Investing in the right tech now will safeguard your business to meet future AI needs

The AI revolution has taken the world by storm, shaking up a whole range of industries – from healthcare and finance to VR gaming and predictive social media analytics, the impact is huge. But with machine-learning tools now commonplace, the data demand facing organisations has skyrocketed. And some businesses are struggling to keep up with the pace. With no signs of the progress slowing down, the ability for organisations to adapt their data processing capacity is vital.

While the temptation is always to deal with what's immediately in front of you, planning for growth in capacity can save time, effort and money in the long term. What's more, from a strategic point of view, embedding scalability can prove an extremely effective way to gain a head start over competitors, rather than constantly just aiming to keep your head above the rising tide of data.

Supporting evolving data processing needs 

Often, businesses are so focused on the “now” they forget to consider how their computational and storage needs may evolve in future. As workloads increase, companies must ensure their infrastructure is scalable and versatile enough to adapt, without requiring a complete system overhaul.

A system that can grow with the needs of your business, while supporting current workloads, is key. What's required for this growth will differ between organisations – some might need larger memory or storage capacity, while others will rely on greater processing power. 

For example, as AI and high-performance workloads grow, so do processing demands. If a business invests in a server chassis design that supports only one or two GPUs, it may struggle to up its processing power without a complete replacement. This shortsighted approach can lead to wasted time and money - costs that can be easily avoided by opting for a server with a higher core count from the start. 

Whatever the exact specifications might be, the point is that being able to make modular upgrades is vital to efficient scalability, so investing in hardware that allows this from the outset makes sense. But it's important to note increased performance demands also bring additional considerations, such as increased power and cooling requirements. It's crucial to account for these factors early in the planning stage to avoid unanticipated future limitations.

Ensuring compatibility to avoid manufacturer lock-in

Buying equipment without considering its ability to integrate with other products can be a glaring oversight. High performing systems have multiple moving parts. When built correctly, the benefits can be lifechanging. But being too quick to hit the "buy now" button, without properly examining the compatibility of these different parts, can lead to major logistical challenges. While certain components – like GPUs, memory and network cards - tend to be interchangeable across manufacturers, some brands and products are more limited. 

Just like Apple, which has drawn us into its exclusive product ecosystem, server-specific products like motherboards are often incompatible with other brands, leaving little choice when it comes to system upgrades. This means companies don't have the freedom to mix and match different parts, customising their IT infrastructure to their exact needs. For businesses with unique and diverse specifications, universally compatible IT components could be a safer option to support future advancements.

Optimising for AI now to mitigate long-term costs

As AI and machine learning becomes more integrated into our everyday working lives, the technology we use must be geared up for these workloads. However, optimising your server set up to cope with future tech upgrades, growth and strategic level changes requires financial commitment. The good news is that investing in the right technology to support future growth now means you won’t need to start from scratch and bear the brunt of even bigger costs later. As budgets continue to be squeezed, there are also steps you can take to reduce the overall expense. 

In addition to ensuring you spend smartly to avoid spending twice, assessing what options you have for sourcing equipment can also result in a significant saving. For example, organisations often overlook refurbished technology as a viable option for future-proofing. This can be short sighted as refurbished hardware provides enterprise-level performance at a fraction of the cost.

Assuming you’re using a reputable and trusted supplier, refurbished systems undergo rigorous testing and come with warranties, ensuring they perform as expected. This means there should be no concerns when it comes to reliability or performance levels. What’s more, buying refurbished extends hardware lifespans, reduces electronic waste and supports sustainability goals. With green credentials becoming more and more important to businesses this can be a valuable proof point. 

The big picture

Future-proofing IT infrastructure is essential for businesses competing in an increasingly technology-driven world. By prioritising scalability, compatibility, and AI optimisation, while considering refurbished technology, organisations can make strategic investments that offer long-term value.

Assessing what a business needs now, as well as what it might need in the future, is crucial to making sustainable, cost-effective decisions. It may not be possible to know exactly what's coming round the corner, but taking steps to future-proof your technology stack means it is possible to be ready for it.