Recent tariff policies are going to impact your technology costs. That’s not in question. What is uncertain is how significantly, and how quickly, they’re going to impact you.
Today, we’re exploring all tariff-related changes you need to be mindful of as we move towards Q4 of 2025.
Key Insights in This Blog
1. Tariffs Are Reshaping IT Budgets
Tariff changes are disrupting hardware pricing, making previously reliable IT budgets and upgrade plans outdated. Even domestically assembled equipment includes global components, making complete avoidance of tariffs nearly impossible.
2. Costs Are Rising Across the Board
Businesses are already seeing higher prices and tighter availability on essential tech like servers, laptops, and networking equipment. A $10,000 server could soon cost $12,500 or more, making proactive planning critical.
3. Bulk Purchasing Can Soften the Blow
Reviewing your IT needs 6–18 months out, consolidating purchases can help secure bulk pricing and minimize the impact of tariffs. Bulk orders also reduce shipping costs and procurement overhead.
4. Update Your IT Budget and Timeline Now
To stay ahead, businesses should:
- Prioritize replacing aging hardware
- Add a 15–20% buffer to IT budgets, and
- Consider accelerating purchases before further tariffs hit.
5. A Trusted MSP Can Help You Navigate It All
Managing hardware purchases amid global trade shifts is no small task. Partnering with a managed service provider like Anderson Technologies means you get insider pricing, strategic planning support, and deployment that doesn’t disrupt your business.
What’s the Deal with U.S. Tariffs and Technology?
The landscape of technology procurement has shifted, with sweeping tariff policies reshaping how businesses approach IT planning and hardware acquisition. Across all sectors, CEOs, CFOs, and IT managers are discovering that their carefully planned IT budgets and hardware replacement schedules need immediate reassessment.
From servers and networking equipment to laptops and mobile devices, virtually every piece of business technology relies on global supply chains that span multiple countries. These complex manufacturing networks mean that even equipment assembled domestically contains components from around the world. Therefore, complete insulation from tariff impacts is nearly impossible.
While certain technology components remain temporarily exempt from current baseline tariffs, the general industry consensus is that dedicated technology sector tariffs are coming—and those could turn a $10,000 server purchase into a $12,500 expense.
The Ripple Effect on Business Technology Costs
Analysis from Reuters suggests that new tariffs could cost major technology equipment manufacturers billions annually. These expenses inevitably flow downstream to businesses purchasing servers, networking equipment, computers, and other essential technology infrastructure.
Early indicators show that businesses have already begun experiencing pricing volatility. We’re seeing small price increases and availability changes for our own clients and fully expect further incremental increases as markets adjust to new trade realities.
The timing of these increases—and just how large they’ll be—depends heavily on various factors, including transportation costs, delivery logistics, and the broader geopolitical climate affecting shipping routes.
The Best IT Hardware Purchasing Strategy for a High-Tariff Environment
The key to managing technology costs in this environment lies in proactive IT planning rather than reactive purchasing. Businesses that wait until equipment breaks down face the worst possible scenario: higher costs combined with limited availability when they need replacements most urgently.
In our opinion, the best way to offset this risk is by opting for bulk purchasing wherever possible.
Start by evaluating your technology lifecycle plans over the next quarter. What will need replacing within 6-18 months? Taking stock of your entire IT infrastructure in this way allows you to consolidate needed purchases into larger orders, which often means better pricing.
The Bulk Ordering Bonus
Distributors and vendors typically reserve their most competitive discounts for substantial volume commitments. Say 10-20% of your computers, servers, or networking equipment are approaching their replacement window—you may qualify for bulk pricing that can offset tariff impacts.
Bulk ordering also reduces procurement team overhead, so you won’t face added fees if you’re working with an IT partner to source replacements. The bulk approach minimizes shipping charges and allows for more predictable budgeting, too.
Three Steps to Protect Your Business from Price Shocks
Given the uncertainty around tariff timing and scope, it’s too risky to “wait and see what happens.” We recommend taking three immediate steps to protect your operations and budgets:
1. Review Your Technology Replacement Timeline
Aging servers, outdated networking equipment, and computers approaching end-of-life should move to the front of your planning queue. Holding off until equipment fails means you’ll wind up paying premium prices for emergency replacements.
2. Build Tariff Buffers into Your IT Budget
Add 15-20% contingency funding to your technology budget for 2025. This buffer will help you absorb unexpected price increases without derailing other business priorities. Think of it as insurance against supply chain disruption that protects your operational continuity.
3. Consider Accelerated Purchasing for Critical Systems
If you know certain equipment will need replacement anyway, purchasing before potential tariffs take effect can generate substantial savings. A $50,000 infrastructure refresh completed now could cost $60,000 or more if tariffs apply later this year, and for a small to medium-sized business, that’s a significant difference.
How Your IT Partner Can Help You Navigate Tariff Troubles
Managing tariff impacts effectively is one of those things that requires expertise—expertise that most businesses don’t have in-house. An experienced managed service provider like Anderson Technologies brings several advantages during this uncertain period:
Vendor Relationship Leverage: Established IT partners have relationships with multiple suppliers and distributors. That means better pricing negotiations and access to bulk purchasing discounts that individual businesses can’t secure alone.
Market Intelligence: Professional IT consultants monitor supply chain developments and pricing trends regularly, providing early warning when costs are likely to increase and identifying optimal purchasing windows.
Strategic Planning Support: Rather than making reactive equipment purchases, a trusted IT partner helps develop comprehensive technology roadmaps that account for both business growth needs and external cost pressures.
Implementation Coordination: Bulk purchasing doesn’t mean bulk implementation. Experienced providers can stage equipment deployments over time, allowing you to secure better pricing while maintaining operational stability during transitions.
The key advantage a team like ours provides is giving you a dedicated professional who’s focused on these challenges full-time, rather than you trying to manage tariff implications alongside your other business responsibilities.
Don’t Let Tariffs Take You Down
There’s no denying that businesses will have to be more strategic with their IT purchasing decisions in the coming months. But, as long as you implement smart and flexible planning processes, you can navigate this challenging environment without losing your competitive edge.
Looking to make smart hardware purchases before costs climb? Let’s talk.
