If you’re currently trying to upgrade your tech equipment, you know that finding the right solutions has become extremely difficult, if not impossible. COVID-19 and the ongoing situation in Ukraine have resulted in a shortage of server components, including processors and memory chips. Data from Gartner indicates that global supply chain issues have driven server lead times to 100 days and longer.
IT Support Services
Whether you’re looking to prolong the life of your existing equipment or are determined to upgrade your assets, there are several ways you can make the most out of the situation. Here’s what to know about maintaining and upgrading your equipment if you cannot find immediate solutions.
When to Consider Delaying a Tech Upgrade
Before panicking, you should check to ensure you need to replace your equipment. Some companies upgrade according to a regular schedule, but this may not make sense for your business, especially during a supply chain crisis. Test your equipment to see whether you need to decommission your assets or breathe new life into them. As the adage goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
When assessing old equipment, address your infrastructure needs, consider any coverage gaps, and determine the extent to which you can rely on your equipment in the near term. Just because things are working well at the moment doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t encounter trouble down the road, so it’s essential to think about the overall longevity of your tech.
Benefits of Prolonging the Life of Existing Tech
You can get more out of your old equipment by delaying upgrading as long as possible while saving on purchase and installation costs. Here are a few reasons to avoid jumping the gun on new equipment.
Cost savings
Purchasing new server hardware is often more expensive than extending the life of your existing assets. We see customers saving an average of 50% on new maintenance contracts
Time savings
The process of installing new storage hardware can indeed be time-intensive. If you’re finding it challenging to carve out the necessary time to purchase and integrate this new tech, consider it a clear indicator that perhaps now isn’t the optimal moment for an upgrade. Take a step back, reassess your priorities, and ensure that when you do make the leap, it’s with full confidence and readiness.
Reduced risk
While purchasing new tech can be exciting, preparing IT assets for transition comes with its fair share of troubles. It’s often best to stick with existing equipment since there is a learning curve with new hardware/software and it’s mandatory to ensure the hardware is integrated properly with the existing on-prem equipment.
Examining Your IT Hardware Options
Extending the life of existing infrastructure is a great way to survive the supply chain crisis, but there are plenty of reasons you might still need to decommission and replace your existing equipment. Whether your assets are in the early stages of failure or you’ve determined that the continued use of your tech isn’t worth the risk, it’s crucial to have a plan to minimize lead time and quickly locate the hardware you need.
OSI sells OEM-agnostic, independent IT hardware, like servers, storage, networking, and optics to those who want to take the leap and replace their old IT equipment. By purchasing through OSI, you can get 80% quicker lead times than OEMs and can save up to 90% over OEM channel pricing. What’s more, all products sold by OSI are backed by a warranty and support options.
Contact OSI for Your Server Hardware Support
We stand apart by offering you the opportunity to expedite your solution discovery process while simultaneously extending the lifespan of your equipment through our groundbreaking Systain maintenance solution. Elevate your operational efficiency and minimize downtime with our tailored third-party maintenance support, meticulously crafted to address your individual requirements. Choose OSI Global for innovative solutions that empower your business to thrive.
Reach out today to learn more about how OSI can help you extend the life of your existing tech or get started with new hardware!
Sources: Gartner, “Quick Answer: What Are My Options for Dealing with Long Lead Times on Server Equipment?”, Tony Harvey, Jason Donham, Jeffrey Hewitt, 12 April 2022. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.