When it comes to running a business, it’s always important to have a plan in hand. Whether it is about how you intend to run the business (a business plan) or what your contingency plan, like should there be an unexpected interruption that can hinder your business.
One such unforeseen incident is a power outage. Commercial buildings host a variety of businesses on their platform leaving them responsible for a continuous supply of the basics – electricity, water, and other facilities. Electricity being the lifeline of businesses today, can you imagine what happens when there’s a power outage and how this can affect businesses within? The most immediate result is a halt in daily routine and loss of profit/revenue as an after effect. In fact, ITIC, a mutual insurer, reported that 98 percent of organizations say one hour of downtime costs over $100,000.
Many commercial businesses are investing in a simple power back up – the generator. A must-have in almost all buildings and businesses alike, commercial power generator’s benefits are limitless. Thus, a continuous supply of electricity is made available on site despite power outages. This helps mitigate disturbances that are caused owing to a lack of power supply that could potentially affect business profits and maintain safety on-premises too.
Effects of a power outage on commercial buildings.
Blackouts in commercial buildings can cause serious issues in businesses like:
- Loss of revenue
- Safety issues owing to IT challenges
- Security risks
- Lack of trust from customers of all types of businesses
- Unturned Inventory
- Decreased employee productivity
- Damaged equipment owing to power surges
The list can be endless. Whether your commercial building houses retail stores, medical facilities, financial corporations, and the likes, every business is dependent on electrical power. In 2016, the Amazon website was unavailable to customers for 13 to 15 minutes. This short lapse in itself cost Amazon, $2,646,501 in revenue. This shocking figure demonstrates the impact a power outage or lapse can have on a business. Commercial buildings must invest in having a proper contingency plan in place that protects businesses against losses that can occur during unplanned power outages.
Why invest in commercial generators?
A generator, typically powered by mechanical energy like gas, petrol or diesel, can protect your business interests by providing an electric current when the regular power grid is disrupted. A power failure can happen due to bad weather, animals tampering with power lines, a blackout or even scheduled maintenance. Whatever the reason, it is important as a commercial building to ensure generators on-site are in fully working condition and maintained. Cold seasons can bring about difficulty in starting generators, this shouldn’t be the case and during maintenance, it must be brought to notice that there are techniques like adding an oil preheater to ensure a smooth start.
A commercial building can benefit from investing in a generator for the following reasons:
1. Seamless running of lights and HVAC.
A commercial building can have heavy footfall with customers bustling in and out making purchase decisions and transactions. Most people appreciate having lights on in stores to avoid dark corners and complete visibility of surroundings. It is also worth noting, most buildings have facilities like heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), etc. that aid in the general environmental comfort of the building. Having a generator on-site can ensure these work seamlessly despite power interruptions.
2. Keeps computers, systems, and communication ongoing.
Electronic devices can get damaged with the surge of electricity that passes and leads to loss of critical data. Generators in place help keep online systems, electronic devices, including computers in fully working conditions eliminating chances of loss of data. Should there be refrigerators stocked with perishable goods, top quality generators like the Able brand generator, ensures continuity of power preserving stock? Hospital facilities are heavily reliant on electricity for their coded life systems and emergencies. A commercial building housing medical facilities need a steady flow of electricity.
3. Security at all times.
Almost all properties have CCTV installed for security and vigilance. In a commercial building, where there is a mix of businesses or even one type of business, CCTV usage is critical. It ensures a daily recording of people entering, exiting and of all activities that take place. Should there be a theft, suspicious activity, fire or any type of incident that could jeopardize the safety of people in the building, CCTV cameras allow to keep eye on such things. An extended power outage can cause a lapse in these images being recorded. Such downtime can prove to be a window for several serious offenses to take place, like theft. Even if you had an emergency alarm in place, without electricity, even this wouldn’t work. If it is a tall story building, imagine getting stuck in an elevator without electricity? How long for?
Installing a silent standby generator can keep all businesses running seamlessly until the normal power supply is back.
In Conclusion: Invest and put your mind at rest.
There are many reliable, efficient and pocket-friendly standby generator brands. A reliable and top quality brand will ensure a smooth installation, all the way till maintenance. Many businesses are slowly but surely including standby options in their contingency plans to avoid costly outages. Discuss with a generator dealer about the generator type, transportation, installation, and routine maintenance plan to ensure needs are met. Having a maintenance plan in place ensures businesses across the building are supported during short or long power outages. Some generators also come with smart solutions like remote start systems and easy connect ATS plug. Make sure to go through all product specifications and features to see if it matches your power requirements.
Another recommendation is to read through the warranty terms and conditions to understand coverages and durations. In case there is a faulty product, as a commercial business, you can return or exchange the product within the specified period. Budget early and spend on a generator, rather than spending millions to recover that which is lost.
