Fully equipped: stock your space with the right office equipment vendor.

• Position: How-To GUIDE

The proper office equipment can become more than just a machine--it can be a partner in your business. And with a little bit of knowledge and proper research, selecting the best business partner for your needs can be much easier than you think.

What You Don't Know Can Cost You

Technological change in the office equipment industry has made the purchase of office equipment a strategic decision with significant impact on operating efficiency and bottom line results. At the same time, today's digital office imaging products are more versatile and feature-rich than any other products in the history of the industry, and the list of choices and decisions you'll need to make will affect the productivity of your entire business. Being fully informed about how your options can impact your business process is critical to making the best purchase or lease decision.

Assessing Your Needs

With this in mind, here are a few questions you should ask yourself to help you assess and narrow down your true equipment needs:

* What kind of documents does your office produce the most? Collect and list those most critical to your business.

* Have you looked at your printer fleet and determined what your cost of output on each device is? Does it make sense to move prints from dedicated printers to workgroup printers or multi-function devices?

* Would you like a more cost-efficient solution to outsourcing certain documents?

* How much usable space would multifunctional office equipment help you recover?

* Will you need finishing features, such as stapling, collating and binding?

* How many color copies do you print or outsource per month?

* What cost savings might you receive by printing, faxing and/or scanning directly from your desktop?

* Have you considered the cost savings involved by networking the copier/printer/fax with your office PCs instead of using many different devices to accomplish these same tasks?

Other Factors To Consider

OK, you're ready to get started. As you look for the best office equipment dealer, consider such key factors as:

* Time and consistency in business.

* Commitment to service. Even the best, most reliable office equipment needs ongoing maintenance and occasional service. So, regardless of the model or type of product you buy, you have every right to expect your vendor's involvement to continue long after the sale. You'll want to look for...