Have You Considered Device-as-a-Service?

This past year has brought with it many changes and many learnings. The word “transformation” has become one of the most used, or some would say overused words, in business. But transformation really does describe what organizations had to do to remain operational in the face of the pandemic. From the work from home movement to cloud adoption, re-thinking the use of technology to better operate a business was a necessity for organizations of all sizes. 

One of the areas that has seen growth in the last year is the adoption by businesses of a subscription model when purchasing devices such as laptops. The model is known as Device-as-a-service. 

What is Device-as-a-Service?

Before getting into the benefits of this model, let’s define what it is. 

Device-as-a-Service is acquiring typical hardware devices (i.e., laptops, tablets, desktops) along with a variety of services and software for a monthly subscription fee. It is a consumption model that allows businesses to pay for technology and services in the period that they derive value and benefits from the technology and services.

This model has gained popularity in the last several years, but the adoption of this model accelerated over the last twelve months as businesses had to quickly adapt to the work from home/work from anywhere environments. They realized they could acquire the hardware without having to outright purchase, configure or manage it or their users. 

Benefits of DaaS

A DaaS model provides businesses with agility and lower costs. More importantly, it allows organizations to focus less on the devices they are using and much more on the business outcomes they are looking for. 

1. No upfront capital investment

The DaaS model provides the hardware, software and services in a single paid service which shifts the costs from capital expenses (CAPEX) to operational expenses (OPEX). The predictable monthly costs allow businesses to gain efficiencies when it comes to cash flow, budgeting, and hardware refreshes. 

2. Increased flexibility

DaaS offers organizations the flexibility to scale the number of devices they require up or down as their business changes over time. 

3. Increased Productivity

This model provides SMBs with an evergreen strategy that allows them to maximize productivity from a couple of different perspectives. First, since DaaS simplifies the management of the devices throughout all of the lifecycle including procurement, provisioning, managing and support and maintenance, businesses can focus on their business objectives rather than managing their devices. Second, as equipment ages, the cost of repairs increases as does the costs due to lost time for employees who are struggling to get their work done due to older devices. An evergreen strategy allows devices to be updated on a regular schedule that results in increased productivity.

4. Simplified management

Under most circumstances, DaaS includes managed services. This means the technology service provider provides services such as updates and patching, device monitoring, maintenance and management and help desk services for employees. Again, this enables SMBs to focus on their businesses rather than the equipment they are using.

These are just a few of the benefits organizations can derive from moving to a Device-as-a-Service model.

Bottom line, DaaS can benefit SMBs by providing the equipment they need to operate their businesses without the worry of purchasing, deploying, supporting, and managing these devices. It allows them to reduce their costs, increase productivity and provides the flexibility to scale up or down as their business changes. The business outcomes become the focus as it should be.

MicroAge would be happy to talk about how a subscription model like Device-as-a-Service can benefit your business. Contact us today.