Investing in new technology may seem costly, which is why a number of businesses choose to use their legacy technology longer than they should. In this article, we’ll be exploring the consequences of relying on outdated technology and how failing to upgrade could mean you are paying the price.
Technology is always evolving with new advancements making it more efficient and powerful. With technology evolving so quickly, many businesses may struggle to keep up and instead remain reliant on their legacy systems.
Updating outdated technology can be an investment (in time and money) and many businesses put it off. Here are a number of reasons why:
- Higher costs – updating and replacing old technology requires financial investment.
- Perceived loss of productivity – updating hardware/software or replacing devices takes time. The team will also need to be brought up to speed with new technology.
- If it works, don’t change it – if old technology seems to be working correctly, many business owners opt not to replace it until it’s broken in an attempt to save money.
- Inconvenience – it can be a real pain changing PCs, especially if the one you have is set up just the way you want it and you don’t want anything to change.
Adopting newer technology is essential for business and commercial success due to the increased efficiency of systems, the productivity of employees and security. Businesses should look beyond immediate effects and invest in the long-term, as there are many other issues that can arise as a consequence of using old technologies…
5 reasons why using old technology is costing your business:
1. Reduced productivity
Old technology runs slower, takes longer to execute tasks and requires time-consuming maintenance, patches and updates. If your technology is not up-to-date and lacks speed, it will be unable to fulfil the needs of your business and customers. Microsoft estimates that a PC that is more than 4 years old is 2.7 times more likely to be repaired, resulting in 112 hours of productive time lost.
With this in mind, there’s no surprise that outdated technology not only has a significant impact on productivity but also employee morale as employees become frustrated with simple tasks taking longer than necessary.
Updating your technology is essential to improve productivity and employee retention. Whilst updating technology is a financial investment, it’s also an investment in your employees. A happy workforce, with engaged employees are more invested in their work, and are more likely to drive business success.
2. Security risks
Businesses that use outdated technology increase their risk of a cyber attack or breach, due to older systems being an easier gateway for cyber criminals, by not having the latest security features.
Hackers are able to find vulnerabilities in older systems that have not been updated with security patches or software updates. Modern PCs often include advanced security architecture and features that older machines don’t have.
You should also aim to upgrade any end-of-life systems you may be running before they stop receiving updates. For example, Windows Server 2012 is due to stop receiving critical patches and security updates from 10th October, 2023 so if you’re still running this server version then it’s time to think about upgrading now.
3. Increased downtime
Older technology is prone to experience errors or may even completely break beyond repair which increases periods of downtime. When a computer breaks, it can take hours or even days to fix the damaged parts. The risk of data loss also increases.
Downtime caused by technology can strike at the most inconvenient times and can significantly affect critical business processes.
Imagine it’s 4pm on a Friday afternoon and you are about the run payroll for the whole company. Your PC has been displaying signs of issues for several weeks now, but due to time constraints, you’ve reluctantly chosen to overlook the warning signals, hoping they would resolve themselves. Your PC grinds to a halt at the worst possible time and now your team might not get paid on time – your worst nightmare!
4. Higher costs
It’s inevitable that with prolonged use, technology will start to get slower, break down or fail. Broken devices can sometimes be difficult to repair or replace which can often result in high costs. As well as being 2.7 times more likely to break, a PC that is more than 4 years old is said to cost $2,900 according to Microsoft, which is enough to replace it with two or more newer models.
Old systems typically don’t have the latest modern power-saving technology of newer equipment, potentially hindering your efforts if you’re trying to reduce energy costs within your business. By investing in newer devices, you could potentially make major energy savings.
As well as being more energy-efficient, newer computers have a smaller carbon footprint, aligning with many companies’ goals of becoming more sustainable and environmentally responsible.
Although investing in newer technology may initially require a significant investment, the long-term maintenance and running costs of using outdated technology will only become more expensive over time.
5. Compatibility problems
When new software versions are introduced, they often demand more powerful hardware specifications compared to previous versions. If users don’t upgrade their hardware accordingly, they may encounter difficulties running the latest software correctly or even fail to run it all together.
Compatibility problems can restrict your company by prohibiting employees from fully utilizing the most up-to-date technology, which can be a disadvantage when compared to businesses that can use the newest advances in technology.
When should I upgrade my technology?
It is recommended by Microsoft to replace PCs when they are no more than 4 years old, as this is when they start to become more costly to maintain than to replace.
When purchasing technology, it is always recommended to invest in a warranty to ensure you are covered for any potential issues with your device right from the start. However, once your warranty expires, you may want to consider upgrading your device as it can lead to long-term cost savings.
How easy is it to upgrade?
At Adaptive Information Systems, we make it much easier to upgrade outdated technology. Here’s how we can help:
- We back up your data and build your new laptop to ensure it is set up exactly the way you prefer.
- We run tests on your new PC assessing its performance, functionality and hardware, saving you the time and effort.
- We are there on site or on the end of the phone if you ever need support.
- We can take away your old device and wipe it clean ensuring all personal and sensitive data is permanently removed.
If your business can’t afford to upgrade right now, or you can’t afford the disruption, there are many measures you can put in place to best protect your current devices:
- Performing extra back up cycles – protects against data loss caused by hardware failures and provides an extra layer of data redundancy if one backup fails or becomes corrupted.
- Buy a spare or two to keep on site – having a spare laptop on-site eliminates the need to wait for a new one to be purchased or delivered, also minimizing downtime which could cost your business.
- Buy extended warranty – prolongs the standard warranty period provided by the manufacturer, meaning you have an extended timeframe during which you’ll be covered for repairs or a replacement.
If you are concerned about the initial upfront cost of upgrading, you may be able to trade in your existing technology to be offset against the cost of a new purchase. Many manufacturers offer trade in programs where you can trade in your old PC in exchange for a discount towards the purchase of a new PC. This all depends on several factors including the brand, model, age, and condition of the PC.
Take the next step – speak to us today!
Take the first step towards a transformative business decision. Contact us today for a personalized review of whether it’s time for you to upgrade or extend the life of your current technology.