This seems to be a common problem in all levels of business. When we replace computers all we see is expense and problems and we forget about the formula we have all heard that says we should upgrade our technology every three or four years. As we read earlier this week, we like to hang on to our property but should we be hanging onto our technology?
In the downturn lots of technical writers started to try to win favour by telling us how we could stretch the life of our technology with cheap upgrades and improvements and how if it was working it should be left alone.
I have never shared this mentality. Even in the toughest economic times as I know the value of information and speed of access to it. I also know the limitations and frustrations of upgrades and that they do not reduce wear and tear. This conversation is not really about technology it is about risk. When it is just a PC, the risk is only to the individual and to the data stored on the computer. When we are discussing server infrastructure, the risk is significantly larger.
Put you self in the shoes of one of our newer clients. Just last week when they were working on the biggest tender of their lives – if they win this one the business will expand rapidly, if they miss out they will be in decline for a while. All the tender material is in files on the aged server. With extra people working on the tender response, the load on the server became too much and the server failed. This client has been nothing short of lucky as the data has been retrieved and the tender went in this time. The tender was for a multi-million dollar development and the client has a chance of winning the job.
The IT solution required for this client is many thousands of dollars but definitely less than the one tender response might have cost them. Yet they run the risk of hardware failure every day because they have failed to invest in the solutions their business really needs to mitigate the risks of data loss.
If you work in a company where data is valuable or important and continuous access to it is vital to the success of your business it is worth looking at hardware as an insurance policy in maintaining access to your data. Good hardware helps, as does a good backup system as I discussed previously.
If your boss won’t replace your aged computers, chances are you have not truly captured the effort that is going into keeping them running or the time wasted waiting for them to work.
I can add personal experience to this as well, having just had my PC replaced today. I know I should have done it three months ago even though the old one was only two-and-a-half years old. The new one saved me at least 20 minutes today alone. I don’t know about you, but 20 minutes added to my day is very valuable, even if it just means I get to spend a little more time on my article for the week.
Time is money and good computers save time and reduce risk. If your boss does not value time or mitigate risk I suggest you harp on about how good shiny new computers will look in the office.
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James was the editor and publisher of SmartCompany and LeadingCompany for five years. He is now the Australian Financial Review‘s companies & markets editor, and a former BRW editor.
