After a breakdown, you’ve probably had to make a decision to either implement a short-term, quick fix to end costly downtime or go all out in the moment to invest in a comprehensive, long-term solution. While conventional wisdom says the permanent solution is the best option, that’s not always the case.
Sometimes, a temporary fix makes sense even when it costs more. The challenge lies in figuring out when the extra expense (and extra work) are justified.
The downside to temporary solutions
Although it can be the right choice, there are cons to implementing a temporary solution.
- If you get too comfortable, you might never put a permanent solution in place
- It will cost more money up front
- It will take time and resources to implement
- The temporary fix may not be as good as a permanent solution
- Customers might get upset over the changes, even when temporary
- A temporary fix might break safety laws and other industry regulations
Although these are common issues that accompany temporary solutions, they aren’t always reasons to jump straight to a permanent fix.
When temporary solutions are ideal
Sometimes the best way forward begins with something temporary. For example, when an electrical transformer fails, business owners need to get a replacement as fast as possible, but lately, the lead time for getting a new unit has been around two years. In this situation, most business owners get an emergency transformer replacement, which often involves buying a refurbished transformer. Long-term, refurbished equipment of this nature won’t work, but it’s the ideal short-term fix.
Other reasons and situations where a temporary solution is beneficial include:
- When customers are counting on you to deliver and you can’t afford to leave them hanging. In the long-term, keeping customers happy is crucial. If you shut down operations and turn your customers away, some of them will give up and go to a competitor. If you’re out of commission for too long, this could be permanent.
- It’s a safety hazard to leave the situation in its current state before a permanent solution can be implemented.
- There’s a chance you might get audited or inspected by a regulatory body before your permanent solution is in place.
- You need time to come up with a long-term solution.
Temporary fixes can be avoided – sometimes
It is possible to avoid having to create a short-term solution if you plan ahead. However, no matter how much you plan, the unexpected is sure to happen. Avoiding the need to scramble at the last minute to implement a quick fix is only possible when you already have the permanent solution outlined and available. This isn’t easy when the necessary solutions require time, money, or a large storage area to make your solution available on command. However, when your solutions don’t require purchasing and storing large pieces of equipment, you have a better chance of being ready to create a permanent solution right out the gate (provided you plan ahead).
When you do put a quick fix into play, however, you need a plan for transitioning out of it into the permanent solution. Maybe that involves calling an expert, or just handing off the task to a third-party when the time comes. Your plan doesn’t need to be complicated as long as you know what to do.
Strategic planning can avoid serious consequences
One thing is true across the board – you should never turn a temporary solution into a permanent fix, intentionally or accidentally. Your plan of action in case of downtime or a random breakdown should always include keeping your eye on creating a permanent solution.
Downtime can be costly if you don’t have a plan. Ultimately, the best route is to have a backup plan for every potential breakdown that might occur. It sounds tedious, but it’s the only way to keep your business running in case of an unexpected situation.
Know when a quick fix is appropriate
Whether you should implement a short-term fix or a long-term, permanent solution from the start will depend on a variety of factors that can only be assessed when a situation arises. While long-term solutions are beneficial and should be implemented anyway, don’t close yourself off to using a quick fix when it makes sense. Sometimes temporary solutions are a necessary bridge that will carry you until you can put a permanent solution in place.
