Is it time to replace the office computers?
Are you experiencing low productivity across the business? Are slow computers impacting your staff performance? It’s a fact that office IT equipment doesn’t last forever. And there are tell-tale signs of a computer that’s lost optimal performance; it could fail often or be slow to start up, reboot or open applications. Working with computers at the end of their life is counter-productive. But when’s the right time to replace them?
Productivity drives change
In a recent study of 177 businesses by Gartner Research, it was discovered the average life of a desktop PC is a fraction over two years, while mobile technology lasts on average three. More than a third of those in the survey claimed improving user productivity was the key driver to replacing PC’s. Meanwhile, more than a quarter found they were spending increasingly more on support costs associated with older machines.
See an immediate return on your investment
With older PC’s, you run the risk of poor performance or PC hangs which can lead to staff becoming easily distracted. While they wait for something to load or a PC to reboot, they can be taken away from tasks for anything from a few minutes to nearly quarter of an hour. Will deadlines be met? Are clients becoming frustrated? The knock-on effect is substantial. And when you consider a fully working computer which saves an employee ten minutes a day, can save you roughly forty hours over a year, it’s clear to see how spending on new technology not only offers a substantial return on investment by eradicating downtime, but also boosts productivity, providing more efficiency in the workplace.
Why replace and not fix?
Some would argue, it’s more affordable to pay for a maintenance programme and have repair work done on office computers over replacing them. This can be true in some cases, but if PC’s are showing repeat signs of poor performance, sourcing replacements might well work out to be more cost effective. There’s other factors to consider, too.
- Newer operating systems or software versions are unlikely to be supported by older computers, so is it worth fixing something that will soon become obsolete?
- New computers don’t only have faster speeds with multiple core processors, but graphics are far superior for handling video, connectivity options are better and widescreen LCD displays make a better user experience. There’s also improved energy efficiency to be had with new technology, which will make a difference across a large office with multiple computer users.
- It’s worth considering whether your business has changed the way it uses computers since you first installed your IT equipment. It could be more demanding use of terminals, increased personnel or additional applications and software being used.
- Identifying not only the current issues with office IT equipment, but what’s best for the business is important when it comes to deciding when the time’s right to replace the office computers.
Replace with reason
We recommend replacing office computers every four years, depending on how the terminal is used, how well it has performed over time and of course, if your staff are still working efficiently. Yes, computers can last longer, but they may not be as reliable, and you will end up paying more for maintenance. It’s also advisable to have a spare computer or two in the office in case of any failure, to allow the business to continue as usual. Your biggest reminder as to whether it’s time to consider replacing any computers in the office will come from your staff. They’ll be quick to vent their frustrations when their machine is not working as quickly as it should.
We work with businesses across the North West, assisting with office computer maintenance programmes and installing new IT equipment to keep employees working efficiently. If you think your office PC’s, laptops or tablets are nor performing as well as they should, give us a call on 0161 672 2025 or contact us here.
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