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The international research and consulting company Gartner predicts a global increase in IT spending of 8% by 2024 to a total of 4.6 trillion euros. For many organizations,
The international research and consulting company Gartner predicts a global increase in IT spending of 8% by 2024 to a total of 4.6 trillion euros. For many organizations, 2024 is the year they will replace computer equipment purchased during the coronavirus pandemic. Gartner expects spending on electronic devices to increase by 4.8%. But is it better for a company to buy all new equipment or upgrade existing equipment?
During the Corona pandemic, almost all companies had to change quickly: working in the office gave way to working from home. This transition brought enormous pressure on companies to provide sufficient devices such as laptops and desktops and enable online environments to enable this change. Some of these devices now need to be replaced.
Evaluating these replacement options requires examining the performance needs and priorities of the organization and its users. What software and applications are used? Do they function properly or does improved equipment offer benefits? The main risk of older hardware is that the manufacturer will eventually stop supporting it. By making timely upgrades, companies can limit downtime and maximize reliability.
Of course, the need for upgrades of specific products varies by organization and depends on budget and required lifespan. Current hardware can affect performance as no one likes working with slow laptops or systems. An upgrade can solve this. Additionally, outdated hardware is not only annoying for employees, but also poses a risk to cyber threats. Regular assessment can identify cyber-sensitive areas in need of improvement.
Traditionally, companies tend to replace their equipment on a regular basis, whether it is computers, servers, smartphones or other technical devices. Fortunately, companies are increasingly recognizing the environmental impact of replacing entire systems and are instead opting to upgrade specific components such as DRAM and SSD when necessary.
Additionally, thanks to hardware and software improvements, many devices today can support advanced features, even if they are older. By upgrading instead of replacing and extending the lifespan of equipment, companies can potentially extend the technology refresh cycle by three to five years. Modernization therefore offers an economic advantage through lower costs and also has a sustainability advantage through the use of existing systems.
With the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), companies can consider investing in new hardware or scalable cloud solutions. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance and squeezing all the capacity out of the infrastructure and applications to achieve the highest possible ROI. By updating hardware, businesses can take advantage of new technologies, reach their full potential, and remain competitive in this digital landscape.
Note that an upgrade is not always enough. New technology may be required because something is not working on the older systems. An operating system that is “end-of-life” poses a major cybersecurity risk. Additionally, old hard drives with moving parts, for example, reach a point where they are good for the scrap heap. In such cases you will have to replace it.
Competition is the driving force behind business performance and increasing the upgrade budget can increase market share. However, for some organizations, replacing legacy systems immediately is not possible due to budget constraints or conflicting priorities. A gradual upgrade approach is best suited here:
For example, compared to before, we now use a lot more videos than before, which places more demands on the systems. The increasing use of AI is inevitable in the future and in turn requires even more computing power, storage and connectivity. Therefore, companies must always keep their eyes on the horizon, understand what lies ahead and base their future planning on it, without relying solely on “newer is better”.
This is a contribution from Ferdi van der Zwaag, Business Development Manager Benelux at Kingston Technology.
Source: IT Daily
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
