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ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON
DEVICE-AS-A-SERVICE? BY CHRISTY GORDON, EDITOR
For years, businesses have purchased
devices upfront, maintained them internally,
and then disposed of the devices when
they stopped working or became obsolete.
However, as the workforce becomes more
mobile and the number of devices grows,
supporting this technology becomes a real
challenge. Not only that, but many businesses
can’t afford to buy all of the technology
they need, when they need it. The solution?
Device-as-a-Service (DaaS).
What exactly is DaaS?
Simply put, DaaS is a way for end-users to
obtain devices on a subscription basis. Rather
than buy devices outright, DaaS users pay
one affordable monthly fee, much like a lease.
However, unlike a lease, DaaS includes value-
added services like lifecycle management and
help desk support. This simple model offers a
wealth of benefits to both resellers and end-
users and is gaining momentum in the channel.
“The pipeline is extremely strong,” HP CEO
Dion Weisler told CRN last November. “There’s
good conversion of that pipeline. It’s a trend that
moves faster and slower relative to geography.
But in my view, it is definitely something
that is going to become an increasing
trend in the future.”
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What are the benefits of DaaS?
For end-users, one of the most significant
benefits of DaaS is the ability to shift from a
capital expense procurement model to an
operating expense model. This shift frees up
cash and ensures more predictable monthly
costs, allowing companies to update their
devices more easily and affordably.
DaaS users also enjoy the flexibility to scale
their devices up or down as needed. For
example, when their workforce grows or shrinks
or when their business needs shift. This flexibility
enables customers to get the latest technology
at a price they can afford, a benefit that often
comes as a pleasant surprise.
Managed services such as patching, status
monitoring, electronic asset management and
tracking, and help desk support also come with
DaaS. By taking on these tasks, DaaS frees up
customers’ internal IT teams, enabling them to
focus on more high-level projects. DaaS also
offers end-of-life device recycling so businesses
aren’t saddled with equipment they can no
longer use.
“It is all about ease of consumption,” NWN
CEO Skip Tappen said in an interview with CRN.
“More and more, customers don’t want to own
the product, they just want to consume it.”