As your business expands and you take on new employees, you may find that your existing office furniture and equipment no longer meets your needs. Whether it is old, damaged, or outdated, it could cause productivity issues and inefficiencies that negatively affect your growth. Yet purchasing new products, especially if there is a large upfront payment required, can be cost-prohibitive. In some cases, you can find budget-friendly used office equipment and furniture that will do the trick until you can free up cash or enter a new fiscal year. Another cost-effective solution is to repair existing equipment and hope you can get a few more years out of it. But how do you know whether you should repair or replace office equipment? Gibson’s Office Solutions can help you decide with this helpful guide.
Consider the Overall Cost of Repair vs Replacement
The first thing that you should consider is the overall cost of repairing versus replacing the item. Calculate the cost of parts and labor and then get an estimate for the cost of a new unit. If repairs would cost 50% or more of the cost of a new item, then you should go ahead and replace the old or outdated item. If repairs costs are low and buying a new product would be a big financial strain, you can opt to repair the item and use it until you can afford a replacement.
Determine How Much Life is Left in Office Equipment and Furniture
Next, you should consider the overall lifespan of the item. Well-made office furniture can last for decades if it is properly used and maintained. Yet some pieces of office equipment may only be designed to function at peak efficiency for five to 10 years before they become obsolete. If the item is nearing the end of its lifespan and won’t be that functional even if it is repaired, it may be more advantageous to invest in a new product. However, if the damaged item is relatively new, still relevant to your industry, and will return to optimal performance once it is repaired, then that is the smarter choice.
Calculate Potential Downtime and Disruptions
Both repairing and replacing items can require downtime and cause disruptions to your business practices or workflows. However, frequent breakdowns can also eat away at productivity. For large pieces of office equipment that you rely on heavily every day, like printers and copiers, repair is needed to restore functionality to your office. Yet if a repair won’t address the underlying issue, like old or obsolete technology, you’ll still be facing future disruptions when the machine breaks down again. Conversely, minor issues that can be easily rectified without buying something new could save you time and ensure employees return to work quickly. For instance, if the wheel breaks on an employee’s rolling chair, they can work in a conference room or at another workstation until the chair is repaired, and the office’s daily workflow likely won’t suffer.
Factor in Improvements Offered by New Technology and Products
New technology and products could offer benefits like improved efficiency, productivity, focus, employee comfort, and energy savings. These benefits might outweigh the cost savings you would get from repairing something instead of replacing it. Consider how much time employees spend troubleshooting problems, finding workarounds, and compensating for old or outdated products. Then think about how much the overall workflow and work environment would be improved if those issues were solved by upgrading to new equipment. In most cases, it will be worth the extra money you need to spend.
Weigh in the Future Costs of Repairs, Parts, and Support
Even repairing an item isn’t necessarily a guarantee that it will continue to function properly over the coming months or years. Also, if you have an older piece of equipment that isn’t easy to find parts for or that not many companies service anymore, you might be paying a premium for future repairs. You should calculate an estimate for future costs you will incur due to repairs, replacement parts, and support and maintenance. Purchasing a new piece of office equipment can reduce labor and maintenance costs significantly, actually saving you money over the next one to five years.
Get an Estimate for New Office Furniture and Equipment Today
Gibson’s Office Solutions offers affordable yet reliable office supplies, office furniture, and office equipment in Tucson and Phoenix, AZ. Our knowledgeable sales team can help you compare the cost of repairing vs replacing office equipment and make sure you get the best price on the products you need. Call us today at (520) 622-6738 or (602) 888-7850 or reach out to us online to learn more about our inventory of office furniture.