CHOOSING THE RIGHT TECH HARDWARE FOR YOUR SME

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TECH HARDWARE FOR YOUR SME

Running a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) is a challenge in any environment. You have to wear many hats, as you work hard to grow your business. As an SME leader, one critical area to consider is your tech hardware. Ensuring it not only helps you grow, but remains fit for purpose as you grow. In this blog, we explore five factors to think about when building your SME tech infrastructure.

1. Functionality

Identifying what you need your IT hardware to achieve will assist you in developing your procurement list. Do you need laptops or desktop workstations, or a combination of both based on team member needs? Deciding whether to purchase iOS or Microsoft-based products for your team is an important step, as supporting systems are not generally set up to function with a combination of the two. You will also need to consider connectivity, and additional hardware needs. These may include VOIP phones, docking stations, monitors, mice and keyboards.

Considering security functionality is also important. Putting in place secure data management systems, including the use of servers, external hard drives and cloud services, will not only increase efficiency, but also help avoid potentially damaging data breaches, should a device be lost, or accessed, with sensitive data on the hard drive.

Determining what server capacity your databases, programmes and email systems require today, as well as what they would require to support your future growth plans, should ensure the specification is high enough to avoid needing to replace or upgrade your system too quickly.

2. Mobility

With more teams working remotely, staying in touch by phone, email, or other online collaboration tools, as well as allowing remote access to systems and files, ensures your team can work effectively, even when they are out of the office. This isn’t only relevant for outside the office, with open plans offices it has become the norm to hot desk, and to conduct meetings in conference rooms, or breakout areas. Ensuring wireless connectivity for equipment, whenever, and wherever, your team need to work, increases productivity and reduces frustration.

3. Compatibility

Certain decisions will cause obvious compatibility issues, for instance, adding Apple Macs to an existing Windows based computer system, and wired items may need adapters to be able to connect to alternative devices. Other compatibility issues may need more investigation, including software compatibility. When Microsoft announced they would end support for Windows 7, including updates and security patches, many production systems were left vulnerable to malware and viruses. Upgrading this equipment to be able to run Windows 10, as well as the support systems and bespoke business programmes built on the legacy operating system, required a significant invest by affected business.

4. Budget

Before considering buying equipment for your business, it is useful to set a budget. Determining which items you want to invest in, for example desktops which need to efficiently run multiple business programmes simultaneously, versus monitors and peripherals, where you may be able to save budget. Your particular needs will depend on your type of business. For a design or precision engineering business, both the computer performance and monitor may be critical for colour correct, detailed design work. Printers also come with a wide offering and price range to match.

While you can buy products out right, many businesses choose to spread the cost, and manage upgrade cycles, through leasing contracts, also known as tech-as-a-service plans. These are available to businesses of all sizes, and can be added to over time, as needs change. If budgets are tight, but you need to upgrade, high quality refurbished equipment offers a cost-effective alternative to buying brand new.   

5. Tech Lifecycle

There will come a time when you want to upgrade your hardware. This may be because you need additional functionality, or higher performance, even if the product is still in good working order. Alternatively, your hardware may have stopped working, you are struggling to find essential replacement parts, or it has become vulnerable to malware, as the model is no longer supported with updates. Data security and waste regulations mean effectively managing the end of life process, including data erasure and recycling of IT equipment, needs to be an integral part of your IT infrastructure management process.

How can we help your business? 

Technical Reality is a leading tech hardware supplier to small and medium-sized businesses, providing solutions at all stages of the tech lifecycle: new and refurbished IT; Tech-as-a-Service contracts; extended warranty packages and fully compliant IT equipment recycling

We offer over 50,000 new and refurbished IT hardware products, all available online, in stock and ready for next day delivery. If you would like to talk to us about our offers and help we can help you unlock the potential of your SME, contact us by email or call our sales team on 0800 689 0664.

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