Systems and methods for efficiently updating software installed on network devices

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) obtaining an update initiation file that facilitates updating an operating system installed on a network device by way of one or more packages that (A) are external to the update initiation file and (B) have yet to be downloaded to the network device, (2) identifying certain device-specific details about the network device that influence which packages are necessary to achieve the update, (3) determining, based at least in part on the update initiation file and the certain device-specific details, the packages that are necessary to achieve the update, (4) downloading the necessary packages by way of one or more links included in the update initiation file, and then (5) updating the operating system by installing the necessary packages downloaded by way of the links included in the update initiation file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.