Amid work from home, the device-as-a-service offering is even more prevalent in our post-pandemic landscape. Learn what to expect with this type of service!
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 brought about, or in some cases, accelerated several technology trends, including digital transformation and the work-from-home movement. In the IT marketplace, the Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) model has also been picking up traction. Not to be confused with desktop-as-a-service, in this model, companies acquire hardware without needing to buy, configure, and manage it. And if PC makers and other hardware suppliers want to keep up with business, consumer expectations, and demands, they will need to land on DaaS.
So, what exactly is DaaS and how can it support your business? Read on for the answer!
What is DaaS?
Simply put, DaaS includes offering smartphones, PCs, and other mobile computing devices as a paid service. All that’s needed for end users is an internet connection! According to Tech Republic, with DaaS, vendors take desktop PCs, laptops, and other devices and preconfigure and customize them with security and productivity applications. They also include value-added services to ready the devices for business or consumer customers. Unlike the past, where devices were outright purchased by companies, the devices are paid for on a consumption model. While it may seem like a lease, DaaS is more concerned with the services associated with devices rather than the devices themselves.
By outsourcing the hardware, software, and management of the equipment to external providers, DaaS eases the IT needs of a company. Subscribing to a DaaS provider allows an organization to scale up and down physical devices on an as-needed basis. Further, the organization can more easily update to newer hardware more frequently and quickly.
Under DaaS, more devices are being offered, each with hardware lifecycle management services included, like device backups, security, asset backing, and end-of-life disposal.
DaaS Business Model
One of the biggest boosts for future DaaS adoption is the work-from-home movement due to the pandemic. As businesses around the world shut down thanks to COVID-19, companies that raced to send workers home to do their jobs were often forced into a laptop-buying frenzy. One of the biggest lessons learned was the fact that it is easier to buy the machines fully loaded and preconfigured with software and security to allow workers to securely access work remotely. For companies, the pandemic basically streamlined the process of quickly enabling a large number of at-home workers that businesses didn’t have in the past. DaaS arrangements also include product support from vendors or partners as needed, including recovering value through device repair, redeployment and more.
It’s not just IT organizations that can make use out of DaaS offerings. Other structures like schools can use DaaS, where school boards can order the same amount of tablets or computers as they have students.
Services begin through a contract with a DaaS vendor that states the software, hardware management, services, amounts, and lengths of time required for use. Payment is typically on a per-device basis. Some OEMs will have a DaaS offering, and from their overall device lineup, will offer a somewhat limited number of choices. It’s also important to note that users cannot replace hardware they are using from a DaaS vendor at any time they wish. A contract usually will stipulate two to three year timelines for replacing devices.
DaaS service offers typically provide devices that have already gotten the software the organization needs to use installed. A vendor will also include a visible upgrade path for updates and patches.
All in all, the DaaS trend is on the rise and was quick to grow. In fact, in 2014, only one percent of PCs were being shipped as a part of a DaaS. Based on market research from the firm IDC, DaaS is set to grow to twelve to fifteen percent of all desktop and laptop offerings by the end of this year. While the percent might not seem that high, it encompasses all PC offerings and not just in enterprise. As a new market, the structures and prices of DaaS clearly are continually evolving.
Device as a Service versus Desktop as a Service
As we previously pointed out in this article, device-as-a-service shares the DaaS acronym with desktop-as-a-service, which certainly can prove confusing when simply using the acronym. The two differ in what is being offered as a service. In device-as-a-service, physical hardware is being offered to customers under a subscription model. On the other hand, desktop-as-a-service is a cloud computing offering in which a third party will offer a virtual desktop running inside a virtual machine (VM). The desktop-as-a-service provider will host the backend of a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployment. For those unfamiliar, the technology that supports desktop virtualization lets users simulate a workstation load to access a host desktop from a connected device remotely or locally. Desktop virtualization separates the desktop environment and its applications from the physical client device used to access it.
With desktop-as-a-service, the operating system will run inside a VM on a server that is being provided by a cloud-based service. Desktop-as-a-service is paid by the virtual desktops used each month as a subscription service. Organizations can also deploy a desktop infrastructure in a private cloud in local data centers. When it comes to having a disaster recovery plan in place, you can configure cloud desktops to continually backup the most recent instances of your servers and simply switch them on if the primary servers at your local site fail. Top desktop-as-a-service providers include Amazon and Windows virtual desktops hosted on Microsoft Azure IaaS.
Benefits of DaaS
According to Tech Target, DaaS presents a variety of benefits, mostly to smaller startup IT organizations. These benefits include:
- For vendors, the ability to sell refurbished devices, thus increasing ROI
- The ability to scale devices up and down as needed
- Pushes cost from capital expenditures to operating expenses, allowing organizations to focus on important processes like hardware refresh
- Reduces workload on IT staff to configure devices
- Automatic management of patches and updates
Looking for global coverage and synchronized delivery? We have you covered.
Stefanini’s DaaS Supports Stressless IT
With our Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) model, we help take the stress out of managing your IT departments’ devices. We procure devices for your business as well as provide device lifecycle management, ensuring they are configured correctly and consistently meet your every requirement.
Our equipment lifecycle control starts with planning and purchasing and flows throughout delivery and receiving; distribution, installation and operation; inventory, maintenance and warranty; and ends at pickup and return. With simple device leasing, workplace-as-a-service leasing, workplace full-services leasing and workplace evolution leasing, we also offer several products to help maximize the efficiency of your business operations.
Ready to take advantage of our DaaS solutions? Call us today to speak with an expert!