We often hear from business owners who tell us they think they are paying too much for business technology. Whether it’s laptop computers, mobile phones, software packages, or even entire server farms, there always seems to be something new to buy. And more often than not, it costs more than you really want to pay.
So how can you make decisions on these investments that will look good in hindsight? There isn’t any single catch-all answer, of course, but there is a general guideline that can prevent many of the most egregious IT purchasing errors.
When in doubt, buy the better option… even though it costs more.
That might seem counterintuitive, especially since this article is all about saving money. However, spending more for quality – whether that’s better components, more support, or just a product or app with better reviews – is usually the more cost-effective option. Yes, it means draining more out of your IT budget right now, but you could save later.
Don’t believe us? Let’s look at a few of the reasons why.
Your Tools Will Last Longer
Remember that the technology you buy for your business is a new set of tools. Those ultra-wide monitors might be more complicated than screwdrivers, but they help your team work in the same way. And just like traditional tools, you want your hardware and software to last as long as possible.
You’ll Have Fewer Headaches
It isn’t just about having technology that can be used for a long time. Quality hardware and software solutions are also more reliable. That means you’re less likely to experience issues or outages, and particularly those that take you or your employees off-line for hours at a time.
You’ll Be Less Prone to Making Snap Decisions
When you have cheap pieces of tech that don’t work the way they are supposed to, it’s easy to decide to replace them on a whim. But when you spend more for quality products, you don’t make as many rash buying decisions. Fewer impulse purchases mean lower and more consistent IT budgets.
Productivity Will Increase
All in all the benefits of having better tech add up in a big way. When you have fewer problems and make fewer changes to your IT setup, then there is less friction in your business. Productivity increases because you and your employees can concentrate on other responsibilities that are more urgent and important.
Are You Making Smart IT Buying Decisions?
Because we know it can be hard to find unbiased information on IT purchases, remember that we aren’t trying to sell you any piece of hardware or software in this article. Instead, we are just reflecting on what we have seen in our many years of service. And that leads us to a clear conclusion: we would rather have our clients buying better tech that lasts longer.
If you’re looking for commonsense advice you can use to keep your business profitable, then let us help with our virtual CIO services. Contact a member of our team today and see how easy and affordable it is to get the guidance you need.