Consider these 3 things as your company transitions to a modern device lifecycle model

When companies acquire equipment, it is usually done in two ways — either through a direct purchase or a leasing model. In this text, I will explain three things that a company should at least consider when moving to a modern equipment lifecycle model.

In our service model, we bring the IT equipment procurement process into the data-driven decision-making process. At the same time, the company gets involved in the circular economy. In data-driven analysis, we can accurately assess the condition of the equipment and recommend when to replace it based on this analysis. By optimising the equipment lifecycle, the company saves money while doing so responsibly.

The length of the leasing model is most often 2–4 years. After the operating period, the device is often returned to the leasing company, even if it is still fully functional. This is in no way sustainable or economically sensible for the company itself.

When you are planning to move to a modern equipment lifecycle model, it is worth considering a few essential things.

On what basis do you change your devices?

First, you should find out how long your employees have been using the device on average. And when replacing your devices, how many of them are still in good enough condition to be used longer?

On what basis do you replace your devices in the first place? Is it customary to always wait until the last minute before the user has to report that the device is somehow defective? In such cases, the device is often replaced immediately in a hurry, because the work may have already suffered too much.

Another very common reason to replace a device is simply the calendar, i.e., we look at the age of the device instead of looking at the condition of the device. Even if the device is very functional, there is a fixed date in the calendar, for example, three years from now, when a certain number of devices should be replaced.

This is not based on anything other than the fact that the device has now been in use for the agreed-upon three years, so it is being replaced with a new one. Device replacement is not based on a real problem, but in this model, only leasing companies win.

It is therefore worth finding out the actual condition of the devices before replacing them. And the real health check is conducted cost-effectively with the help of technology and our experts.

We have a smart and safe way to get started. We call it the Health Check. We extend the life of a company's equipment by an average of 1–2 years, saving the company a considerable amount on equipment acquisition costs, as the need for replacement is lower than expected.

What things in device lifecycle management do you want to do yourself?

Which things in the life cycle management of a device does the company want to do itself, and which things could be done by a partner? For example, we already assist the customer during the equipment selection phase, recommending suitable devices based on the company's business field and user needs. If necessary, we also carry out orders, deliveries, and pre-installations.

When a company is considering what measures it should take for itself, installing the device is one of the key factors to consider for outsourcing. Often, the most cost-effective approach is to let a partner handle all installation measures. The devices don't even have to be sent anywhere for installation, or ask someone to install them on-site. All of this can be done in the cloud in an intelligent and environmentally friendly way.

In everything we do, a key priority is achieving the best possible sustainability and environmental performance for the devices (such as CO₂ emissions and energy consumption).

What else does sustainability mean? For example, whether the company can and does know how to monitor the condition, use, and costs of the devices, as well as their emissions. And when that device is eventually taken out of service, do you know where it ends up?

If it is known that a device will be recycled, where exactly does it end up? Is the device crushed, or is all possible material recovered from it, and thus is the aim to reuse the material in different industrial sectors?

These are questions that companies should consider in a modern device service model. Namely, the EU has already begun requiring companies to report on their sustainability. Our job is also to help in reporting, measuring, and monitoring IT emissions.

You can get started with a light fitness assessment

The transition to a modern device lifecycle model does not have to be a massive project, but needs-based, above all. You can start very small, even with just a single device. In this case, it is also easier to continue in stages.

The transition can therefore be made in a controlled manner, rather than requiring you to immediately replace or update a large batch of devices. Of course, if a company needs a larger batch of device updates, it is definitely cost-effective.

In a modern device lifecycle model, device replacements are based on intelligently generated data. And what is best? This is also more environmentally sustainable.

The condition assessment is always based on data, not a gut feeling. We look at devices as individuals, and not as an artificial calendar period. In this way, the company saves an average of 30 per cent in device costs.

It is also important to note that devices are neither undersized nor oversized; rather, high-quality devices are selected individually to suit the user. For example, in the latest Windows Pro versions, devices are likely to slow down quickly if they have too little memory at the time of purchase.

With our help, the entire life cycle of IT devices is managed responsibly and intelligently from start to finish. This means that we can truly talk about a circular economy.