Pricing and Schedule
Computer Operation Expense
The cost of computer hardware has dropped dramatically in the last few years; unfortunately this has not reduced the cost of ownership. With “always-on” Internet there is an every day risk of data corruption. By using the “Scheduled Services” maintenance agreement small business owners can make use of the convenient support package and lower the total cost of ownership. It is a bit like having a part time IT department.
The total cost of ownership of a computer (or TCO) is made up of five components: the hardware, the software, the installation, the training and the maintenance. The maintenance can easily exceed all the other components added together. Why is this? If important information gets corrupted and data is lost this could instantly threaten the viability of a business, and waste valuable hours in data recovery.
Industry analysts have demonstrated that the initial purchase price of a PC is far outweighed by the associated support costs over its life cycle. As a result of the findings, some businesses now focus on the TCO package when pricing their new purchases.