Choosing Your Business Internet Access

by VENDIREX on 10/28/2015 - 11:27 am |

Tags: Internet Marketing, Maintenance Management

It’s not an option. Appropriate and reliable Internet access is something your business cannot afford to be without. There may be other things you can scrimp and save on as you open that new office, but this isn’t one of them.
 

Sure, you need a great website, and maybe an IT person on staff that you trust. That said, the equipment and service you decide upon can make the difference between high employee productivity, and faltering systems that frustrate everyone from your secretary to the clients you communicate with daily.

Well, business Internet is going to be much more expensive than your residential setup. And, there’s a reason for that. It’s a much higher grade of reliability and the support needs to be available during your open hours. At home, they can take 1-2 days to respond when your service goes down. Obviously, that’s not going to work for your company.
 
The cost will depend on what is needed to keep your business up and running properly; the size of the office and number of employee connections, data needs and - of course - the distance between the ISP (Internet Service Provider) and your location.
 
Lengths of contracts are usually three years. Most ISPs provide you with Ethernet, T1 piping and routers without charge (or they put it into your monthly payments). Sometimes taking out a longer term contract can get you a free installation and maybe free local loop as well.

 


 
Less expensive, this option includes both Internet and telephone service over the same lines. Small businesses can take advantage of this distance-sensitive system, with speeds ranging from 384-1500 Kbps which would easily support 20 people with email and all the basics.
 
The price is assessed depending how far your office is from the provider’s point of presence (POP). That expense is larger here, because there are fewer subscribers per line. Depending on the bandwidth, this service can cost $50 to $300 for installation, as well as monthlies. If you ‘burst’ your allotted bandwidth limit, there will no doubt be additional charges.

 

Also known as DS1, this access gives you three times the speed of a dial-up modem; it also supports digitized voice capability on the line. Popular with companies having up to fifty employees, the system supports much larger file uploads/downloads, along with all the basics.
 
Prices depend on whether it is standard, fractional or bonded - including the local loop from you to the provider’s POP and the access port’s bandwidth. Standard setup and monthlies can cost anywhere from $350 to $1200 depending on the number of activated channels as well as your choice of data, voice, or integrated service. Fractional service is the least expensive and bonded T1s are costed out in multiples of standard lines.

 

Also known as DS3, the T3 service is a substantial hike in quality. It has ...

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Why We Still Use Postage Scales

by VENDIREX on 10/23/2015 - 01:37 pm |

Tag: Mailing Equipment

We use postage scales in our everyday business dealings because they save us money - plain and simple.  Even though email and virtual meetings are prevalent across the globe - in all societies and cultures - snail mail isn’t going away anytime soon.

There’s something about opening an envelope, retrieved out of your personal mailbox. It tells the recipient that you took the time and money to make a personal gesture. Rather than spending an average of 4 seconds on your website, your customer will have your company name in hand (literally) for several minutes. And, if you’re lucky (and have compiled an outstanding piece of collateral), your flyer, postcard, or coupon may just earn a place on their refrigerator or desktop.

Weight Matters

Though it may seem an antiquated process, the Post Office clerks still weigh each piece of mail you present to them, after standing in line at their stations. They sure don’t want to lose money, and neither do you.

Having on-site postage scales in your company’s office is just as efficient, and precludes the common practice of adding a few extra stamps to a piece of mail - just to make sure their weight doesn’t go over the limit. After all, how embarrassing would it be for your customer to receive your mail with ‘postage due’ from their mail delivery person?

Maximize Savings

The average company will save up to 20% on their shipping and mailing costs by utilizing a postage scale. There are many sizes, offering just the right choices for small businesses as well as the largest of firms. Use a size which matches your typical items shipped; if the scale is too small, you may get incorrect readings.
If you’re a smaller company which ships its products, the added savings of an in-house machine saves costly labor expenses. No more trips to the Post Office to apply the correct postage. Keep in mind that digital scales have less chance for human error, as they are easier to read.

Proper Cabling and Wiring of Your Office

by VENDIREX on 10/23/2015 - 01:34 pm |

Tags: Equipment Leasing, Maintenance Management

Whether you’re planning to upgrade or expand your existing office space - or start from the ground up - the cabling and wiring infrastructure is one of the most vital things to get right for efficient business operations. After all, your entire communications system is literally tied up in the accurate functionality of these elements.

A proper wire management system should create a reliable and tidy network for all of your data and voice connections throughout the space. Usually, the cables and wires are run through the walls or ceiling of your facility, starting at a patch panel in your server room or closet, and connecting all the worker stations.

Choosing Your Installer

It’s important to remember that a professional is necessary in your commercial space, and that this is not something you should personally attempt, even if you’ve run a few wires in your own home. Less than professional installation could affect the cabling warranties, as well as your insurance protection.

Typical installers are either low-voltage electricians, or phone system technicians, and must be insured and licensed to work in a commercial space. Either one should be a certified Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD); one who is educated in all local and national codes, and expert in the wiring of telecommunications.

Your installer must ensure that your project install is both safe and compliant to local standards set by the Electronics and Telecommunications industries for commercial buildings. Their installation must also abide by the National Electronics Code (NEC), which is regionally adopted for safe electrical wiring and a part of the National Fire Codes.

 
Project Specifications

A project outline of the entire network architecture should be provided prior to the job onset. Known as the Project Specifications Document, it will describe the scope of services, details to be used for labeling and testing of the wiring, equipment to be used in conjunction with the install, timeframe for completion, along with the total project costs. You might want to include a compensation clause for a price reduction if their quoted timeline is not met.

Change orders will of course mean additional fees, but other than these, the prices give in the ‘spec doc’ constitute a fixed rate contract. Customer support is also a part of the document’s enumeration. Response times, level of service, and any limitations on maintenance or warranty expiration should be spelled out thoroughly as well.

Are File Cabinets Still Necessary?

by VENDIREX on 10/23/2015 - 01:31 pm |

Tag: Document Management

The answer is: absolutely yes. Sure, the Internet’s ‘cloud’ is becoming a more popular storage place every day, but it has far from relegated file cabinets to the boneyard. There will always be a need to keep physical documents close at hand, and locking fire-proofed cabinets still feel right. It’s something about being within arm’s reach, and not trusting important documents to the availability of your computer’s connectivity.

There are lots of looks to choose from, whether you want the easy-to-clean, smooth metal surface or sleek wood grains to match your office decor. Styles vary from standing verticals to desk-side laterals; from rolling mobile files to combination cabinet and file pieces.

File Rooms - verticals are the most appropriate for small rooms with less floor space, but good ceiling height. Available in both letter and legal widths, these are the standard in the industry, and still a great choice.

Desk Side - lateral files are perfect at the side of your desk for easy retrieval, and may have 2-4 separate drawers. They allow you to see all the files in the drawer at one time (from left to right or vice versa). Their adjustable frames allow you to configure storage to suit your needs.

Mobile Files - are perfectly matched for rolling file cabinets. Also easy to shift from one room to another without the heavy lifting, these units are extremely popular in the new open floor plans of today’s workplace environment.