At the VINE Technology Showcase on 12 June, all presenting PC manufacturers raised concerns about supply chain pressures affecting device availability and pricing. These pressures are being driven by chip manufacturers prioritising AI-related demand over traditional markets, contributing to shortages, volatility and reported price increases of up to approximately 40%.
In response, VINE encourages schools to review their 2027 device procurement timelines and engage early with preferred vendors and internal stakeholders. Schools planning device refreshes, staff or student device programs, or infrastructure upgrades should ensure their procurement cycles allow for potential price increases, longer lead times, quote volatility and reduced stock availability.
The message from vendors is clear: early forecasting, flexible procurement planning and proactive engagement will be essential. VINE recommends that schools assess device requirements, budget assumptions and ordering windows as soon as practicable to reduce exposure to further price movement and supply constraints.
VINE will continue to monitor developments across the education technology sector and share relevant updates with member schools to support informed planning and operational readiness.
VINE Committee, 16 June 2026.
Supporting statements from enterprise technolgy resellers:
We acknowledge the supply chain pressures highlighted and their impact on device availability, pricing, and delivery certainty. In response, Atturra’s offering incorporates fixed pricing arrangements where feasible, supported by proactive planning and risk management.
We are working closely with supply partners to secure availability. This enables us to provide schools with greater cost certainty while maintaining our commitment to agreed delivery timeframes.
We support VINE’s recommendation for early engagement and forward planning. By partnering with schools on forecasting and procurement timing, we can help mitigate exposure to price volatility, extended lead times, and supply constraints.
As always, with regular transparent communication, our focus remains on price stability and delivering reliable outcomes that schools can depend on to meet their needs.
To add to this, there is at least 3 years’ service and support to consider. This is where Atturra shines, maintaining significant spare parts supply to ensure uninterrupted learning during these turbulent events.
David La Bozzetta
Sales Director – Education
Edunet supports VINE's recommendation for schools to commence planning for 2027 device programs and refresh projects as early as possible.
The global PC market is currently experiencing significant supply chain pressure as manufacturers and component suppliers respond to unprecedented demand driven by AI infrastructure and emerging technologies. This has created increased price volatility, longer lead times and greater uncertainty around future device availability.
While these challenges are real, schools should be reassured that proactive planning remains the most effective way to minimise risk. At Edunet, we have been working closely with our vendor partners and distribution channels to help secure strong supply positions for our education customers. Through our relationships with Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, Microsoft Surface and HP, we continue to actively forecast demand and advocate for the needs of Australian schools.
Our advice to schools is simple: start conversations early, review device requirements and budgets sooner rather than later, and engage with trusted partners who can provide visibility into market conditions. Schools that plan ahead will have greater flexibility, stronger purchasing options and the best opportunity to avoid potential supply and pricing pressures as we move towards 2027.
Schools that would like to better understand the potential impact on their environment are encouraged to reach out to sales@edunet.com.au. We are available to help evaluate device options, procurement strategies, timing considerations and budget scenarios to ensure schools are well positioned for 2027 and beyond.
Kristian Liddiard
General Manager – Sales, Edunet
As the IT supply market shifts, schools need a more deliberate and flexible buying strategy. Recent years have shown that traditional purchasing can lead to higher costs or missed supply.
In this volatile hardware market, schools should forecast early, plan orders, and stay flexible across device programs. Looking 6–12 months ahead with a trusted technology partner can reduce risk, protect budgets, and maintain continuity for students and staff.
Challenge: IT market uncertainty
Extended lead times remain a challenge across all vendors, particularly for higher-specification or customised devices. Availability can change quickly, making purchasing timelines harder to predict and increasing the risk of delays when orders are left too late.
Solution: Prepare Now
Early planning is now critical. Forecasting demand and placing orders well in advance helps secure availability, supports smoother rollouts and reduces the impact of future pricing movements.
Challenge: Hardware component availability.
Hardware that goes into your devices is harder to get as more components (especially RAM and SSDs) are set aside for the big-budget hyper-scalers.
Solution: Keep it simple
Stick to standard device models and configurations wherever possible. A more consistent device fleet makes it easier for partners (and vendors) to hold or source stock, simplifies support and deployment, and improves the likelihood of meeting delivery expectations.
Challenge: Increasing cost of IT hardware
Just as your budgets are tightening, the tech bubble has burst, and the cost of technology has taken a massive upward turn. Memory and storage now constitute up to 35% of a laptop’s total component cost, up from just 16% last year
Solution: Flexibility.
Be prepared to compromise where you can, you might not get the exact device and specifications you were after when purchasing conditions were optimal.
Look at flexible finance options to help secure the equipment you need now while still aligning payment timing to normal budget cycles.
Investigate partner warehousing to hold pre-purchased stock so you can access devices when you need them. This helps lock in pricing and greater certainty for budgeting.
While market conditions remain challenging, schools can navigate them more effectively by planning early and working closely with trusted technology partners. A clear, proactive procurement strategy can help reduce risk, improve budget certainty, and ensure equipment is available when it is needed.
Shehan Suri
CEO, Novo3
ASI Solutions supports VINE’s recommendation for schools to begin planning early and engaging proactively around future device procurement, refresh cycles and deployment programs.
The supply chain conditions currently being reported across the PC market are real and continue to evolve. Schools should be mindful of potential impacts on pricing, lead times, product availability and deployment certainty when developing their 2027 technology plans.
However, our message to schools is not simply to procure earlier, it is to think differently about device procurement.
There are different ways to plan, fund and deliver device programs. In the current market, traditional procurement timelines may not provide schools with the certainty they need. Schools should consider a broader range of levers, including earlier procurement, flexible funding models, staged rollouts, lifecycle planning, device standardisation, deployment readiness and ongoing support.
For 40 years, ASI Solutions has supported schools through major shifts in education technology. ASI works with schools to understand their priorities, pressures and budget cycles, then helps identify the right-fit solution for their environment.
ASI appreciates VINE’s efforts in keeping member schools informed and supporting informed decision-making across the education technology sector.
Schools that would like to understand how ASI is supporting education customers to navigate these challenges are encouraged to contact sales@asi.com.au.
Jack Crawford-Corser
Head of Education, ASI Solutions
