If your business is moving into a new location or is about to update the voice and data network in an existing facility, it’s important to work with the right structured cabling contractor. As with any business arrangement, you want to make sure the outcome is in the best interests of the business operation. Choosing the right voice and data cabling contractor will mean your voice and data network will be good to go for four to five years before another upgrade is necessary.

Track Records Matter

As you start evaluating various structured cabling contractors in the area, take the time to learn a little about each one. Specifically, you want to know how long each voice and data contractor has been in business. Longevity is one of the things you want in this type of installation contractor. A company that has been in business for several years is obviously doing something right and is worth looking at a little more closely. Don’t rely on longevity alone. While it is a good indicator of quality work, it is not the only factor. Find out what you can about the experience that the owners bring to the table. You may find a voice and data cabling contractor that is only a couple of years old, but is owned and operated by people with an impressive amount of experience in the industry.

How Do They Do Things?

Getting an idea of how each structured cabling installation contractor works will also help you narrow the list of candidates. If the company doesn’t start with some sort of preliminary assessment of the facility and the communication needs for your business, see that as a warning sign. This type of assessment, sometimes known as pre-fielding, is essential in order to develop a plan of action that gets your voice and data network up and running quickly with minimum interruption in the business operation. For your part, that preliminary assessment is also the chance to see how different structured cabling contractors do with collecting information about what you want to accomplish with the cabling. Contractors who look around, nod their heads and say they will be in touch are not what you need. Focus your attention on structured cabling contractors who assess the physical aspects of the facility, ask questions about how your company uses voice and data communications and then really listen to the responses.

And the Final Cost Is…

You want the highest quality voice and data network for the lowest possible price. After you’ve identified several potential structured cabling installation contractors that seem like reasonable candidates, invite them to submit a formal proposal. Prepare a Request For Proposal (RFP) that covers all the specific questions you want answered, up to and including a breakdown on the pricing. Make sure to set a due date for submission and do not accept any proposals that arrive after that date. Scrutinize the contents of those proposals very carefully. What you hope to find is that one of the structured cabling contractors provides clear and concise information for every question found in the RFP, includes a comprehensive breakdown on the costs, and perhaps goes the extra mile and includes other information that will aid you in making the decision. Keep in mind that the cheapest price is not necessarily the best choice. If you have to spend a little more to create a cabling network that will serve the business well for several years, consider that money well invested.