One of the most important decisions when buying telecommunications equipment is in choosing the supplier or service provider. This is more than just a transactional decision. It’s a partnership decision, which can provide support for a large part of your telecom operations. Deciding which supplier to partner with is a decision that requires analysis. After all, there are companies that do not offer the levels of service or quality that your company requires.
How to choose your telecommunication equipment parts supplier
1. Price
This is commonly one of the first points that any company takes into consideration before making a purchase. Thus, it is important to search the market for the suppliers that offer competitive prices when selling products. In addition, it is essential to highlight that it is not only the price itself that must be considered. The overall value added must be taken into account.
2. Value-add
As it was mentioned before, the price is undoubtedly an important aspect to analyze, but it should not be the main one. It is necessary to analyze whether the quality of the equipment or service corresponds to the price offered. There are also many services that a supplier can offer, which provides an extended value to your company.
Therefore, it is important to do some research on the durability of the parts and the following topics:
- How is the contract structured?
- What is the company’s support system?
- If there is a warranty?
- Will the equipment need periodic maintenance?
Having the answers to these questions makes it easier to decide on your telecommunication parts supplier.
3. Levels of quality across the board
When talking about value-added suppliers, it is vital to highlight the quality of the service provided. That is, there is no use for the telecommunication parts supplier to offer an excellent product, but without warranty or with poor customer service.
Therefore, check if the supplier has quality certifications such as ISO9000 or TL9000 for example, as they are able to prove the maximum level of quality.
It is also important that the supplier can meet your needs in the short, medium, and long term, considering the growth of your company and its demands. After all, it is important that they are able to supply products in the regions to which you intend to expand and in the required quantities.
4. Reliability/ Product Warranty
Regarding product warranties, not every supplier offers this possibility. Some offer short-term warranty periods (such as 90 days) and others, dont offer it at all. In either case, your company may be left to deal with the consequences. Before choosing a telecommunication equipment supplier, check what warranty (if any) is offered.
Here at Zurich, for example, we provide a 12-month warranty on all spare parts to avoid these problems.
5. Responsiveness
It is important to carefully analyze whether the supplier you are considering to partner with has processes and turn-around times that adapt to your needs. In other words, it is no use for the company to be excellent, but to leave you waiting days to get customer service or weeks for a strategic spare part that your company needs to get back into operation.
In the world in which we live, the speed of work at which we operate is a key to success. After all, any delay can impair the service you provide to your client or the execution of your services. If the supplier takes too long to answer a call or leaves you hanging in any way, it may be better to choose another one.
6. Flexibility
In addition to being responsive, your supplier needs to meet your demands as you grow. Thus, it is important that the supplier is ready as your company evolves, it will be able to continue providing support with the quality offered when it was initially hired.
Final thoughts
In short, make sure that your parts supplier has the highest standards of quality management and processes that guarantee the functionality of the telecom equipment. Evaluate several companies in the market and keep in mind all your current and future demands. With that done, it becomes easier to choose the ideal supplier for your company.
