How often does your business buy new computers? When you do buy new computers, do you replace them all at once? Do you just replace the ones that don’t work right now? What do you do with the old computers? Do you throw them out? Do they get rotated down to other users? Does that mean that only your Management Team gets new computers while the other works have to use hand-me-downs? I’m certainly not the end all authority on this topic, but I’ve seen how enough companies handle computer replacements to have a few ideas of my own.
Three Year Rotation
For the past 7 years and two places of employment I’ve been a Dell Reseller. Dell, and most likely other hardware vendors, have these great add-ons that can be purchased with your computer. They’re called warranties. I’ll wait for the oohs and ahhs to die down before I continue. I’ve always been a proponent of the Three Year Warranty, mainly because it builds an End-of-Life date into a computer whether the computer dies or not. Computers are like everything else electronic in the world today, as soon as you buy it there is something better out there. Most techs will agree that a computer is obsolete after 3 years or at most 4 years. Google “Average Computer Life” and see what they say, or click here, I did it for you. So, here’s what you do. Every three years, after your warranty expires…buy a new computer. It’s that simple and it keeps you technologically relevant.
Slow and Steady
“Wait,” you’ll say to me, “If I replace all of my computers every three years then I’ll have to budget thousands of dollars. It doesn’t make sense.” Then don’t replace them all every three years. If you have 10 computers, don’t plan on spending anywhere from $9000 to $15000 on new computers every third year, you won’t stick to it. Plan on spending $3000 to $5000 every year and replace 1/3 of your computers each year. If you have a bad year then Dell, and most likely other hardware vendors, will allow you to extend your warranty out to 4 or even 5 years. Take this year off and replace your oldest computers next year.
Don’t Pass Down Your Left Overs
Want to drive your employees crazy or even drive them to quit? Give them a hand-me-down computer every 12 months. They will hate you for sure! If they don’t then I’ll refund the money you paid to read this post. Constantly changing hardware on a user will be a major disruption for them and will be sure to cause some serious productivity loss. It’s even worse when their “new” hardware is really someone else’s old hardware. Not only that, but seeing you take the latest and greatest for yourself everytime is not the best way to prompt spontaneous feelings of loyalty in your employees. Set a schedule, every year the oldest computers get replaced. If you feel that you deserve something more often, then have a schedule specifically for you, but don’t make your employees suffer for it.
Like I said, I’m not the Super Guru when it comes to this, but in the end you will create a sustainable budget, you will stimulate loyalty, and you’ll stay up to date in the technology market if you go with the Three Year Rotation plan. I’ve seen it work.
How does your company handle this sort of thing? Let me know. Horror stories are encouraged!
Dennis Edmondson Jr
Computing Concepts LLC
