Say that you’re the office manager for your organization. You are a key decision-maker in charge of some of the most important decisions in the office. The office’s copier is down, so you called your friendly neighborhood copier dealer to make a copier repair service call. You and your co-workers anxiously wait at the office, anticipating a service technician’s arrival. The technician finally arrives to fix the copier, but they don’t actually know what to do. Your technician, Sam, rummages around in his parts bag before pulling out some parts and stumbling to the system.
“I’m here,” he grunts. “What’s the problem here?”
Exasperated, you re-explain to Sam what you already explained on the phone. He gets back to work before returning to you to tell you that he just can’t fix it. You’re annoyed.
If the above situation sounds familiar to you, then you’re not alone. Offices across the country have experienced that situation, and they have made it past that to see another day as a thriving business or non-profit. We here at ClearView Business Solutions have had many technicians over the years, so we’re well equipped to inform you how many technicians copier dealers usually have,and what makes a good technician.
So without further delay, let’s get tech-ni-cal, tech-ni-cal.
How many technicians do copier dealers have?
The amount of technicians at a copier dealer depends on a number of factors. Generally speaking: Small copier dealers that have 1,000 machines in the field (MIF) should have four or five technicians. It doesn’t always work out that way though, since some dealers are understaffed. Medium-sized copier dealers have 15 to 20 technicians. Large dealers have at least 50 technicians.
The factors that can impact the number of technicians that dealers should have will be tied to:
- Machines in field
The number of technicians that a dealer has mainly depends on the number of machines in field. The greater the number of MIF, the more technicians the dealer has. The guideline in this industry is that one technician services 200 to 250 MIF. That’s assuming that 80 percent of those MIF are copiers, and 20 percent are printers. More copiers require more technicians. Specialty color presses, plotters and other specialty equipment also require additional, specialized technicians.
- Location, location, location
Location also affects the number of technicians that a dealer has. The bigger the service region, the more technicians a dealer will have. If each technician covers a larger area, there will be fewer technicians overall. If each technician covers a smaller area, there will be more technicians overall.
- Technicians’ skill
Generally speaking, the more highly-skilled a technician is, the more efficiently and properly they will be able to get the job done right, the first time. Higher-skilled technicians can also service more MIF.
- Type of technical work
New installations of equipment take more time, so if a dealer is doing many of these, then it will need more technicians. More technicians can compensate for the service time lost to technicians spending more time on new installations.
What do copier technicians do?
That would be good to know now, wouldn’t it?
You may know a bit about copier technicians. You may have even worked with one before, or you may even be a technician yourself.
Copier technicians can be an under-appreciated but extremely valuable member of any copier dealer’s team. Without technicians, offices simply wouldn’t have a functioning copier when their copier inevitably malfunctions (at least once). Technicians really can be unsung heroes for any copier dealer. Here’s what they do:
- All things copiers
It kind of goes without saying, but technicians are copier wizards. Ever heard the song “Pinball Wizard”? Technicians are kind of like that, just with copiers. They can install, maintain and repair printers and copiers. That means that they take equipment apart if necessary, replace and repair broken parts, put equipment back together and install and update software. At the end of a visit, technicians log the details of the visit in their records to keep track of exactly what work was done.
What training do technicians go through?
Just like with other jobs in other professions, technicians have to go through a fair amount of training to develop the skills to do their job.
Here’s the training that prepares a technician for his or her job:
- School
Copier technician training begins early in life, in middle and high school. Technicians undergo rigorous coursework in shop classes. In such classes, future technicians can learn how to make electronic circuits using different parts. They also learn how to disassemble and reassemble engines and motors and engines. Young future technicians can also learn on their own by experimenting with various devices and tools. Finally, future technicians learn some basic tenets of mechanics in high school physics classes.
- Post-secondary education
After high school, aspiring copier technicians are encouraged to pursue and earn an associate’s degree in electronics at a community college or private school. Coursework in these programs consists of lab courses and theoretical classes about electronics. Classes cover digital logic, basic circuits, programmable controllers and circuit design.
- Certification
Just like in other fields, the copier technician field offers many different methods of certification so that customers can know that they’re receiving service from a highly-trained, fully-credentialed professional. Depending on the copier series, technicians undergo either a manufacturer’s online webinar and test, or a manufacturer’s webinar, test and classroom training, which lasts one week per series.
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) provides the CompTIA A+. These days, technicians benefit from this exam because most devices reside in a particular network. The CompTIA A+ exam is “a performance-based certification that supports the ability to connect users to the data they need to do their jobs regardless of the devices being used.”
What should I know about copier technicians?
As you can see, copier technician service is an important asset not only for the dealer, but for the customer, too. As a prospective customer, your organization obviously has the power to choose between different copier dealers. As a diligent, savvy customer, your organization should ask dealers various questions about their technicians.
Dealers should have enough technicians so that they can respond promptly to service calls. Technicians should be well-trained so that they can get the job done right the first time. Ask dealers if there’s anything their technicians can’t do.
While you’re at it, ask us some of these questions online, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (844) 282-2737. We here at ClearView Business Solutions don’t shy away from the tough questions, including any questions about the greatness of our technicians. Ask us anything!
