Just like a new car, brand new IT equipment can draw you in with all of its features, bells and whistles. There is an asset life cycle on all equipment and perhaps you feel yours has reached its end point. But before you go out and buy new equipment or custom software for you and your workers, first sit down and thoroughly review what you need. This prevents you from investing in the wrong equipment.
DETERMINE WHAT YOU NEED
Simply looking at how old your equipment is doesn’t tell the full story, nor can it be the deciding factor when determining if new items are needed. Age does play a big part, but so do a lot of other aspects.
Sit down and evaluate your business from top to bottom. Is your staff complaining about a certain piece of equipment? Are you constantly sending your server to be repaired? Is your printing station bulky and cumbersome? You will soon be able to separate the important upgrades from the luxury upgrades when you evaluate your business in this fashion.
OPERATING SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE CAPABILITY
If your computers are running slow, this can indicate that your operating system and software is too advanced for your processor. Processor speeds are always changing and improving so even a one or two year old computer will be much slower than a brand new one.
If you’re eyeing a new software program that will greatly improve the way your company runs, there could be a compatibility problem when you run it on an older computer. You’ll want to carefully examine the program requirements and see if your equipment can handle it.
LED and LCD
For those that are working in the design or graphics industry, the need for a large high quality LED and LCD is a priority. LED and LCD, just like computers, are constantly improving in quality and size, as well as graphics and and function quality. So if you need LED and LCD that have full HD or even 3D capabilities, you know where you money will be best spent.
RAM REQUIREMENTS
Sometimes all you need to upgrade is your computer’s RAM. Random Access Memory (RAM) enables you to run multiple programs at the same time. If you work in 3D animation or heavy duty video editing, you will need huge amounts of RAM, around 16GB worth. For most other industries that only need to use Photoshop or word processing programs, 2-8GB of RAM is more than enough.
HIRE ANÂ IT CONSULTANCYÂ FIRM
An IT consultant is a professional who can look at your current IT infrastructure with a discerning eye. They will know exactly what needs to be updated, and what can last a few more years. Better still, they will be able to recommend equipment that is best suited to your industry or sector.
While it’s easy to make a number of big purchases when it comes to IT equipment, taking your time and really reviewing what you currently have will ensure that you spend your money wisely.
