We know that when you’re running a business the last thing you want to do is spend unnecessary money on items that may not need replacing. But don’t worry, we’re here to reveal the simple ways you can establish when your office equipment needs a little refresh. 

 Firstly, does it work? If the item isn’t working, turning on or doing the job it was intended to do you have two options: you need to replace it or have it repaired. You shouldn’t delay doing this as there may come a time when you need to use the item and you don’t have it available. Instead of waiting in the hope that it will eventually work, as soon as you establish its fault, have a plan to get it repaired or replaced.  

 Have the costs of running the piece of equipment increased? Let’s take a printer. Most offices have one, but they’re no stranger to breaking or becoming faulty. If you keep repairing it when it’s broken rather than replacing it, you may be spending way more than the cost of a new one. Having it repaired once, or maybe even twice, is a great way to reduce the need to spend a large amount in one go on a replacement, but eventually, you may find you’ve spent more than the cost of a brand new one.  So, before you go opting for a repair, have a look at the cost of a new one and weigh up the benefits. You could save yourself quite a few pennies. 

 Is a piece of equipment fulfilling its job requirement? If, for example, you have a trolley that features castors that don’t move properly then it can’t do its job effectively. In this instance, you can simply replace the wheels and have them working as intended. Or you can replace the trolley altogether. Make sure equipment is functioning as it should be otherwise it could end up being the cause of downtime and reduced productivity.  

 No one should have to sit at a desk for eight hours a day and feel uncomfortable. So if you’ve noticed that your chair has lost its comfort or you can’t quite get comfortable at your desk, it may be time to replace the chair with a more supportive one. You should be able to get a good few years out of a high-quality office chair, so if after a few months, the cushion starts to fall a little flat, ordering one with great lumbar support should be a top priority.   There are simple ways to find out if your office equipment needs a little refresh, from something not working to it not doing its job very well – and getting these items fixed or replaced can make a world of difference to your productivity.