Sometimes, purchasing IT hardware can be a bit tricky. There is a lot to take into account and if technology isn’t really your thing, the whole process can seem like a bit of a minefield.

So to give you a hand, here’s axon IT’s Top 5 Things to Consider when Purchasing IT Hardware….

 1.    Implement an IT budget

It is surprising how many businesses work on a “when it’s broke I’ll replace it” philosophy and have no IT budget in place. Sadly, this approach can prove costly with unexpected bills cropping up and no funds to cover them. It can also result in a loss of productivity with staff left waiting days for new equipment to arrive so that they can continue with their jobs. It is essential to plan for an ongoing IT spend, setting money aside as you go along and being prepared for the fact that you WILL have to spend money to maintain an effective and working IT infrastructure.

 2.    Ensure your IT meets your business needs

Ensure the business need, drives the IT need. If you’re IT dependant you’ll need to have sound budget planning in place to meet these needs, whereas if your business can operate with minimal IT requirements, you should carefully examine your IT expenditure. You can easily waste money on technology without realising. Ensure you seek professional advice to that it is fit for purpose. As a side note Microsoft stated recently that the second highest activity for a computer after email usage was it sitting idle!

 3.    Consider outsourced IT

Outsourcing will cut down on staffing costs while maintaining skill levels. Most SMEs either can’t afford dedicated in-house IT staff, or at best have a single member of staff who is normally underutilised, under skilled and not exposed to the diversity of IT systems available. If externally monitored and maintained, IT networks will run reliably with minimal human interference and by outsourcing to a good IT support company, you have access to a team of qualified engineers with skill ranging across a whole host of areas.

 4.    Finance IT

Financing IT is no different to financing cars or sofas, and all the same choices are there. Delayed payment, buy now pay in 12 months – just the same as your sofa adverts on TV. You can also finance a complete package. This means you buy IT hardware, engineering time, project management and ongoing support for the entire solution, including the end users, all on tick. Basically, everything is covered in one monthly cost over a 3-5 year period. Should you wish to add to your system, then the term extends to cover the change, with the monthly cost remaining unchanged.

 5.    Keep up to date

IT is changing all the time. So it’s important that you keep up to date with emerging technologies to make sure you’re getting the most effective solution for your business. Virtualisation, cloud computing, hosted telephony for example, could all potentially benefit your business through lower maintenance, reduced capital cost, less power consumption etc. resulting in cost savings and positive eco benefits. There are always new ideas in the pipeline so try and keep your ear to the ground. It could make a difference to productivity or allow you to offer something your competitors can’t. If you don’t know where to start then find a reputable technology company who should easily be able to advise you on what’s new or in the pipeline.