The right cable certifier care plan can overcome unexpected costs

Although the up front cost of cable certifiers is often cited as a challenge for cable installation businesses, research conducted by IDEAL Networks shows that other unforeseen costs also pose a significant difficulty for some installers. 

According to the research, unexpected costs associated with repairs and maintenance were cited as particularly problematic. This includes annual calibrations, replacement parts and shipping costs associated with repairs. Budgeting for technical support needed or the provision of training is also extremely difficult for some businesses.

“In a worst-case scenario, these types of costs are prohibitively expensive, leading to a lack of equipment availability,” explained Tim Widdershoven, Global Marketing Manager for IDEAL Networks. “This has a knock-on effect, impacting productivity and can result in extended customer down-time - a big hindrance to profitable operations.”  

Some interviewees in the research also found that unanticipated costs arose where support for recently purchased certifiers has been discontinued. Often businesses were not in a financial position to be able to upgrade their equipment. However, despite the challenges this could pose to cashflow and profit margins, some revealed that they felt it was the only option.

“Depending on the specific needs of the installer, there are many ways that costs can be made more manageable, from choosing the right equipment to switching over to a ‘Pay As You Test’ purchase model,” said Widdershoven. “However, for those struggling with unfair upgrades or dealing with unexpected costs, choosing the right, fairly-priced certifier care plan can prove crucially important.”

To give installers protection from unforeseen costs, IDEAL Networks has recently launched the Sapphire Care Plan, developed to help minimise costs and maximise productivity when using LanTEK II / III cable certifiers. To guarantee a low cost of ownership, selected replaceable wear parts are free with the Sapphire Care Plan, while annual calibration is also included at no extra cost.

In the unlikely event that repair is needed, both the LanTEK II / III cable certifier and any accessories are covered for standard repairs within the cost of the Sapphire Care Plan. To avoid down-time and delays during repair, as part of the Sapphire Care Plan, a loan tester is despatched within one working day of a fault being reported. Onsite collection and return delivery is also free of charge.

The Sapphire Care Plan forms part of Test4Less, a suite of solutions developed by IDEAL Networks in response to the recent research. The solutions can help data cable installers to reduce capital expenditure, increase productivity and improve cashflow. For more information, click here.

To support data cable installers in considering how to reduce capital expenditure, increase productivity and improve cashflow, the key research findings are summarised in the free download ‘Five frustrations and challenges for data cable installers in 2017’, available now here.