5 Benefits of Local Support
While there are many factors to consider when choosing a company to work with, something businesses find particularly important is a company’s location.
Do you buy from a company based in your city? Is it OK to buy equipment from a company on the other side of the country? Do I buy straight from the U.S. and pay a little more in import costs? What about cheaper equipment from Taiwan or China?
While having the versatility and availability of different equipment suppliers will allow you to find your best fit, sometimes too many different choices can be overwhelming. With all the options on the market these days, it can be enough to make your head spin.
We’re here to help you clear up some of that confusion.
With so many equipment suppliers available, it seems like you could choose one that operates virtually anywhere in your area. In fact, because the majority of work these days can be done remotely, you can even explore companies that are based outside of your country. However, if you decide to choose a hardware provider, it would be a good idea to hire one based in your area.
Here are five reasons why choosing local support is the way to go:
1. On-site support
Equipment problems are the last thing your business needs. Unfortunately, they do tend to pop up from time to time, and when they do, you want to be sure you have technicians in place who can fix it. It’s important to keep in mind that if you choose to go with a remote provider, they will only complete their work remotely; you will receive no face-to-face contact and they will not be able to come to your location should you need a problem fixed. A local service provider can still function remotely when it comes to managing your day-to-day operations. However, should a problem arise, they will be able to send someone out to you promptly due to their close proximity.
Many equipment issues require in-person assistance. When that’s needed, you’ll want a technician from your supplier to be close by. That way, you can rest assured the problem will be addressed as soon as possible. That means that you waste less time trying to get the problem fixed, and you and your employees can get back to your priorities.
Remember, your equipment can be unpredictable, but a reliable on-site solution doesn’t have to be.
2. Training for employees
Members of your staff may have the most up-to-date information, or knowledge of the most cutting-edge technology; other employees may struggle with technology and how to implement it. Either way, your company’s technology and software can present challenges for your employees. A benefit of using a local company is that they may be able to lead on-site training for your employees so that your staff is better equipped to handle your company’s equipment.
3. A personal touch
Though the focus is on the machines, having a human component can be incredibly important. After all, this is the company you’re trusting with some of your business’ most valuable assets! Though it may not seem necessary at first, having a company that can physically send someone out to your office and sit with you face-to-face is a benefit that long-distance companies cannot provide. The personal attention that accompanies a local company helps it stand out from its long-distance competitors.
For instance, a local company can walk the factory floor with you and see your situation and challenges first-hand. From there it is possible to come up with a custom solution or collaborate on a different way of implementing the equipment. In our experience, slight tweaks and improvements can make a world of difference when it comes to increasing output and meeting production targets.
4. Opportunities for growth
When considering what equipment provider to go with, it could be helpful to picture where you see your business heading in the next few years. This may seem like a premature step when you are just buying physical machines, but if you envision your business expanding and taking on new opportunities for growth, that most likely means your technology will need to expand, too. A locally based provider will be able to accommodate the technological changes that will be required with your business’ expansion as they can provide on-site support.
5. The best of both worlds
Having a locally based equipment provider combines all the benefits of utilizing an international company and combines it with the face-to-face benefits that local support would provide. Ultimately, by seeking out a local provider, you can save on ongoing equipment costs and downtime by reaping the benefits of immediate and effective service.
As you can see, there are many reasons as to why it’s a good idea to keep your coding and labelling equipment supplier local to your area. PrintDATA is local to Perth, Western Australia and offers a team of experienced service technicians and technical sales representatives. We offer same-day service for most urgent breakdowns and hold common spares and consumables in our Perth warehouse. By choosing printDATA you are ensuring the equipment you purchase will have maximum uptime and reliability for years to come.
