When you’re running a business you want to get the maximum output from tools you’ve invested in. There’s a cost in upgrading to the latest laptops, tablets and other affiliated tech, but there’s also a cost in persisting with a device when it is no longer equipped to cope with your workload.
Resisting an upgrade could be costing you more in terms of efficiency and productivity than the upgrade would. You need to identify the sweet spot – the moment when you’ve got the best out of your equipment and the cost of an upgrade is justified and necessary.
The signs will be in the device itself – here are some of them:
1. Painfully Slow Operations
This is the ultimate productivity killer. Your computer can slow down gradually, so you don’t notice it until you realise starting it up is like wading through thick mud. What once was zippy and responsive is now on its last legs! You’re wasting a lot of time daily waiting for things to load, costing you in terms of efficiency. Multiply that across all the devices in your office that require upgrading, and you’re losing vital man hours every week.
2. Consistent Freezing and Crashing
Random freezing and crashing is a clear indication your device is losing the will to live. Nothing wrecks a morning’s work than staring at the spinning wheel of death – the tech equivalent of a kettle that never boils.
Freezing and crashing means your device isn’t keeping up with the demands you’re placing on it. We’ve all been there – the worst is when you have unsaved work that disappears into the cyber ether when everything crashes. Don’t subject yourself or your team to this – it proves very costly in the short and long term. Upgrade ASAP!
3. Battery Life Issues
Meetings outside the office and the popularity of remote work has led to an increased dependency on battery life. That little battery indicator on your screen can make or break your day. If your battery isn’t keeping up, it can be a huge source of anxiety and disruption to a days work.
If your device is dying in no time at all, your having to charge it multiple times a day and the battery percentage drops with minimal use, your battery has seen better days. If it gets very hot when used, and you can see visible signs of bulging or swelling, it’s becoming a safety hazard that you need to get checked out.
4. Storage Space is Tight
Those constant ‘storage full’ warnings get pretty tiresome, as does deleting photos and apps just to make space for new ones. If you’re constantly running out of space and can’t clear the clutter, your device isn’t keeping up with your needs.
Modern apps and operating systems demand more space than ever, and photos and videos on new smartphones take up a lot of space. If your device is overloaded, it’s not going to be operating at its best.
5. You’re Getting Left Behind
Are your colleagues and associates showing off new devices and tools with improved functionality? You could be at a competitive disadvantage if other businesses in your industry are embracing modern technology while you persist with clunky devices.
Being the innovator and the fast adopter of new updates and technology will help keep you at the forefront of your industry. It’ll save you a lot of frustration too!
6. Costly Repairs
Even if the repair costs are minor at first, they start to add up. Then you find yourself in a position where you could have upgraded your equipment twice over with everything you’ve spent on fixing it!
Keep an eye on your repair costs, and if they are getting out of control it’s time to upgrade to some new technology.
7. Manufacturer Support Ends
This is a big one this year, because Microsoft announced they will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. This means there will be no technical, updates or security patches available. If you want to enjoy those, you’ll need to upgrade to Windows 11.
Here’s the thing though – if you’re using outdated equipment, it might not meet the minimum specs required for Windows 11. You can either stay on the unsupported Windows 10 or upgrade your equipment and migrate to Windows 11.
Hackers love targeting outdated systems because they’re easy pickings. Without regular security updates, your banking details, personal photos, and private conversations become vulnerable. Upgrading your technology means upgrading your security.
Ready for a Fresh Start?
If you can relate to any of the above points, it’s probably time to move on from your current equipment, no matter how faithful it’s been. You’ll enjoy a smoother, less frustrating working day, plus your personal information will be more secure.
If you need help with choosing the right technology for your business, the Smile IT team is here for you! We can have a chat about your business needs and pinpoint the hardware and software that will help you leverage your technology to its max, and enjoy the resulting productivity benefits when you upgrade your work devices.
Get in touch today!
When he’s not writing tech articles or turning IT startups into established and consistent managed service providers, Peter Drummond can be found kitesurfing on the Gold Coast or hanging out with his family!