5 Reasons Why Your Small Business Should Buy Only Business-Grade Technology

Many small business owners and managers shop for new technology the way they shop for groceries. They go to the nearest store, usually an office supply or big box store, and buy whatever’s on sale. This seems like a great idea in the short term; it’s cheap and convenient, but invariably—it’s a big mistake.

Here are 5 reasons why buying only business-grade technology for your small business is the right move.

1. Relying on consumer-grade equipment will inevitably cost you more time and money. Example: The all-plastic design of consumer-grade laptop computers helps to keep the costs down, but at the expense of durability. When (not if) a consumer product breaks, it will cost you valuable time and money to send the unit in for repair, to buy replacement parts and try do-it-yourself quick-fixes, and to spend hours on the phone with ineffectual tech support departments.
2. Professional business-grade products will cost you a bit more upfront, but you’ll recoup the difference on the back end. Business-grade equipment tends to be more expensive because it’s built using better quality components that meet higher tolerances, meaning that it can withstand the day-to-day abuse of a hard-working business environment. Example: Business-grade laptop computers often include magnesium alloy and aluminum cases, metal hinges, displays that latches at four points, shock-mounted and accelerometer-protected hard drives, spill resistant keyboards, and a scratch resistant finishes. There are no consumer-grade equivalents available. The bottom line is that business-grade equipment will last longer and require less maintenance over the course of its life.
3. Business-grade technology means business-grade support. Business-grade hardware and software vendors provide a much higher level of support if a problem arises. Their support teams understand that their equipment is critical for your business, and, in many cases, they are available 24/7 to help get you back to work.
4. You get a much longer and often more comprehensive warranty. Business-grade technology generally comes with at least a 3-year factory warranty. What that really means to you is that the manufacturers are confident that their products will work without issue for a minimum of 3-years. Computer vendors also provide “Next-Day, On-Site” warranty support for their business-grade products, meaning a local technician will come out to your office to address a problem the very next business day. Consumer-grade technology is typically warranted for 6-months or 1-year, which is about the longest the manufacturer expects the item to last before it fails and needs repair or replacement.
5. You get features, features, features. Example 1 –Business telephone systems are nearly limitlessly customizable. They includes high-level features such as automated attendants that can route calls to your employees no matter if they’re in the office, at home, or reachable only by cell phone and the ability to send voicemails via e-mail to individuals or to entire departments, just to name a few. There are no consumer-grade equivalents available. Example 2 - A business-grade router can give your employees the ability to use a virtual private network (VPN) to securely access data in your office from anywhere in the world. There are no consumer-grade equivalents.

When you’re buying technology for your business, you’re buying for the future. Over the years, we’ve seen many businesses run into seriously expensive and disruptive technical problems all because they were relying on consumer-grade technology. Don’t make the same mistake—don’t skimp on buying quality products.

For more on this topic, be sure to read Buying Business-Grade Technology: Where to Buy, What to Look For, and Exceptions to the Rule

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Related

• Buying Business-Grade Technology: Where to Buy, What to Look For, and Exceptions to the Rule
• Buy business-grade computers and other technology at Jackrabbit.com

Alex Lesberg is a Senior Consultant and the Vice President at Jackrabbit Microware, a San Diego-based IT consulting & computer services company. From PCs & servers to phone systems to web development, he is an expert in all things small business technology. Connect with him: