Desk and pedestal, ordered as one
Desks supplied with a pedestal or integrated storage, so the workstation and its drawers arrive as one item in one finish. Straightforward, and it removes the two mistakes people make when ordering them separately.
The two problems this solves
Height. A pedestal that is taller than the underside of the desk does not fit, and this is discovered on installation day rather than at order. Buying them together removes the question.
Finish. Ordering a desk in one finish and a pedestal in what looks like the same finish is how offices end up with two slightly different shades of oak in the same room.
Fixed or mobile
A fixed pedestal is part of the desk and adds rigidity. A mobile pedestal rolls out, which lets the desk be used for something else and lets the pedestal double as a spare seat with a cushion top.
For hot desking, mobile every time. For a permanent position with heavy filing, fixed.
If you already have desks
Buy the storage separately from pedestals and drawers, and measure the underside clearance of the desk you own before ordering.