Delivering Device as Service (DaaS)

Gone are the days of capex-heavy IT departments, managing hundreds if not thousands of devices. Instead, we are seeing a very clear and deliberate shift to subscription-based IT hardware/software delivery – also known as “Device as a Service” or “DaaS”. 

What is DaaS and How Will It Impact Tech Providers?

DaaS combines devices (such as mobiles, tablets, PC and workstations) with value-added expertise in an all-inclusive solution covered by a monthly subscription fee. It gives businesses a more flexible and cost-effective way to handle device allocation and support.

The benefits of DaaS are plentiful for the end customer, such as:

• Ability to free up resources and remove the burden of device management
• Lower, more predictable costs
• Shorter device lifecycles and access to the latest technology

With so many benefits, it’s no surprise that Device as a Service continues to grow - with no signs of slowing down. IDC predicts that by 2020 one in six commercial PCs shipped globally will go through a DaaS contract. 

So, what does this mean for technology providers who have, or plan to jump on the ‘DaaS wagon?’

Taking away the headache of device management from the end customer has meant that the technology provider must now take on that burden, and therefore needs to be fully equipped to run this as smoothly and effectively as possible. Delivering full device lifecycle management demands robust tools and processes that can manage the entire product lifecycle end to end. And it must be infinitely scalable as business grows.

Questions to Ask Before Jumping on the DaaS Wagon 

As a technology provider, if you have, or plan to offer DaaS, then below are some key questions your business should be asking.

• Do we need additional resources to manage the device lifecycle process for our customers or are there tools available that can automate most of this?
• How can we gain full visibility of our entire asset environment, in real-time?
• Can we track EVERYTHING - from serial numbers, warranties, licensing status all in one place? 
• What is the process for retiring and replacing assets?
• Can we keep a full audit trail of each asset/device and it’s geolocation?
• Is the data we hold for these devices and customers held in a controlled and secure environment?

FlexiGroup is one provider who discovered that due to the sheer volume of devices they could have funded for its customers at any point in time, it was critical that the company had a robust and scalable installed base management engine in place throughout the entire product lifecycle. They chose iasset.com due to its flexibility, scalability, ease of use and ability to integrate into other internal systems.

“When providing a funding solution behind a complex ‘PC as a Service’ or ‘Device as a Service’ offering from a hardware or equipment provider, it’s critical we have accurate and detailed asset tracking capabilities that not only serve our internal requirements, but provide solution providers and end users with accurate asset utilisation and cost data, which can also capture/manage data specific to their individual requirements – iasset.com allows us to do this in a detailed and granular manner with infinite scalability” - Ken Richards from FlexiCommercial. See the full press release here.

Contact us to find out how iasset.com can help you proactively manage your installed base throughout the entire product lifecycle.