Some businesses may struggle with the financial aspect of that approach, however. Prepurchasing a large number of devices and then having them held in a warehouse for several months might cause a cash flow challenge, especially for a smaller organization. We can help there too, with several financing options, including some with deferred payments.
A Long Wait for Devices
Perhaps you’re thinking the best strategy would be to just wait until the supply shortage is over. Unfortunately, it might be a long wait. According to Gartner, the semiconductor supply chain will remain in a state of moderate to severe shortage through the end of the year. It won’t start to normalize until the second quarter of 2022.
“The semiconductor shortage will severely disrupt the supply chain and will constrain the production of many electronic equipment types in 2021,” noted Gartner Analyst Kanishka Chauhan in a press release, adding that low supply is also likely to increase device prices.
That’s why advance planning is critical. We recommend that businesses build a six-month forecast for the technology they need and update it continually. Plan to purchase items now that you’ll need a few months from now — and lock in your order as soon as you get a quote.
I wish the news on the microchip front were better. After the year and a half that IT leaders have just had, they deserve a break. But like many business challenges, good planning and maintaining partner relationships is the key to success. We’re here to help.