Whether your business is growing or needs a computer upgrade, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices in today’s marketplace. Because many small businesses are budget-conscious, you might think you’re saving money by opting for the least expensive PCs on the market – designed for the general consumer – and/or by waiting to upgrade as long as possible.
Here's why both those approaches could end up costing more.
Time Is Money
Most people agree that the longer it takes to accomplish something, the more expensive it is for your business. For this reason, both newer computers and PCs designed for business can save you and your employees time, especially when completing complex tasks or using several applications at once.
Small business owners surveyed in one study estimated that computers older than five years made their employees 29% less productive.
Small business owners surveyed in one study estimated that computers older than five years made their employees 29% less productive. Businesses need a newer PC with the ability to use several open applications simultaneously, hour after hour, every day. Depending on your business, you and your employees may need to handle complex tasks, from graphics and video editing to data-heavy spreadsheets and advanced analytics.
For the power and speed to manage complicated tasks, computers built for business will work more efficiently, because they often have more random-access memory and more powerful processors. Business PCs offering a range of powerful CPUs plus capacity for more RAM are better equipped to handle a wide range of business tasks than consumer models.
Cybersecurity Is Essential
Now more than ever, it’s crucial to keep your data secure, especially sensitive customer information that they rely on you to safeguard. To keep data secure, businesses need the latest security features designed specifically for business purposes. Today’s business-class laptops often come with built-in security features, such as fingerprint readers. Many PCs built for business also ship with Windows Information Protection, which helps protect PCs against potential data leaks.
Versatility Is Key
While consumer PCs may offer cost savings, business PCs are far more varied and adaptable. There are many more configurations and forms within each model line to choose from, so you can select what works best for your business needs, employees and space limitations.
Your business may prefer a full-sized tower with easy access to add or swap out components like more memory or storage, or upgraded graphics cards or additional ports, as necessary. Or you might need mini PCs that can hide behind your monitor. For mobility and ease of use, your business might prefer traditional laptops, or a 2-in-1 option that combines qualities of a laptop and a tablet.
Business Pcs Are More Reliable
From the materials they're made from to how they're built, business PCs are designed and tested to handle sustained operation and constant use. Modern PCs with Windows 10 Pro are designed to be reliable for business uses and will likely last longer and handle more consistent usage than the average consumer market PC. Because PCs built for business are durable, they also typically offer longer warranties than their consumer counterparts, along with prioritized service.
Business PCs Are Designed and Tested To Handle Sustained Operation And Constant Use.
While your initial outlay may be more for business PCs, it's likely that their better reliability and higher performance could result in a greater return on investment over their lifetime than a PC designed for the general consumer.