Cam: ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ Doesn’t Compute With IT Hardware

Cam Systems has warned tyre distributors that too many businesses are taking an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to computer hardware. The company says that because the reliability and consistency of performance of equipment such as servers and desktop PCs is so good, many businesses forget the need for maintenance, upgrading or replacement.

“Servers are a good case in point,” says Steve Daly, Cam’s recently appointed commercial director. “Most hardware is supplied by Cam with a three-year on-site service support contract which provides full cover for the duration of the term. But the problem arises when the three years expires and the Server is effectively unprotected against failure or malfunction.”

According to Daly, the consequences of server failure, though rare, can be catastrophic for a business. “The server effectively controls the whole IT system so when it’s not working correctly everything else is affected; our customers are particularly sensitive to the threat that if a key piece of hardware does fail, then their customers are left waiting at point of sale bemused by the failure and the long delays it can cause.”

“In the current economic climate it might be tempting to take an ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach to IT, but in the longer term this will prove to be a flawed strategy. In tough times it is the businesses that maximise their operating efficiency that are likely to prosper at the expense of those that don’t,” said Steve Daly.