AAS explained: Pay-as-you-go consumption-based IT services. Scale easily, cut costs. Explore SaaS, PaaS, IaaS & Softsource vBridge advantages.
The global technology supply chain is currently seeing a massive surge in demand due to the AI data centre requirements. This has effectively sold out SSD and RAM component production through to 2027. This also includes memory (DRAM), NAND, solid-state drive (SSD) components, and high-performance networking silicon and optical components.
It is a significant supply crisis with ripple effects hitting compute, hybrid cloud, and networking vendors.
Navigating the 2026 Hardware Supply Crisis
As AI data centres are projected to consume nearly 70% of high-end DRAM production, the traditional market is facing unprecedented competition for components.
Since January, we have seen prices increase weekly, and it isn't slowing down. We have been advised to expect these hardware costs rise through to July.
With factory cost increases ranging from 10% to 60% and additional delays in production depending on the model and configuration, it's time to think about your budget and strategy. To ensure your organisation can manage these cost pressures, here's what you can do:
Target local stock
The best way to avoid the price hikes is to secure hardware already landed in New Zealand. Some in-country stock manufactured before the recent surges currently remains at older pricing.
Shorten your approval loops
Manufacturers are ending list pricing and shortening quote validity periods. Because quote periods are so tight, internal sign-offs need to happen faster to lock in a price.
Fast forward your 2026 hardware plan
If you have a refresh planned for later this year, bringing those orders forward now will protect your budget from the July increases.
We know that every organisation, from SMEs to councils, has different procurement rules and budget flexibility. Our role is to act as your advisor and help you find the most logical path through these supply challenges.
Get the best value devices for your users
If your team uses Copilot in the cloud, think about previous generation devices that provide higher performance, without the on-device Copilot features.
High-capacity SSD and RAM options are currently the primary budget-drivers. Allocating 32GB memory upgrades to power users, while keeping standard office staff at 16GB can create substantial savings without impacting performance.
Need on-device AI? Copilot+PC AI laptops powered by Intel offer some of the best current value. Memory is embedded on the CPU rather than on separate modules that now come with a hefty price tag.
Our Managed Device solutions team can help integrate new models into your fleet with minimal disruption to your end-users.
Pivot to consumption-based
This option allows you to bypass hardware procurement challenges. Move from large, unpredictable capital outlays to a predictable, monthly consumption-based model. You only pay for the resources you use, which simplifies budgeting in a volatile market.
Softsource vBridge provides both virtualised and dedicated infrastructure hosted right here in New Zealand. By choosing our local IaaS, you can essentially shift the supply chain risk to us. We handle the lifecycle management, hardware refreshes, and capacity planning.