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What is Total Cost of Ownership? Description

The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) method is a technique which can be used to make sure that all associated costs over a given time period are considered when you are acquiring an asset. Some examples of assets are: a building, software or a truck. TCO can be described as all costs of owning and operating an asset over time. TCO does not only reflect the costs of purchase. It also includes all other aspects in the further use and maintenance of the asset.

Origin of Total Cost of Ownership. History

TCO was originally developed in the late 1980s by research company Gartner to determine the cost of owning and deploying personal computers. Their initial findings were that PCs cost an enterprise nearly $10,000 per year. At that time this caused an upheaval among financial managers and IT directors.

Calculation of Total Cost of Ownership. Formula

There is no broad accepted formula for TCO. The main thought behind is that you need to consider all relevant costs which are related to an asset. The following list contains typical cost elements of Total Cost of Ownership. Purchase price. Installation costs. Financing costs. Commissioning costs. Energy costs. Repair costs. Upgrade costs. Conversion costs. Training costs. Support costs. Service costs. Maintenance costs. Downtime costs. Safety costs. Productivity costs. Risk costs. Disposal costs. Which factors should you use? This depends upon the industry where the asset will be used and the characteristics of the asset. (Software, computers, buildings, automobiles, equipment, plants, etc).

Usage of Total Cost of Ownership method. Applications

Any purchase of a significant asset, that needs a comprehensive analysis of long-term effects and hidden costs.

Strengths of Total Cost of Ownership. Benefits

Obviously it is sensible to consider ALL costs when an asset is acquired.
TCO is a long-term measure, and reduces the total costs over time.

Limitations of Total Cost of Ownership. Disadvantages

The effort that is needed to do a TCO analysis.
Performing a TCO analysis has itself a cost.
No general formula exists.
TCO does not offer help for the valuation of intangible assets.
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether, and to what extent, certain costs must be allocated to an asset.
Because TCO is a long-term measure, it reduces costs over time. If you have to cut cost immediately, TCO is not very useful.
Generally, TCO does not assess the risks that are involved with a purchase of an asset.
TCO is not very helpful to align investments with strategic goals.

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