Overcome unexpected cable certifier costs
Unexpected costs associated with the purchase and maintenance of cable certifiers and other data cable testing equipment are proving difficult for many businesses, says IDEAL Networks.
Although the upfront cost of cable certifiers is often cited as a challenge for cable installation businesses, research conducted by IDEAL Networks shows that other unforeseen costs also pose a significant difficulty for some installers.
According to the research, unexpected costs associated with repairs and maintenance were cited as particularly problematic. This includes annual calibrations, replacement parts and shipping costs associated with repairs. Budgeting for technical support needed or the provision of training is also extremely difficult for some businesses.
“In a worst-case scenario, these types of costs are prohibitively expensive, leading to a lack of equipment availability,” explains Tim Widdershoven, Global Marketing Manager for IDEAL Networks. “This has a knock-on effect, impacting productivity and can result in extended customer downtime – a big hindrance to profitable operations.”
Some interviewees in the research also found that unanticipated costs arose where support for recently purchased certifiers has been discontinued. Often businesses were not in a financial position to be able to upgrade their equipment. However, despite the challenges this could pose to cashflow and profit margins, some revealed that they felt it was the only option.
“Depending on the specific needs of the installer, there are many ways that costs can be made more manageable, from choosing the right equipment to switching over to a ‘Pay As You Test’ purchase model,” says Tim. “However, for those struggling with unfair upgrades or dealing with unexpected costs, choosing the right, fairly-priced certifier care plan can also prove crucially important,” says Tim.
IDEAL Networks offers a wide range of product and support solutions that help data cable installers minimise and manage the costs of cable certifiers, and other test equipment. Visit www.idealnetworks.net for more information.
To help installers consider how best to protect their business from unforeseen costs, as well as how to reduce capital expenditure, increase productivity and improve cashflow, the key findings of the research are available in the free download ‘Five frustrations and challenges for data cable installers in 2017’, available now at www.idealnetworks.net .
