On-Site or Depot Services? Both May Be The Right Choice

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When selecting the type of service that best fits your repair needs, often the question arises, onsite or depot? Both may be the right answer for your company.

In the past, onsite services have typically been viewed as a costly option. However, in the right situations the service can be very affordable, especially when compared to the cost of downtime for your company.  You also need to consider the costs, often overlooked, of lost productivity and cost effectiveness.

 Maintenance Options – Onsite vs. Depot

Questions to ask for determining type of service Onsite Depot
Is the equipment running your business critical applications, i.e., web site or billing system? X
Do you only have a quantity of 1 of this system or device with no viable back-up at that particular location? X
Do you have redundancy in place for the system or device? X X
Can the device be easily swapped and installed by one of your employees? X
Is the location near a major city or located within a major city? X X
Is the location in a rural area? X X
Can the device be “down” for a day or two? X
What is the weight of the equipment? X X

Mission Critical

Onsite services are almost always recommended for mission critical devices.  Those devices will vary by customer and type of business, but almost every business will have devices that are considered mission critical and need to be repaired the same day.

 Depot Service Options

Depot services offer quick and reliable response, and are not as expensive as onsite services.  Non-critical equipment might be covered by a repair and return service, if the equipment can be down for days or utilize the option of next day replacement shipped from the depot facility to your location.

 Understanding the difference

When evaluating your service needs, it is best to understand the differences between onsite and depot services.  You need to read the fine print; same day or next day onsite service does not always mean same day or next day repair.  Depot services will provide a unit, already repaired and tested.  Onsite typically travels with some parts, or parts as designated by the type of failure you report.

Combining the Service Options

You may determine, based upon the geographic location, that a combination of the service for a particular device is your best option.  If the location is not near a major city, onsite services may cost more and not guarantee a repair, but depot services may be a better fit with an advance exchange option.  With POSDATA’s advance exchange option you know you’ll have a working replacement device arrive at the specified location the next business day ready for use right out of the box. 

 POSDATA Onsite and Depot Services plans offer the following:

  • Trained technicians.  They know the equipment and have been trained to meet and/or exceed Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) specifications.
  • Preventative maintenance.  This service can be incorporated with several different types of equipment in ensure a longer service life.
  • Locally stocked parts.  For equipment under a maintenance contract, parts will be stocked locally to facilitate repairs, whether Onsite or Depot service is selected.
  • Tailored solution. Service level plans designed to meet your specific needs, not a cookie cutter solution.
  • You can select from several service offerings, same day/next day/monthly maintenance/time and materials, etc.
  • A wide variety of equipment is covered, pc’s, printers, monitors, point-of-sale equipment (including key injection services at our depot facility), networking, payment terminals, etc.
  • Warranty support, or extended warranty programs.
  • IMAC (installs, moves, adds, changes).
  • Hot swap programs
  • Imaging and configurations.
  • Technology upgrades.
  • and many more…

If you have concerns about whether your company’s equipment is properly covered, or if you just want to see if there are ways to save money, please contact us today.  We will be happy to assist you in the evaluation and determine your maintenance needs; where you might be vulnerable; or where you have overlap and can save money.