Desk outlets are devices that make connections like USB, power, and Ethernet safer and easier to access. You don’t have to worry about tripping over wires or making a mess; just plug into the desk outlet and all the cables from the unit to the power receptacle or net connection are neatly run under the desk. Nobody wants to see a bunch of people in businesswear crawling under a table looking for power and data connections; it’s downright undignified, not to mention a time-waster.