As businesses start planning for 2026, many are beginning to feel the impact of rising IT hardware costs. Whether you’re scaling, modernising infrastructure, or simply replacing ageing equipment, these industry‑wide changes could affect your timelines and budgets.
Across the UK and globally, businesses are seeing unprecedented price increases in memory (RAM), storage and other core hardware components, for example, we have seen 300% increases for many types of RAM.
Unfortunately, this trend is expected to continue throughout the year and beyond.
Why are Hardware Prices Increasing?
Global Memory Shortages
Demand for all types of RAM has surged due to rapid growth in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data‑heavy platforms. Manufacturers are shifting production toward specialised, high‑margin components, leaving less availability for standard business hardware.
Rising Hardware Costs
Servers, desktops and laptops all depend heavily on memory and storage, and as those components rise in price, other hardware is becoming more expensive too. Many major manufacturers have announced double-digit price increases through 2026.
Supply Chain Strain
Component shortages, long lead times and changing production priorities mean costs are rising faster than usual. In many cases, quotes are valid for shorter periods of time than ever before. Once an order is accepted, there are delays in shipping and in some cases, even cancellations.
What This Means for Your Business
If you’re planning any of the following in 2026, it’s wise to act sooner rather than later:
- Server or workstation upgrades
- Storage expansion
- New project roll-outs
- Replacement of ageing hardware approaching end‑of‑life
Securing pricing earlier can help you avoid further increases and potential supply delays. We will strive to keep you informed of any delays that could impact your business.
How a Good IT Partner Can Help:
- Taking the hassle out of comparing prices, lead times, and suppliers.
- Keeping you informed ahead of upcoming changes
- Future‑proofing technology so you get the most out of your investment
- Spreading the cost with finance options to suit you (subject to eligibility)
- Project planning to help avoid delays caused by supply constraints
- Hardware sourcing with access to trusted UK distributors
Our goal is to make sure rising costs and supply delays don’t catch your business off‑guard.
Need Guidance or a Quote?
If you’re looking for an IT partner who helps you stay ahead of rising costs and make confident, informed decisions, we’re here to support you. If you’d like a review of your existing hardware or you’re planning an upgrade in 2026, book a meeting with us here.