Industrial SMEs tend to invest in ERP, MES or even predictive AI and even IoT sensors. Additionally, IT budgets are overwhelmingly shifting toward software, but some layers rely on physical hardware. This is the case for servers, switches, firewalls and even workshop workstations.
The gap between investment and reality
Nearly half of SMEs operate with outdated tools or poorly secured. At the same time, the AI budgets of SMEs increased by 19% in 2025, but their share dedicated to hardware renewal remains low.
Therefore, the role of a distributor of IT solutions like IP Systèmes is essential. He can help you choose equipment suitable for industrial environments.
The network is the link that no one sees
Workshop operators use IoT sensors on machines or even quality control cameras as well as tablets. This exploitation generates volumes of data that did not exist a few years ago. As a result, a network sized in 2018 for 50 stations cannot absorb the flow in 2026.
Moreover, the market fully confirms this since job offers for computer maintenance technicians have jumped since last year. Companies are looking for help to maintain a stable infrastructure.
The European NIS2 directive tends to add additional pressure. It imposes real infrastructure supervision on companies in essential sectors.
The equipment life cycle
Typically, an industrial server lasts five to seven years under normal conditions. A workshop workstation can be exposed to heat and dust. The lifespan will then be three to five years maximum. No one tends to track these lifespans in an SME that does not have an internal IT department.
According to Deloitte, an IT maintenance plan represents between 5 and 12% of the IT budget of the year. At the same time, a properly maintained infrastructure can reduce outages by 60%. You understand, prevention costs less than breakdown.
