If your organization is planning to purchase laptops, servers, networking gear, or storage later this year, waiting could cost you, both in price and availability.
AI’s Impact on The Supply Chain
Organizations planning technology purchases in 2026 are entering a rapidly shifting market. A new wave of demand driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure is putting pressure on supply chains, including components that are common in laptops, servers, and networking equipment.
The result: rising hardware prices, shrinking inventory, and longer delivery timelines.
Major technology manufacturers are already warning customers about the impact. Apple recently noted that it continues to see “market pricing for memory increasing significantly,” reflecting the growing strain on the semiconductor market. (Source: Bloomberg)
Dell is experiencing similar volatility. Company leadership has acknowledged that rapid fluctuations in component costs are forcing them to constantly adjust pricing. As Dell put it, “We are operating at a high level of proficiency of changing our price as our input costs are rapidly changing.” (Source: Yahoo Finance; Dell Technologies Inc Q4 FY26 Earnings Call)
What is Causing Rising Tech Prices?
Memory pricing is one of the biggest drivers behind these changes. Bruce Broussard, HP’s interim CEO and Director, recently explained the pressure vendors are facing: “We are seeing increased input costs driven primarily by the rising prices of DRAM and NAND. We expect this volatility to remain throughout fiscal year 2026 and likely into fiscal year 2027.” (Source: Yahoo Finance; HP Inc. Q1 FY26 Earnings Call)
These components are critical to virtually every piece of enterprise hardware – from servers and storage to laptops and networking equipment. At the same time, hyperscale companies are racing to build massive AI data centers that consume enormous volumes of the same memory chips.
When that demand spikes, combined with production delays, the entire hardware ecosystem feels the impact.
We’ve seen this story before.
Looking Back at the Last Global Chip Shortage
During the last global chip shortage, companies faced 6 to 12-month delays for basic equipment. Organizations that waited to place orders saw quotes expire, prices jump, and projects stall while teams waited for hardware to ship.
The same risks are emerging again – only this time, the demand from AI is even greater.
Imagine planning a data center upgrade only to find the servers you need are suddenly backordered for months. Or launching a company-wide laptop refresh and discovering the price per device increased after budgets were approved. Even something as routine as replacing failed or deprecated equipment could turn into a scramble if supply tightens further.
That means companies delaying hardware purchases could face three very real scenarios:
- Higher prices as manufacturers pass rising component costs to customers
- Longer lead times that delay IT projects and infrastructure upgrades
- Limited availability for certain configurations or product lines
Don’t wait and risk project delays or overspending. Take action today:
- Order early to lock in pricing and inventory before it disappears.
- Plan strategically to review upcoming projects and hardware needs.
- Secure supply by buying now and holding until deployment.
In today’s market, proactive procurement isn’t just smart planning – it’s risk management.
If your organization anticipates upcoming hardware or infrastructure needs, now is the time to act. Contact [email protected] today to secure your equipment before prices climb higher and supply becomes even more limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every business and consumer purchasing tech components experiencing shortages due to high demand. In fact, a leading manufacturer of memory and storage technology recently exited the consumer side of its business to meet commercial demands.
AI investments are seen as a primary driver of rising demand as AI infrastructure relies on high-performance components to power servers. In addition, helium is a critical component in chip making, and is facing supply constraints affecting as much as 30% of global supply as a result of conflict in the middle east.
Inventory management, supply chain optimization, and partnering with other businesses to create resource ecosystems can help mitigate the effects of a shortage. In addition, working with CBIZ technology to anticipate, respond to, and navigate supply chain constraints can help businesses enter protective clauses into contracts, and anticipate the conditions that lead to supply chain disruptions and constraints.
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