Workstation purchasing: untangling the hidden cost of ownership

As software costs continue to rise, manufacturers are looking to save money. But, looking to hardware as a source of savings may be a bad idea.

Running the wrong hardware for a particular workflow can be detrimental to business performance and your bottom line. Before avoiding a new investment in hardware, it’s essential to understand the hidden total cost of ownership.

In the manufacturing industry, hardware is the driving force behind software, yet professionals often view it as a commodity, rather than a necessity. For instance, professionals with a three-year-old workstation may try to churn out a fourth-year or purchase a new, but cheaper model. However, instead of capping their spending on a workstation at $1,000, they could purchase a $2,000 workstation that runs four times faster, benefiting them over the long term.

What it comes down to is balancing capital expenses against operational costs. Professionals concerned with initial cost must consider how the upfront investment affects their overall workflow.

The bottom line is, investing in hardware that runs faster and reduces project timescale is going to save more money. Think of it like a race team – if one team has the best driver and a brand new engine, but runs the car on an old chassis, that team won’t perform as well as the one that invested in the new chassis. For optimal performance, the team must make the proper investments in the car to keep it running.

This is the hidden cost of ownership: the impact cheaper or out-of-date equipment has on your speed and efficiency. To get the highest return on investment, professionals must know the right workstation configuration to run their user-specific applications to the max. But, when choosing the right set-up, expensive doesn’t always mean better. Every company must make the right choice to optimise their particular workflows.

The key is finding a workstation solution that matches your budget and software needs.