Why It’s Expensive Not To Upgrade

I know of very few churches or schools in the synod that aren’t working with tight budgets and short staffs. It seems to be just the way things are these days…and perhaps has been that way for as long as many can remember. This obviously creates all kinds of tensions when budgeting time comes around or purchasing decisions need to be made – especially in the area of technology. Technology is expensive. Computers are expensive. Software is expensive. Internet connectivity is expensive. It is so even if a church or school takes advantage of non-profit or educational discounts. As a result many organizations delay or put off tech purchases year after year until the equipment either stops working or the software will no longer run on anything considered “current” hardware. What many don’t realize is there are costs associated with that strategy.

Delaying hardware purchases to upgrade or keep equipment current will increase maintenance costs (both in part replacement and time spent). Any person responsible for technology upkeep in your organization can tell you stories of hours or days spent trying to prop up old equipment to squeeze a few more months or years out of computer hardware. The effort is commendable, but understand that time spent in those efforts is time not spent in the other, perhaps primary, responsibilities of that staff. In our schools the “tech director” is usually also a teacher. Unfortunately I’ve seen far too many 7th grade teachers who spend equal amounts of time in class prep and tech troubleshooting. As good equipment is put in place, maintenance time goes down.

The one caveat to this strategy of course is that you make smart purchases that will allow fewer maintenance hours be spent. That is where the ShopWELS program can help. The administrative staff at ShopWELS is ready and willing to consult with you to determine the most maintenance free approach when considering purchases…either hardware or software. They have years of experience helping churches and schools make good buying decisions that will consider all costs – real dollars and the human cost. The best way to get in touch with folks who can help is to visit the ShopWELS site and click on Contact Us in the left hand navigation. Of course, you can always contact me directly at martin.spriggs@wels.net or 414-256-3250.

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