If you’ve ever seen an employee go for a cup of tea because they’re waiting for their computer to finish thinking, that cup of tea may be costing you business more than you think. As an employee, old and lagging technology is an inconvenience. As a business owner, it is a money pit. If you’re an enterprise or SMB with a fleet of devices that are well past their prime, here’s why investing in new technology is technically an intelligent financial strategy.
1. Old Computers Cost More
If your finance team baulks at the mention of IT investments including fleet computer replacement, remind them that outdated systems can be even more costly to maintain. Technology moves at an accelerated rate compared to the rest of the world, but how old is old in computer terms? Generally, computers that are older than 4 years of age will no longer be able to keep up with the sophistication of the latest software. Hardware can only be upgraded to a point before newer software is no longer compatible.
Older computers can also lapse in warranty meaning they aren’t covered if they break down. Devices out of warranty are prone to failure and the only fix is often replacement. It can take time to procure that in today’s chip shortage landscape and it can be as long as days or weeks to get whatever suitable machine is in stock. Because of the urgency of a new device needed, you may find you have to invest in one that is more advanced than needed or an inferior machine.
Another cost you may not have considered is the energy efficiency of old devices. Every day, computers are being upgraded to run for longer on less energy, contributing less to your overheads. The cost of running older systems and typically bulkier systems can really add up on those power bills, and there is your corporate sustainability commitment to consider.
There’s also the issue of general maintenance and repairs. If you have an employee that is spending time spent fixing old tech and getting it to work instead of being productive, that’s costing your business. Having older tech may also deter some people from working for you. In a competitive job market, employee satisfaction and pride are important. Your employees should feel like they have the best tools for the job, so you could see additional costs from higher turnover if your team members are consistently disappointed with your level of technology.
2. Dreaded Downtime
Obviously, older technology and devices tend to run slower, take longer to perform tasks, and require much more time-consuming maintenance. This can include more patches, updates, and helpdesk calls when compared to newer counterparts. Did you know that Microsoft estimates that SMBs who use old PCs could lose up to seven days per calendar year? Every time that computer has a spinning wheel or frozen screen, or needs a visit from your managed IT provider, your company is losing revenue.
Investing in new and reliable hardware will result in less downtime, increased productivity and ensure you are less likely to lose valuable data due to a failed hard drive or serious malfunction. As much as we try and teach our employees to work on the cloud or server, sometimes company information is saved to local drives and it is important this remains accessible. No matter how well they are maintained, old computers can still be partial to complete meltdowns. If work is improperly backed-up or non-recoverable, this could equate to many hours of lost work.
3. Business Falling Behind
Technology is absolutely critical when it comes to enabling business growth and expansion. Old technology and sluggish computers inhibit opportunity through IT advancement. You don’t need to spend an absolute fortune on the latest whiz-bang cutting-edge software and just-released Apple MacBooks, but you should be looking to improve your business through technology. This can mean replacing dated hardware as well as implementing IT strategies that can facilitate expansion.
This could include migrating to a cloud-based operation to enable smoother communications between remote teams. This is essential if you want to genuinely offer a hybrid working environment that will attract and retain staff. You may also benefit from the introduction of applications that can be tailored to automate processes that were previously time-consuming. If you’re not sure where to invest in technology to grow your business, your managed IT provider can offer you a strategic roadmap to help you drive positive change.
4. Sloppy Security
Older technology is less sophisticated and more vulnerable when it comes to cybersecurity. The latest research shows that over 10,000 new malware threats are discovered each hour. If you have holes in your security network, you are more susceptible to a data breach or cyber incident. If your cybersecurity isn’t up to date, you run a very serious risk of exposing confidential business information, having your systems hacked and frozen, or being held to ransom by a cybercriminal. Because older hardware eventually becomes incompatible with newer software, dated devices cannot keep up with the level of security needed to defend against ever-escalating cybersecurity threats.
In most workplaces, older computers accumulate a lot of applications, some of which may not have been approved or deployed by your IT administrators. Some of these may contain malware, or make these older systems vulnerable to attacks. Instead of rushing out and buying a set of new computers, work with your managed IT provider to develop a custom solution. Then, you can get an idea of the investment needed that will include an ongoing maintenance plan with regular audits, scans and check-ups for cybersecurity longevity.
5. Unhappy Customers
Of course, dated technology has a negative impact on your staff, but the flow-on effect means your customers and clients may feel the impact. Because dated devices are slower to respond, your staff may have trouble meeting customer demands. If you’ve ever been frustrated at a counter where a POS system is slow to respond, imagine how your customers feel when they’re left waiting to get what they need because your technology is unreliable. Because it is likely your staff will get annoyed at malfunctions that hinder their performance, customers may also pick up on this frustration. Overall, dated technology and old systems result in negative customer service experiences which could ultimately result in lost clientele. Ensuring your business technology is updated and maintained is a necessary investment with a positive return.
Upgrade with Evologic
If you need hardware or software upgrades, ask your Evologic sales team for a consultation on devising a custom solution that delivers on your IT investment. Email sales@evologic.com.au or call 03 5222 6677.
