesswork
- Negotiate better supplier terms based on real demand patterns
This convergence transforms procurement from reactive purchasing to strategic planning.
3. Security meets experience without compromise
The old paradigm forced a choice: either lock down devices for security or give employees flexibility for productivity. The convergence model rejects this false choice.
By embedding security standards into employee-choice workflows ensures both compliance and satisfaction. As physical security and cybersecurity converge in response to networked devices, IT lifecycle management and employee experience must similarly unify to address modern hybrid work realities.
4. Breaking down department silos
Smart lifecycle management requires collaboration across departments:
- IT maintains security and compliance
- Finance optimizes spend and lifecycle costs through strategies like timely buyouts and take-back programs
- HR ensures employee satisfaction and onboarding
- Procurement builds strategic supplier partnerships
- Employees drive demand and provide feedback
The convergence model creates a unified platform where all stakeholders have visibility and input - eliminating the inefficiencies of siloed tools and fragmented processes.
The tech stack that makes it possible
What's enabling this convergence? The same technologies driving other IT convergences:
- AI and automation streamline approvals and predict needs.
- Cloud platforms bring unified visibility.
- Integrations connect lifecycle data with HR, Finance, and MDM systems.
- Self-service empowers employees while keeping IT in control.
This is what future-ready IT looks like.
The next frontier: When your workforce isn’t only human
The convergence of IT Lifecycle Management and employee choice raises an intriguing question for the near future: what happens when your workforce includes both humans and AI agents?
Salesforce didn't call their platform "Agentic IT Service" by accident. As AI agents become collaborators - handling support tickets, managing workflows, scheduling meetings - they'll need resources too. Who provisions an AI agent's access to systems? Who decides which tools an agent can use? When an employee requests a device, they're also requesting the AI capabilities embedded in it.
This isn't science fiction, it's the logical next step in the convergence pattern. Just as IT Lifecycle Management and employee choice are merging, so too will human workforce management and AI agent orchestration. The platforms that win will be those that can manage resources for both human employees and their AI counterparts, with the same balance of governance and flexibility.
Velory: Where IT Lifecycle management meets Employee Choice
Velory is one of the few platforms already built for this future. It bridges IT Lifecycle Management and Employee Choice through:
- Policy-based workflows and budget controls
- Integration with HR, MDM, and Finance systems
- Employee self-service within IT guardrails
- Insights that make procurement strategic, not reactive
The era of silos is ending. The future belongs to connected ecosystems that balance governance and experience, control and autonomy, efficiency and satisfaction.
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Erica Volini is a global thought leader in digital transformation and workforce strategy. With over two decades of experience advising global enterprises on technology, talent, and organizational design, she has held senior leadership roles at Deloitte and ServiceNow. This guest article was written exclusively for the Velory blog.
