3 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Technology Equipment for Your Small Business

Purchasing hardware for your small business can be tricky if you don’t know what you need. Before shelling out thousands of dollars on equipment, you’ll want to enlist the help of your IT provider to ensure you’re making the right purchasing decisions for your business. Here are three mistakes businesses make in buying technology hardware.

Not Including their IT Vendor in the Purchasing Process

Who knows your IT environment better than your IT partner? Managing your technology is what they do day-in and day-out. Yet many business owners sidestep their IT company, thinking they can get a better deal on equipment going straight to the source. But here’s the thing – reputable managed services providers have established, authorized relationships with equipment vendors. If there’s a problem with the equipment while it is under warranty, your IT company does the legwork to get your equipment repaired or replaced. Leaving your IT partner out of the loop could leave you fending for yourself when there’s a problem.

At MIS, we also assist with the configuration process. We perform the following tasks before you ever receive your equipment: 

  • Loading all necessary software you need to do your job
  • Installing access to the MIS Greenlight Cloud if necessary
  • Removing “bloatware” – those unnecessary factory-installed programs
  • Loading anti-virus software
  • Applying patches and installing necessary updates

Buying Consumer-grade or Refurbished Equipment

Refurbished equipment is used equipment, which means it’s already got some miles on it and will likely need to be replaced sooner rather than later. In the long run, purchasing used equipment could end up costing you more. 

Likewise, consumer-grade equipment you find at big box stores like Best Buy is meant for home users, not businesses that demand more from their technology. Retail-grade equipment often lacks the proper drivers and licensing necessary for network computing which results in increased installation and configuration costs. Our purchasing specialists are well versed in what specifications are needed to ensure all hardware works seamlessly in your network. Learn more about refurbished vs. new computers here.

Not Budgeting for Equipment Upgrades

Like perishable food items, IT equipment has a shelf life that shouldn’t be ignored. You’re not likely to become physically ill from using hardware past its life expectancy, but your business could very well suffer if a hacker uses your outdated, unpatched equipment as a means to sneak into your network. Your IT partner should be able to perform an audit showing you which hardware is due for replacement so you can budget for those items when the time comes.

For more information on ordering equipment and our process at MIS Solutions, click here.

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