| If you want to run a successful PC repair company, | | | | work and tweaking for weeks or more. When you are |
| you have to know how to provide end-to-end solutions | | | | first planning a project, you need to know and define |
| to your clients and build real relationships. This involves | | | | which tasks are in scope and which are out of scope. |
| learning to spot and address potential problems | | | | If you're not sure, refer to the latest revision of your |
| proactively... before they turn into total catastrophes | | | | time budget. Don't be afraid to use change orders if |
| that will destroy your business. | | | | necessary. |
| First of all, you have to keep communication lines open | | | | 5. Hardware Incompatibility. Be wary of non-standard |
| with your clients if you want to be an effective project | | | | hardware not provided or recommended by your PC |
| manager. During major projects, keep in touch with the | | | | repair firm. It can derail you... big time! |
| main contact person at the client site at least once or | | | | 6. Lack of Server Data Backup. Be certain you have a |
| twice a week, so you can give and get feedback, and | | | | complete and verified backup of all data on your |
| report on project developments. | | | | clients' existing server in case you need to roll back to |
| But which issues can ruin client relationships and derail | | | | original configuration settings or find data. |
| your business? The following is a list of 10 potential | | | | 7. Delays on Products or from Service Providers. |
| show-stoppers for your PC repair business, so you | | | | Because you will be acting as a project coordinator |
| can identify and learn how you can side-step each of | | | | virtual CIO, you will often be coordinating telco or ISP |
| them. | | | | account activation or product shipments from multiple |
| | | | distributors. And you might run into unanticipated delays. |
| 1. Ambiguous Software Licensing, Ownership or Poorly | | | | Most small business clients will be content just to be |
| Documented Configurations. If your client is getting new | | | | kept apprised of the situation as long as the delay is |
| PCs, make sure your client has the media and the right | | | | not too bad. Get scheduling commitments from all |
| number of licenses. Especially in the case of software | | | | subcontractors and write the proper contingencies into |
| installation with non-standard configuration, make sure | | | | your project plans to protect you and clients. |
| the proper configuration settings and procedures are | | | | 8. A Project Timetable that is Too Rigid. You might |
| well-documented and accessible. | | | | think you should print out your project plan and set it in |
| 2. A Client that is a Control Freak. You can't afford to | | | | stone, delivering just one version to the client. However, |
| just sit back and take it if your clients want to boss | | | | this is dangerous. Make your timetable an amendable, |
| you around. Unless your PC repair clients want to pay | | | | living document. You'll probably update your timetable |
| for your training, non-billable downtime, overhead, taxes, | | | | on a weekly basis to reflect progress and problems or |
| insurance and fringe benefits, clients need to know | | | | delays. |
| your firm's staff are not their employees. | | | | 9. Skipping the Planning Phase to Save Time or |
| 3. Data Not Transferred from Old PCs. Small business | | | | Money. Do you think it might be wise to skip some of |
| end users often think that years-worth of stored data | | | | the preliminary needs analysis and planning because |
| files will be magically transferred from their existing | | | | they seem like wastes of time? Never skip these |
| PC's to new server folders or computers. Because | | | | critical tasks. When you skip important planning and |
| they believe in this supernatural phenomenon, they | | | | needs analysis steps, you run the risk of overlooking |
| hardly ever mention all or any of their data files when | | | | key elements of projects. |
| talking to you about their IT problems. You need to be | | | | 10. Incompatible Software. If you want to be perceived |
| responsible for scouring local drives for stray data files | | | | as a PC repair professional, make sure you don't take |
| as part of your initial assessment. | | | | software compatibility for granted! Ask and test |
| 4. A Project that Drags in the End. With problem | | | | sample configurations to make sure everything works |
| clients, you might find yourself embroiled in follow-up | | | | as advertised. |