It is estimated that over three trillion dollars were spent this year on all things Information Technology. Computer hardware sales make up a large part of this number. But it isn't the just the cost of the new hardware that can have the biggest impact on an IT budget, as many businesses soon find out. The larger costs come from purchasing the necessary support to keep your hardware running.
The trouble lies in the fact that much of the hardware made today is built well and designed to last for a long time. While this might sound like a good thing, it becomes an issue later on when the hardware eventually becomes outdated. Companies must then decide how to save the most money. Should you invest in brand new hardware, upgrade your current hardware even though it still meets your needs, or pay a higher price to have your outdated hardware supported.
This is a hard and often costly decision that must be made periodically to keep your systems updated and running efficiently. While there is no magic solution, you can help lessen the burden on your budget by asking yourself these questions:
1. Are there areas where I have more technical support than I actually need? If you can manage with less support then you should drop it and save the money.
2. Is my reseller charging me fair rates for support? Find out the prices you would pay if you purchased from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to know if you are over paying.
3. How long will my computer hardware be supported? It is vital that you understand the lifespan on your current equipment so that you have adequate time to prepare for each end-of-life.
4. Is there a third-party technical support provider that can give you premium support at a lower rate? It never hurts to get prices from alternative providers-it could save you big money in the long run.
5. Are my reseller's OEM incentives being passed on to me as discounts? You should always negotiate with your reseller to ensure that you are getting every possible price reduction.
Having hardware support is a necessary cost in every IT budget. Knowing what you can cut out to save some money will help decrease the burden of this growing expense.
The trouble lies in the fact that much of the hardware made today is built well and designed to last for a long time. While this might sound like a good thing, it becomes an issue later on when the hardware eventually becomes outdated. Companies must then decide how to save the most money. Should you invest in brand new hardware, upgrade your current hardware even though it still meets your needs, or pay a higher price to have your outdated hardware supported.
This is a hard and often costly decision that must be made periodically to keep your systems updated and running efficiently. While there is no magic solution, you can help lessen the burden on your budget by asking yourself these questions:
1. Are there areas where I have more technical support than I actually need? If you can manage with less support then you should drop it and save the money.
2. Is my reseller charging me fair rates for support? Find out the prices you would pay if you purchased from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to know if you are over paying.
3. How long will my computer hardware be supported? It is vital that you understand the lifespan on your current equipment so that you have adequate time to prepare for each end-of-life.
4. Is there a third-party technical support provider that can give you premium support at a lower rate? It never hurts to get prices from alternative providers-it could save you big money in the long run.
5. Are my reseller's OEM incentives being passed on to me as discounts? You should always negotiate with your reseller to ensure that you are getting every possible price reduction.
Having hardware support is a necessary cost in every IT budget. Knowing what you can cut out to save some money will help decrease the burden of this growing expense.
About the Author:
Joseph B. Kappernick specializes in helping Fortune 500 companies save money. He recommends that you visit NPI to learn more about IT cost reduction consulting. Also published at Lowering You Hardware Support Costs.
No comments:
Post a Comment