Why the Cheapest Technology Purchase Can Become the Most Expensive

The lowest purchase price is easy to compare. The total cost of ownership is harder.

Consider the cost of failure

If a device fails repeatedly, the business may lose staff time, productivity and customer confidence.

Consider support

A product that is difficult to configure or troubleshoot can require more professional support.

Consider lifecycle

Some equipment is inexpensive because it is designed for a shorter lifecycle or has limited support.

Consider compatibility

A cheap device that does not work well with the existing environment may require additional equipment or workarounds.

Buy for the requirement

This does not mean expensive equipment is always better. It means the purchase should be evaluated against reliability, supportability, lifecycle and the actual job it needs to perform.