Graphically, this is known as the Rogers innovation adoption curve, named for Everett Rogers, a communications and sociology professor who first proposed the concept in 1962.
That there are (relatively) small groups of individuals willing, even anxious, to invest in innovation for innovation’s sake should not be surprising. Human history is filled with those who are risk takers as well as those who are risk averse. What should be concerning is that research suggests there is little difference between the factors driving personal purchases versus business purchases. This has major implications when those decisions involve mission-critical systems such as the network.
Diffusion of Innovation Theory
Based on the Rogers curve, about 16 percent of network managers fall into the Innovators or Early Adopters categories. Yet according to a recent Edgeium survey, 31 percent of respondents — nearly twice the statistical estimate — indicated that they only purchase the next-gen equipment. Clearly, there is something else going on.
In nearly all cases, the decision to purchase the next-gen equipment is driven by the OEM’s end-of-sale (EOS), end-of-life (EOL) product cycle. This three- to five-year cycle, it should be noted, does not reflect the equipment’s actual service life, which tends to be between seven to ten years. It is more a reflection of how long before the demand for an existing product begins to wane. In other words, the next-gen rollouts are dictated by the OEM’s profit window, not client needs. As for the clients, by and large, they realize this and agree to upgrade anyway or, more often, they simply don’t realize that other options exist.
Whether you and your team decide to stick with their current hardware or to invest in next-generation technology. It must be grounded in facts and serve the enterprise’s best interest. As noted earlier, there are good reasons for upgrading to the latest and greatest. Even if the OEM says to isn’t one of them.
What to look for when looking for a Secondary Market Reseller
First, ask yourself if you are aware of exactly what the equipment that your team needs. This will allow you to compare different vendors and choose the one that provides the best overall value. If you already know what you need, make a list and send it to your preferred representative. They will be able to give you the best pricing and availability information.
Think about your sustainability goals. It’s true, that finding a solution to a green-minded network is not the easiest thing to do. It should be in your vendor’s best interest to be environmentally friendly in the first place. Ask about their carbon footprint and their decommissioning services.
At Edgeium we keep in mind your goals and we test every hardware piece through a Quality Control and Testing Process, that’s why we provide your network hardware with an Extended Lifetime Warranty. Our more than 20 years of experience will back that up.
What to look for when shopping for Used Network Equipment?
If you already have an idea of what are your network equipment needs, the next step for you and your team will be to build a budget. Which is never easy, since we don’t want to overspend. But, luckily you’ll find the right vendor that will provide you with the best overall value. Analyze if the vendors you’re comparing will offer you credit if they’ll buy your decommissioned hardware and even if they have other services that could help you lower your expenses. Like third-party maintenance.
At Edgeium we’re here to help you. Our customers choose us to decommission, upgrade, and augment their network equipment.
Let us get in touch and help your network grow.
