When an organisation leases company cars, they receive fully functional vehicles without the hassle of managing registration, insurance, or regular maintenance. This model not only simplifies the process but also provides financial predictability. Employees can simply use the car for work without worrying about upkeep. Imagine if mobile IT devices—phones, laptops, and tablets—were as easy to manage as company cars. Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) delivers exactly that: a way to acquire, manage, and refresh IT hardware for a predictable monthly fee, freeing organisations from the administrative complexities of traditional device ownership. Here’s how DaaS brings a transformative shift to IT procurement and finance teams, enabling simplified fleet management, cost efficiency, and operational flexibility.
Device-as-a-Service, or DaaS, is a subscription-based model where organisations lease devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops instead of purchasing them outright. In a DaaS model, a third-party provider supplies and manages devices for a monthly fee, taking care of setup, deployment, cybersecurity, maintenance, upgrades, and even recycling at the end of the device lifecycle. Employees receive fully functional devices when and where they need them, while the IT and procurement teams benefit from a streamlined process and financial predictability.
Much like company cars, DaaS minimizes the burden of managing physical assets. Rather than dealing with the administrative load of repairs, replacements, or end-of-life disposal, organisations get predictable device performance and costs, while leaving the intricacies of asset management to the DaaS provider.
Device-as-a-Service helps organisations avoid high upfront costs and the financial unpredictability of unexpected repairs or replacements. Instead of large, one-time expenses for new device procurement, DaaS converts these costs into predictable monthly payments. This enables better budgeting and financial planning, crucial for both public and private sectors with budgetary constraints.
For finance departments, DaaS simplifies accounting by categorising devices as an operational expense rather than a capital expense. By shifting from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operational expenditure (OpEx), organisations can conserve capital for other priorities and benefit from the tax advantages that often accompany OpEx classifications. Additionally, DaaS offers flexibility to scale the number of devices up or down based on changing workforce needs without any of the sunk costs associated with device purchases.
Managing a fleet of mobile devices can be labour-intensive, requiring IT departments to oversee everything from device provisioning and updates to troubleshooting and replacements. With DaaS, these responsibilities are outsourced, allowing internal IT teams to focus on more strategic initiatives rather than spending their time on device maintenance and troubleshooting.
A Device-as-Service provider typically offers centralised management tools, enabling IT teams to monitor and manage all devices through a single interface. These tools offer visibility into device health, usage, and security, providing control over the entire fleet while simplifying day-to-day operations. For procurement and finance teams, this reduces the need for extensive coordination with IT, minimising administrative back-and-forth, which frees up resources and streamlines internal workflows.
In traditional procurement models, devices can quickly become outdated or incompatible with evolving software needs. This creates performance and security risks, often resulting in an uneven mix of old and new devices in the organisation. DaaS ensures a regular refresh cycle, automatically providing organisations with up-to-date devices. The provider also handles secure disposal of old devices, addressing both environmental and data privacy concerns.
This automated refresh process ensures that employees always have devices that meet current security and productivity standards. Outdated technology can stifle productivity, while up-to-date devices with consistent performance lead to a more effective and engaged workforce. As technology changes, DaaS allows organisations to stay agile and responsive without investing in costly technology refreshes.
As remote work increases and employees work from various locations and devices, security concerns become paramount. Device-as-a-Service providers often include built-in security features such as endpoint protection, device encryption, and remote wiping capabilities. These features protect sensitive organisational data and reduce the risk of breaches from lost or stolen devices.
For government agencies and large enterprises, which must comply with strict regulatory requirements, DaaS providers can also offer managed compliance services. By ensuring devices adhere to the latest compliance standards, DaaS reduces the administrative workload on in-house IT teams and lowers the risk of penalties from non-compliance.
With environmental concerns increasingly influencing procurement decisions, Device-as-a-Service offers a more sustainable approach to device management. Providers handle end-of-life recycling, ensuring that devices are disposed of responsibly. Some DaaS providers also refurbish and redeploy devices within their client base, maximizing the lifecycle of each device and minimising electronic waste. For organisations looking to improve their sustainability metrics and report on eco-friendly initiatives, DaaS provides a pathway to lower carbon footprints and more efficient resource use.
Today’s workforce is dynamic, with frequent changes in staffing levels, remote work needs, and specialised device requirements for different roles. Device-as-a-Service allows organisations to adjust their device fleets to meet these changing needs. Need more laptops for a new team? DaaS makes scaling easy and provides fast turnaround times for device requests. The provider can offer a range of device options tailored to different employee roles, ensuring every team member has the right tools for their work.
This adaptability is especially valuable for government agencies and large enterprises that often manage complex projects with variable staffing needs. DaaS enables these organisations to respond to fluctuating workforce demands without over-investing in equipment that might sit idle during quieter periods.
Just as leasing company cars gives businesses reliable vehicles without the administrative burden, Device-as-a-Service provides a powerful solution for managing mobile IT devices without the headaches of traditional ownership. DaaS not only delivers financial predictability through OpEx-based leasing but also reduces administrative overhead by consolidating device management under a single provider. With benefits that extend to IT management, finance, sustainability, and workforce flexibility, DaaS allows organisations to stay agile and responsive to change.
Telestar manages over half a million mobile devices and services for large enterprises and governments across Australia. With some of the most critical fleets provided under Device-as-a-Service, it is clear that DaaS offers a seamless way to equip employees with up-to-date technology while streamlining operations and enhancing cost efficiency.
After all, corporate car fleets are simple and predictable, so why shouldn’t your mobile device fleet be too?