How Building Technology Purchases Work at Robinson Park

Robinson Park manages many buildings for the building's ownership. Because of this, technology purchases for a building, property, or one of its employees follow a specific line of reasoning to ensure compatibility, security, and accurate billing.

This article explains who pays, who purchases, and how IT is involved when technology is needed for your building or its occupants.

Who Pays for Technology?

In nearly all cases:

• The building’s budget pays for the technology
  • Should ownership find somebody other than Robinson Park to manage their building and property for them, this equipment is left behind at the building for the next team to use. The building is its owner, Robinson Park simply manages it and leaves it at the building should relationships change.
• Costs are billed through the building's best payment method, or IT's payment method and then back-billed via Yardi.
• This applies to:
  • Computers and laptops
  • Servers and storage
  • Mobile devices
  • Network equipment (switches, APs, firewalls)
  • Displays, casting devices, and other technology
  • Printers and printer leasing
  • Controlled access, ABS/HVAC, Cameras
  • Laptop power cords, normal power strips, adapters, etc
  • ... More!

Equipment supporting a building or its people is not paid for by Corporate IT.

How Purchases Are Made

There are two approved ways to handle technology purchases. Both require IT involvement.

Option 1: Building Purchases with IT Guidance

• The building works with IT to select standardized equipment
• Equipment fits the Robinson Park technology environment
• The building completes the purchase directly
• The building’s budget is back-billed in Yardi

This option works well if the building already has a preferred vendor or purchasing process.

Option 2: IT Purchases on the Building’s Behalf

• The building works with IT to define the need
• IT places the order
• The cost is billed back to the building’s budget via Yardi
• IT handles:
  • Correct models and configurations
  • Compatibility with existing systems
  • Asset tracking and life cycle management

This is often the easiest option for more complex or specialized equipment.

When Does Robinson Park Corporate Pay?

Corporate-funded purchases are specific.

Robinson Park Corporate only purchases technology when:

• The device is required for Corporate staff
• The device supports Corporate office operations
• The equipment is not tied to a specific managed building

If the technology supports a building, guests, or on-site staff, it is not considered a Corporate expense.

Why IT Must Be Involved

Involving IT ensures:

• Equipment compatibility across buildings
• Security and compliance with standards
• Consistent support and troubleshooting
• Lower long-term costs through standardization

Purchasing technology without IT involvement often leads to:

• Unsupported devices
• Security risks
• Unexpected replacement costs
• Delays during deployment
• Broken support due to lack of transparency, inclusion, and communication

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a building buy its own technology without telling IT?

Yes! All technology purchases should be coordinated with IT, even if the building is paying directly, but it is not required. This however comes at another cost.

This will result in either no, or high-level support only, as the building chose to operate outside of Robinson Park's managed standards and exclude IT from this process. IT cannot be reasonably expected to help with gear purchased outside of their guidance, inclusion, and knowledge.

Can IT refuse a device request?

Yes. If a requested device:

• Is incompatible
• Introduces security risks
• Cannot be supported long-term
• Technology is flawed or known to have persistent issues.
  • This can also include the issue of buying equipment and owning it, only to be unable to use it without repeatedly paying every month or year just to use it. This is not ownership, it's a form of bad-faith business that we will mostly avoid. Context depending.

IT will recommend an approved alternative.

Will the building still be billed if IT places the order?

Yes. IT purchasing on your behalf does not change billing. Charges are applied to the building’s budget through Yardi.

What if ownership wants a specific brand or model?

That’s fine. IT would need to:

• Validate compatibility
• Identify risks
• Document limitations, if any

Need to Get Started?

Submit a ticket with:

• What you need
• Who it’s for
• Which building it supports
• Any deadlines or ownership requirements
• The 5W's and 1H (who, what, where, when, why, and how) about the situation to eliminate back-and-forth communications for details that should have already been included.

IT will guide you through the rest.