Important Update – Hardware Pricing & Availability, Quote Validity and Product Changes
We would like to inform you of several important developments impacting hardware pricing, availability and lifecycle status across the retail technology landscape. These changes are greatly being influenced by adverse global supply conditions and are affecting the global market, including South Africa.
Over recent months, we have seen significant increases in the cost of core hardware components, particularly memory (RAM) and SSD storage (hard drives). These components are fundamental to all PCs, servers and POS terminals.
- The supplier’s prices of Pre-built PCs and servers have increased by nearly 30% since the 4th quarter of 2025.
- Local suppliers furthermore indicate a severe shortage of SSD drives and price increases exceeding 50%, as well as memory prices rising sharply, also driven by Worldwide shortages.
These increases are largely driven by global manufacturers redirecting supply toward the Worldwide demands for AI infrastructure and hyperscale data centres, where demand and margins are significantly higher. As a result, supply to commercial and retail channels has been constricted, forcing prices upward.
In addition to pricing pressure, the market is experiencing supply shortages of key components. South Africa is particularly impacted due to:
- Reliance on imported hardware
- USD-based pricing fluctuations
- Limited local stock availability
While previously held stock helped to buffer some of these increases, replacement inventory is now entering the South African market at substantially higher costs, exacerbated by constraints on availability.
Given the volatility in pricing and supply, it is essential that we adhere to our quotation validity period. All quotations remain valid for 14 days only. This will ensure that:
- Pricing remains aligned with current supplier costs
- We can honour quotes accurately without exposure to unforeseen increases
- Clients receive realistic and achievable pricing based on available stock
We strongly encourage clients to comply with this period to avoid potential price changes or stock unavailability.
Please note that the PartnerTech SP635 POS terminal has officially reached End-of-Life (EOL) status and is no longer in production.
Also note that:
- Existing installations remain fully supported
- All warranties will be honoured for their full term
- Spare parts will be available for a minimum of 8 years from the EOL date
We recommend engaging with your account manager to discuss replacement models and future-ready alternatives.
