How to Set Up Office Equipment
Setting up office equipment is time consuming, but it is worth the effort to help a business run smoothly. Deciding which equipment to buy is the first thing to do. The type of equipment to buy usually depends on the number of people working in the office or the general nature of the business.
- Measure your office space to determine how much equipment you can fit. Write down the things you need for your office, such as computers and workstations, a telephone system and a printer. Use the measurements you took to help you choose the right equipment to buy. Look for sales to save some money and find out if a store offers financing to help you pay for the equipment.
- Build your computer workstations to start setting up your office. After you have the workstations in place you can unpack the computers. Hook up the monitors and printer and make sure each computer works. Download any programs you need and install them on the computers.
- Set up a copier to use in your office. If you work with several people in the office you may want to get a standalone copier. You can also get a printer/fax/copier if you have a small operation. Test the copier and read the instruction manual to learn how to work the different functions.
- Install your phones and answering machine. If you have a multi-line phone system make sure you know which phone line represents each number. Test your answering machine and create an outgoing message.
- Hook up your fax machine if the device is not included in your printer. Many offices use the second phone line as a dedicated fax number. Send a test fax from your computer to the fax machine to make sure the device is working properly. You should also send an outgoing fax when you test the machine.