If you’re in the process of setting up a new office or you need to update your current structure, you may want to get some guidance on what to purchase. These set up and transitions times can be stressful enough, you don’t want to worry about managing hardware as well. The right tech provides the best environment for your employees to do their jobs well, so take a little time to think about what you need from your tech before you slide that company credit card.
Purchasing Objectives
Considering the goals of your organization will help you decide what products to purchase or upgrade. What do you need from the technology? What support or maintenance will be required? How easy is it to perform upgrades in the future as you grow and shift? Create a plan that includes opportunities for growth so that the process is smooth from the initial purchase to many years down the road.
Technology changes rapidly, but that doesn’t mean you always need the latest and greatest. You may want to consider cutting-edge items for certain needs while opting for older models for other needs. However, you’ll want a bit of knowledge about what products work well with others and what doesn’t so that you don’t end up with products that don’t communicate effectively. As you’re shopping around, pay attention to release dates and how long something has been on the market, and try to find out when an update is set to come out. This will help you assess the advantages, price savings, new security features, and more.
One aspect of technology that is often overlooked is the need for IT support. If you are trying to save money by buying an older product, will support be difficult to find? Will it work well with the other devices in your office? Make sure what you’re buying still is supported by the manufacturer, has a warranty, and that you can get service for it if something goes wrong. Integrating a non-supported product will only turn into frustration, so be careful when shopping for bargain deals.
Another area to be careful with is reviews. Consumer reviews are a great way to learn about a product’s reliability. Try to find out whatever you can about the product and note that sometimes a product can be great in one area but lacking in another. For example, maybe you read a review that says a printer is user-friendly, quiet, and attractive, but it jams often or kicks off from wi-fi a lot. These are considerations that you can process to see if the cons are worth dealing with if you like everything else about it.
No matter what you purchase, your business’s goals need to be at the forefront. You’ll want your technology to work for what you do right now but also be adaptable for your growing business needs. Premier Computing provides expert assistance in getting your office started off right. Eliminate the headache of the IT procurement process and see what we can do for you.
