Why a tailored service agreement could make all the difference to your business

Because even if the purchase price weighs up favorably against a product’s expected performance delivery or its projected lifetime, there are still many variables that will determine its eventual cost to your business. Beyond the hardware itself, these can include overtime maintenance and service costs.

The hardware that your business depends on to run optimally needs protecting

No matter how well-engineered your system is, there can never be any guarantee it will perform in your facility exactly as the spec sheets or product tests claim. No matter how well trained your staff are in its use, your equipment’s functionality will often still be at the mercy of external factors beyond you or your employees’ control, such as harsh environments and adverse weather conditions. And no matter how strong or resilient its components are, your equipment’s automated and moving parts will always suffer from wear and tear, and replacement is inevitable.

The point is that the systems that your business depends on to run optimally need protecting. But no two businesses are the same. So any plans to help keep your business running optimally will be specific to your facilities, your workforce, and your operational performance. This is why the service agreements you negotiate should be tailored to you.

The benefits of a tailored service agreement

1. Keep costs low and productivity high

The value of timely preventative maintenance can be immeasurable. The most expensive repairs are those that need doing during peak hours – and that have already necessitated the shutdown of other machinery or processes. Many service providers nowadays will claim to offer preventative maintenance – but only the most expert, experienced, and dedicated partners will be able to predict and deliver when it will be most beneficial to your operations.

In many cases nowadays – and thanks to digital technologies – it is possible to predict and plan for preventive maintenance not only so it can be executed swiftly and smoothly, but also so as to impact minimally on other areas of your business. The result is minimizing the risk of breakdown, thereby increasing uptime, while other aspects such as the safety of your workforce, of your goods, and of the products you produce stay high.

2. Maximize ROI and extend lifetime

Keeping costly machinery or equipment performing day in, and day out is one thing. Enabling it to deliver performance excellence throughout its entire lifetime can be everything. Because it can mean you get the best possible return on your investment, which has a direct impact on your bottom line.

Of course, it goes without saying that the longer a piece of hardware can perform safely and efficiently, the better it is for your business. A tailored service agreement should aim to keep your equipment fully operational for as long as possible.

3. Stay doing what you do best 

Whatever the type or size of your business, any disruption takes essential care and attention away from the products you produce, the goods you distribute, or the services you provide. Factors that can cause disruption – beyond those already illustrated – can range from the relatively mundane, like the availability of spare parts, to the more overarching, like changing legislation. While both can cause you to divert attention from your core activities, ensuring full compliance with regulations can have tremendous implications for your business.

But again, a tailored service agreement should have you covered. From guaranteeing the availability of spare parts to ensuring your door and dock solutions are always fully compliant with changing regulations for a safe and secure workplace.