IT Recycling - time to trade in and trade up?

Computer technology is moving at astronomical speed. Twenty years ago, nobody could have predicted the effect smart phones and lightweight laptops would have on how we do business. Now, as computer advances carry on surging forward, is it time to trade in and trade up your old IT equipment?

Does your IT still do its job?

The debate is a tough one. If your IT equipment is still performing efficiently and your business is growing successfully, you may be tempted to avoid trying to ‘fix what isn't broken'. If that's the case, then great - carry on as you were. But if you're starting to find that your IT is letting your business down and worse, affecting your productivity, then trading in your old PCs for more up to date models may be what you need to consider.

Replacing your entire system for newer models may not be financially viable, so upgrading may be a case of mixing and matching to what you already have. Your add-ons such as printers, copiers and keyboards may be perfectly acceptable, but if your processing power is slow or your monitors are taking up too much space, then just replacing what needs to be upgraded is the easiest way to trade up your tech.

However, before you call a skip hire company to cart away your old monitors and PC towers, remember that your old IT equipment can be recycled. This is a much better option environmentally than sending old technology to a landfill site, and there are plenty of charities and organisations desperate for working IT equipment that will be more than happy to take it off your hands. Alternatively, you can talk to your IT suppliers and find out if they do an exchange system. IT suppliers are now far more aware of the impact that just throwing old yet still working technology has on the planet. So many are now introducing schemes to recycle useable IT equipment that may not suit a business's requirements but may be perfect for a smaller company or even schools and third world countries.

Security is still important

If you are planning to recycle your old IT equipment, one thing to remember is that the information stored on your hard drive needs to be completely removed before it can be used again. Look for a company that can carry out this process on-site, so that you are sure that any sensitive company data has been completely wiped from operating systems before it leaves your premises.

An upgrade can be something as simple as adding to your computer's memory capability, or it can be a comprehensive overhaul of your entire system. How much you want to do depends on your requirements, your budget and your projected growth. If your current IT is adequate for your needs right now but may struggle to keep up with any growth within the business, then trading in your old IT for some more up to date tech could mean that your business isn't held back later for want of a small amount of expenditure now. But by recycling old technology, you may also recoup some of the original expenditure and save your company money in the long run.