Are you hesitating to replace or upgrade your old computers, hardware, and software? Think twice, sometimes saving a little at the moment can cost you a lot more later. That’s why— 55% of employees encounter problems related to their IT equipment. This was revealed by a recent study conducted among executives, whose daily productivity depends in particular on the ability of their computers to keep up.
Although computer hardware and software are an integral part of the daily life of many professionals, its modernization is not always seen as a necessity or in any case, not as a priority in business. This is all the more true for small or medium-sized businesses, whose budget is limited. Very often, bosses will prefer to invest in technologies that will directly bring them value and streamline their processes. For example, using a Transport Management System can help automate orders and provide route optimization for the drivers, making their job easier by saving them time.
Although it is understandable, this short-term reasoning involves risks that should not be overlooked.
Why upgrade your aging computer hardware and software?
Respond to new business challenges, avoid breakdowns, improve your protection against cyber threats, and boost the productivity and satisfaction of your employees. There are plenty of reasons to consider equipment loans so that you can modernize your IT equipment including business hardware and software.
Respond to ever-changing needs
Technology trends change frequently. So, working with hardware that’s five or six years old or older hurts your competitive advantage. Investing in new equipment including business hardware and software allows your business to be more agile and responsive to changing needs. It will also allow you to better respond to the changing preferences and requirements of customers and end users.
The example of the servers on which your business services or applications are based is particularly telling to upgrade. Hence, they cause in particular.
- Delays, translate into less responsiveness and a poor experience for the end user.
- Compatibility issues or updates with certain software.
- Greater exposure to attacks from cybercriminals, caused by security flaws and vulnerabilities in the software environment.
- In the worst case, crashes, with the potential loss of all or part of the data, are a situation that is all the more serious if you have failed to back up your data.
- Up-to-date equipment also makes it possible to reach new customers and markets as well as to innovate with new products and services.
Increase efficiency and productivity
Investing in IT equipment that includes business hardware and software allows employees to work faster and reduce manual and repetitive tasks can increase efficiency and overall productivity. The same goes for any new equipment that allows you to do more multitasking, for example, better, faster, and safer.
Not to mention that recent hardware and software updates significantly reduce maintenance while involving less use of resources and less human interaction. It is important to note that these productivity and efficiency gains will lead to significant cost savings in the long term, especially within HR management. New HR software can help the whole company run more efficiently, so it’s worth looking at the best HR software comparisons to find out which would make the most difference.
Saves money
It’s a proven fact that old PCs cost more to repair than to replace or upgrade! A global survey of 700 small businesses revealed the true cost of fixing an outdated computer. The bill is usually equal to or greater than the purchase price of a new device.
The study further explains the repair calculations. Small businesses spend an average of $427 on each computer 4 years and older, which is 1.3 times more than the cost to repair a new PC. Also, the cost of updating an old PC is 1.6 times higher.
Downtime costs also increase with older computers because they have more problems, both in hardware and software. Many 4-year-old computers no longer have the specifications required for the latest software, which can cause conflicts and put them out of service. Computers over 4 years old also have twice as much downtime as those 3 years old. This means more business interruptions that impact your business operating budget.
Improve cybersecurity
We have already said it but it is important to repeat: Cyber threats are exploding and small and medium-sized businesses, less well armed than large companies, are prime targets for hackers. Precisely, user terminals are the No. 1 entry point for cybercriminals. Logically, older computers are more susceptible to data breaches and malware infections.
This is largely due to the fact that many of them are hitting an upgrade hurdle, either at the OS or software level. They age without having the necessary specifications to support an update, which makes the ip address particularly vulnerable to hackers and malware.
Older computers also have a higher rate of data loss, with owners of computers over 4 years old experiencing 3 times more data loss than owners of computers under 3 years old. As PCs age, they often begin to experience hard drive issues that can lead to crashes. In summary, the older the computer hardware and software, the more it is exposed to the risk of breakdowns and attacks.
Boost employee satisfaction
Talent retention is crucial in some industries. And even when this is not the case, providing the right tools to enable your employees to perform well should be a matter of course. They will allow them to work better and faster while providing them with a better working pleasure. High-performance equipment will also contribute to their feeling of being well regarded by their employer, which will influence their involvement or their decision to remain in the company.
The statistics of the study cited above are quite revealing of this observation. Last but not least, good IT equipment including business hardware and software will generally offer more flexibility.
To sum up…
However, the mistake of some companies is to keep a server for too long. While old hardware or software may seem like it could still work for quite a while, it is often in the company’s best interest to invest in new, more efficient hardware beyond a certain time.
While it may seem more economical to continue using an existing server, it usually isn’t. Talk to the experts to get IT Support Services from Rodin, they know how the latest server, software, and hardware technologies can improve productivity and adapt to changing business needs. If your old server has reached its limits, it’s time to move on and renew your software and hardware.
Do not wait until you are at an impasse to decide to invest in modern equipment or business hardware and software.
