IT expenses can often be a drain on the budget of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For this reason, it is often tempting to invest in cheaper components with lower quality standards in order to save money and reduce outgoings. However, while this approach may work in some cases, it is often counterproductive as cheaper components are more prone to failure. This can waste time and effort as well as ultimately leading to higher costs. Three of the areas where it is most important to use high-quality components are:
Replacement Parts for Computers
If a computer develops a fault, it is usually both cheaper and easier to repair it than to have it replaced. However, the temptation is to keep the cost even lower by going for the cheapest and most basic components on the market. This is a bad idea for several reasons. Firstly, the computer is more likely to develop the same fault. Some components are unlikely to go wrong, but the fact you need to replace it shows that this probably doesn’t apply in your case. In some cases, a computer’s internal layout will make certain components especially likely to go wrong, for example because they experience a lot of heat. In this case, it is important to replace any parts that go wrong with high-quality, resilient components. Furthermore, a cheaper component might not give the level of performance needed by your business.
External Storage Media
It’s not just specialist areas such as internal parts where quality is important. It is also vital to choose good quality when it comes to external storage media. Cheaper storage media are more likely to go wrong and lose data. No matter how diligently you back up important files and vital business information, it will do you no good if you find that the media you stored that backup on has gone wrong. Archived data is similarly vulnerable. Even with high-quality storage media, it is usually recommended to take precautions. Cheap storage media are simply not worth the risk.
Cables and Networking
In order to keep running smoothly, most businesses require a fast, reliable office network. If this goes wrong, it can create all sorts of problems and seriously harm productivity. Wired networks tend to be faster and more reliable than wireless ones, as well as more practical for offices where most computers stay put on a desk. However, even these are not infallible. If you rely on fairly complex ethernet cable assemblies, searching for a faulty component can be like checking every bulb on a set of cheap Christmas tree lights to find which one has gone wrong. High-quality components can usually avoid this problem.
Ultimately, there are many areas where investing in high-quality parts and components can save both trouble and money further down the line. Reliable parts are less likely to go wrong. This not only saves the time and money spent replacing them, but enables your business to carry on uninterrupted and maintain maximum productivity.