<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTemplate Instructions Tab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n This tab shows you high-level instructions on how you can use the calculator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more information that you fill out down the left hand side of this tab, the more robust your results will be. This information is used throughout the calculator, in some cases for calculations themselves, and for personal reference and context in others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Organization Growth Factor: <\/strong>The default is 1<\/strong> representing little to no growth \u2014 feel free to change this if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\nU.S. Inflation Rate: <\/strong>The default value of 2.65%<\/strong> is based on a 10-year average; feel free to tweak this based on how you want to make future projections.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOptions 1, 2, and 3:<\/strong> The calculator supports comparisons of up to three options.<\/p>\n\n\n\nExample of adding two different options.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHowever, you don\u2019t have to use multiple options if they\u2019re not relevant to you. If you want to do an analysis of your current TCO for something you own, add a name for it next to \u201cOption 1.\u201d If you want to do multi-product comparisons \u2014 whether this is comparing new products to a product you already own or all new products \u2014 add names for them next to each relevant option. The text you add here will automatically populate at the top of each corresponding option tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Name Options and Add Assessment Timeframes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n However, you don\u2019t have to use multiple options if they\u2019re not relevant to you. If you want to do an analysis of your current TCO for something you own, add a name for it next to \u201cOption 1\u201d. If you want to do multi-product comparisons \u2014 whether this is comparing new products to a product you already own or all new products, add names for them next to each relevant option. The text you add here will automatically populate at the top of each corresponding option tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nAssessment Timeframe:<\/strong> If you\u2019re using the calculator to run future projections, you\u2019ll need to add an assessment timeframe in years. We recommend using 3-5 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo use the buttons on the right hand side of this tab, in Google Sheets, you will be prompted to give permission for a script to be run.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nOptions Tabs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Start with the \u201cOption 1\u201d tab, and fill out the \u201cOption 2\u201d and \u201cOption 3\u201d tabs only if you\u2019re doing a comparison. Each option tab has the same information on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are six major categories on each tab:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nInfrastructure equipment:<\/strong> Aside from networking equipment, this category typically applies only if you have on-premise infrastructure, whether you host it at your location, in a colocation center, or in a data center.<\/li>\n\n\n\nData center\/housing costs:<\/strong> Data center and hosting costs also mainly apply to companies with on-premise infrastructure. This category includes all the costs of housing, powering, and physically securing infrastructure equipment.<\/li>\n\n\n\nSoftware and applications: <\/strong>This category tends to be extensive, and it varies significantly from company to company. It is meant to address the variety of software solutions that IT uses for their work, as well as any software solutions IT manages and\/or pays for.<\/li>\n\n\n\nDevices and hardware: <\/strong>Any physical hardware and associated connectivity plans purchased by your company and issued to employees falls under this category.<\/li>\n\n\n\nPersonnel and support:<\/strong> Typically, these are the labor costs associated with configuring, supporting, and managing the item under assessment rather than the costs associated with more generalized day-to-day activities and job function.<\/li>\n\n\n\nRollout: <\/strong>Introducing a new tool or stack requires time and money for implementation and configuration, as well as training for those who will use it on an ongoing basis.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nInstructions for the Options Tabs:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nBE ADVISED: Inputs should be placed into shaded cells only; cells in white and hidden rows contain calculations and formulas. Tampering or adjusting these cells and rows can break functionality and usability throughout the calculator.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nFor whatever you\u2019re assessing as an option, add each aspect to the appropriate category in the top-most row under \u201cItem\u201d. <\/li>\n\n\n\n Then, choose the subcategory for that item from the dropdown to the best of your ability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n From there, fill in only the blue\/shaded cells<\/strong> for each item you add. The white cells will be calculated for you. Fill in the most blue cells that you can to get the most accurate outcome as possible.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n\nIf you have more items to add than there are rows, select the bottom row within the proper category, right click on it, and choose \u201cInsert 1 row below\u201d so as to not hurt the functionality of the sheet.\n\nNeed to add more than one row? Select the bottom row in the category, highlight multiple rows going up, right click, and select \u201cInsert x rows below\u201d. There is no limit to the number of rows you can add.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nExecutive Dashboard | Current Solution TCO Tab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Use case for this tab: When you filled out the \u201cOption 1\u201d tab, and you want to further analyze the TCO of something you currently own.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis tab shows you the total cost of that particular solution, as well as a breakdown of the costs by category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nExecutive Dashboard | Projected TCO Tab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Use case for this tab: When you want to compare future costs of two or three different options.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis tab will take all of the projected costs starting from the day you fill out the calculator, through the timeframe that you set in the \u201cTemplate Instructions\u201d tab. It compares all of those costs side by side, broken down by category and subcategory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use this tab to visualize and compare the data you added into the relevant option tabs, in order to make more informed decisions around the solutions you currently employ or are looking to purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\nExample of projected costs within the \u201cInfrastructure Equipment\u201d category for three solutions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTip: Copy and paste or screenshot sections from this tab into a slideshow to present to other stakeholders and decision makers in a simple to read and visually pleasing way.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nExecutive Dashboard | Lifetime TCO Tab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Use case for this tab: When you want to compare the lifetime costs of two or three different options.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe difference between this tab and the \u201cProjected TCO\u201d tab is that this tab takes into account past costs as well as future costs. This is more of a holistic analysis, rather than just future projections.<\/p>\n\n\n\nExample of lifetime costs within the \u201cInfrastructure Equipment\u201d category for three solutions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTip: Copy and paste or screenshot sections from this tab into a slideshow to present to other stakeholders and decision makers in a simple to read and visually pleasing way.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFormulas Tab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n This tab includes four formulas that are relevant to calculating TCO. You can change the data in the blue cells, as well as the rate of inflation, to be more representative of your organization in particular, to get more accurate results from the calculator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compound Inflation Calculator: <\/strong>Feel free to adjust the rate of inflation and the present value.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLabor Costs per Worker: <\/strong>Feel free to adjust the salary and time spent on the task per month<\/em> cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConvert Time to Years: <\/strong>Feel free to add data to all of the blue cells, so that the time can be converted into years, which is the unit used throughout the calculator.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrowth: <\/strong>Change the current number cell to the current number of employees that you have, and add in your expected growth rate to get a more accurate depiction of growth across the calculator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n