In-house maintenance scores highest on performance if you have skilled staff. You control the quality of repairs and can turn devices around fast. But that assumes you can train people properly—otherwise, you're just creating a different failure point.

Partner-led programs can perform well if the partner has a proven track record. The catch: you're dependent on their turnaround times. If they're slow, your customers feel it.

Hybrid approaches usually land in the middle. Basic fixes happen in-house, complex repairs go out. That flexibility often delivers the most consistent performance for a growing distributor.