Computer repair market: present and future

The world of technologies is relentless. Where are typewriters and floppy disks now? Where are numerous bookshops and DVD rental outlets that were so popular at the turn of the millennium? They are history. Technologies are developing so rapidly that they can make obsolete things that have been around for tens of years or just for a few months. About a decade ago, computer repair was a very profitable business and promised to remain so for many years to come. Things have changed. Computer repair professionals are not so confident in their future now as they used to be. Here is a review of the current state of the repair computer market and its possible future.

About the career in brief

A computer repair technician is someone who can find and fix problems with a desktop computer, laptop, or other complex electronic equipment. That not only involves hardware but also software installed on computers. A technician normally needs to do a certification program in computer repair. Among the skills essential for a computer repair specialist is the experience in using and setting up various operating systems, hardware configurations, and software applications. They should also be good at working with hand tools such as a screwdriver or soldering iron. A computer repair technician must be a good communicator in order to understand what exactly causes an issue.

The standard wage in the industry equals around $14 per hour. That grows with experience. A professional who has been in the business for less than 5 years can expect to earn $27,000 a year. Those who have from 10 to 20 years of experience, in their turn, typically earn $10,000 more - $37,000. Having worked for 20 years and above, many computer repair technicians switch to other careers. They can become system or network administrators, or computer/network support technicians.

Computer repair professionals work at specialized shops or freelance. There are numerous websites where people whose computers need to be fixed can find a repair person. Examples include http://geektogousa.com/, https://www.smartcows.com/, https://supergeeks.net/broken-computer, and HireRush.

Present and future

Now, let us have a look at what factors have the greatest impact on the computer repair market. Will this career become a thing of the past or be able to survive in the foreseeable future?

Many computer repair shops say that the number of clients who require their services has not changed much over the period of 5 years or so. It is true that certain outlets have to close down, but that process is far from acquiring the status of an epidemic. That said, there are many alarming signs that the computer repair industry is in for some bad times.

1. Computers have become too sophisticated and more expensive to fix

In the past, manufacturers extensively used screws in order to keep various computer components in place. Now, those have been replaced by glue. It is hard to remove, which increases the risk of damage and the time a technician needs for fixing a machine. In addition, manufacturers tend to add more components to the motherboards of their machines. When one of them gets out of order, that may affect tens of others. Consequently, more time and money are required.

2. New computers are not made to last

Probably, the most alarming signal is that modern computers are short-lived. Manufacturers don't build them to last. 4 or 5 years and repairing an old computer will cost more than buying a new one. In the past, that service period was longer. Now, however, there is no point in making a long-lasting computer because even if it's state-of-the-art now, tomorrow it will be the last century due to the lightning-bolt advancement of new technologies. It's not only about hardware, though. New applications require more resources and thus will struggle to run well on older machines. All that brings a very negative consequence for the computer repair industry: people will prefer to purchase a new computer instead of having it repaired at a high cost.

3. Short stocking time for computer components

Another factor that can affect the industry is that manufacturers stock components for their new machines for a shorter span than before. As a result, in many cases a computer repair specialist may simply not find a required part to replace a faulty one.

All those negative trends present a great threat to the computer repair market. To counterbalance them, repair professionals learn more on working with software rather than hardware.

1. Removing malware

One of the areas that can help the industry survive is the expertise in removing malware and viruses, which have become a real plague of the century. Hackers and Internet security professionals are waging a never-ending war. Unfortunately, the cybercriminals are leading the way in this fight despite increasingly effective virus protection software. So, there are enough opportunities for computer repair specialists to say their word.

2. Restoring data

Restoring lost data on hard drives can become another life jacket for repair professionals. Since modern computers are more dependable, many people find backing up data on their machines unnecessary. Then, when something goes wrong after all, they have to call a computer repair person to restore lost data. Along with stationary HDDs, issues with portable hard drives are common, too. Portable drives can easily get out of order when they incidentally fall or are knocked. That's another area of expertise that computer repair professionals can take advantage of.

Considering all of the above, we can predict that the computer repair market as it is now will experience the decline in the next few years. Technologies are advancing. Manufacturers are building computers that are not supposed to last long. People will prefer buying new machines instead of taking them to repair shops.

The industry will survive but will have to undergo a major transformation. Hardware problems will become rarer. The share of software issues will increase. It is software that will enable computer repair market to stay afloat.

I am a blogger and marketer. I have my Master's in Foreign Languages. I am interested in literally everything from literature to business promotion.