Devices for Teams; DaaS without the Faff

Devices for Teams & DaaS in HardSoft

How long has HardSoft been providing the ‘Devices for Teams’ solution?
In 2018 a shift occurred in our market. Subscription model’s such as ‘Device as a Service’ (DAAS) proposals from manufacturers such as HP and Dell is starting to become the status quo. We realised that, with our 35 years of leasing experience, we could provide something better. A disruptive and flexible solution bolstered & reinforced by our 35 years experience & strong partnerships – Subscribe to a New Way of Thinking about IT – Blog.

Is HardSoft Authorised by Apple
We certainly are, and have been since 2011.

How can HardSoft uniquely offer such a subscription style of acquiring kit?
We are FCA approved and authorised with Apple, Surface & all premium PC manufacturers. We know our customers, the market and are experts in both the tech and finance. We therefore know that purchasing is financially inefficient and inflexible for fast-growth businesses – you need Devices for Teams: the flexible solution that unites tech and finance needs. – Find out about HardSoft here

Devices for Teams – how does it work?

Is there a minimum number of Devices per contract?
Yes, your first order needs to be for 20 devices – DaaS how it works – Blog.

Can I add Devices?
Yes & at any time! It could be just a single unit that you add, at any time over the course of the 36-month agreement.

Can I return Devices?
Yes, after 12 months you can return your devices. Your payments are then reduced to reflect this. It could be a single device or multiple, though you must maintain at least 50% of the original number of devices. Only pay for what you use.

Are there any restrictions on the choice of devices?
The only restriction is on Apple ‘Configure To Order’ options. We can offer these, but due to them being ‘built to order’ it means we cannot accept any returns before the 24-month point.

Is there a minimum time I need to retain a Device?
Yes, 12 months. Though if you added a Device at 30 months then naturally we would only expect you to retain this to the end of the term therefore paying 6 months subscriptions.

Is there a penalty to return Devices?
No, for example if we charged you £10 per month for a device on day one then it would be a reduction of £10 when you’re finished with it.

Is Service & Support included?
You bet! Every device is covered which means we will collect and repair at your convenience, provide loan equipment whilst yours is away & offer remote IT support available Monday to Friday. We also offer a fantastic MDM solutions, JAMF & Cisco Meraki. We will be your IT Tech team or support your team! – Read DaaS Benefits beyond the economics to find out more!

Can I cancel the whole thing
After 24 months, you can return all the equipment and walk away with no payments or penalties. Though any devices not returned or damaged you will be liable for.

The company never owns the devices?
Correct, this is a long-term subscription model where we provide you with the optimal configuration of IT devices for as long as you stay with us. Never get left behind & never go out of date. Find out how IT leasing on a subscription works here – blog.

My IT Department is anxious about you replacing them!
We offer a full imaging service, based on role types and IT requirements. But rest-assured we do what YOU want & have a long history of working hand in hand with our partners IT departments. As well as providing comprehensive & total cover to our partners without dedicated IT departments. We can be as effective & comprehensive or collaborative as you need us to be. – View our Support wrapper here.

I have many old computers already that I do not now know what to do with?
If they are Apple devices then we will buy them from you! Working or not we love second-hand Apple Computers. As an example a working three year old 15” MacBook Pro we would buy for £480 plus VAT. – Find out how much your devices are worth here.

What happens if one of my staff members leaves our employment and doesn’t return the Device
You are responsible and will need to make a claim on your insurance for loss and the proceeds passed to us. We can then remove the subscription from any ongoing payments.

What happens if we return a Device but it’s found to have been damaged?
Repair to any damaged items will be charged at fair market cost. We often will collect from your office directly and any damage will be reported to yourselves initially.

Are there any hidden costs?
There are NO admin fees! Once set up, adding or taking away devices also will not incur any additional fees beyond the initial subscription cost.

Who can sign the contract?
In the first instance, it needs signing (online) by one of your Authorised signatories. After that if, we can collect a list of whom you would like to Authorise, then we can send any online e-sign amendments to them.

Do you offer a Web Portal to administer our Devices?
Yes we do. This area will provide Accounting info, Device information & Reports. If you need to see any particular info then we would happily oblige.

How do we pay?
Payments are quarterly & in advance. We invoice every quarter and our payment dates are 1st of January, April, July, October etc… We accept payment via various means though our preferred method is direct debt as this means we can amend payments easily in line with any additional devices added or returned.

Is Devices for Teams a Lease?

Is Devices for Teams not just a Lease?
Leasing is “a financial arrangement in which a company pays to use land, a vehicle, equipment etc. for a particular period of time” … So the answer is NO as there is no particular time and no particular commitment.

Is this Capital Expenditure or OpEx spending?
As you never own the equipment the agreement is from your Operating Expenses budget.

Are there Tax advantages to an OpEx spend on leasing?
Being a simple subscription solution then ‘devices for teams’ is a fully allowable expense. Remember A.I.A. (or Capital Allowances in old money) ceases beyond £1 million of capital investment per annum. Growing companies that buy computers potentially are wasting a tax advantage.

What’s the key difference between the Devices for Teams by HardSoft and the “Device as a Service” from HP and Dell?
The ability to return devices; Whenever & wherever without being penalised. HP allows the return of up to 15% of total devices but HardSoft have the ability to return many more and without a penalty. Moreover, there’s no one off fee’s to add new devices.

How does the D4T option differ from the Flexi- Lease option offered by HardSoft?
The key difference is that Devices for Teams allows the continued renewal and return of individual devices within the three-year term and the amendment of future payments to reflect this without any admin fees. Leasing is not as flexible.

Is Devices for Teams a Lease?

Is Devices for Teams not just a Lease?
Leasing is “a financial arrangement in which a company pays to use land, a vehicle, equipment etc. for a particular period of time” … So the answer is NO as there is no particular time and no particular commitment.

Is this Capital Expenditure or OpEx spending?
As you never own the equipment the agreement is from your Operating Expenses budget.

Are there Tax advantages to an OpEx spend on leasing?
Being a simple subscription solution then ‘devices for teams’ is a fully allowable expense. Remember A.I.A. (or Capital Allowances in old money) ceases beyond £1 million of capital investment per annum. Growing companies that buy computers potentially are wasting a tax advantage.

What’s the key difference between the Devices for Teams by HardSoft and the “Device as a Service” from HP and Dell?
The ability to return devices; Whenever & wherever without being penalised. HP allows the return of up to 15% of total devices but HardSoft have the ability to return many more and without a penalty. Moreover, there’s no one off fee’s to add new devices.

How does the D4T option differ from the Flexi- Lease option offered by HardSoft?
The key difference is that Devices for Teams allows the continued renewal and return of individual devices within the three-year term and the amendment of future payments to reflect this without any admin fees. Leasing is not as flexible.

Does HardSoft manage the whole lifecycle of the hardware?
Yes – All your devices will be covered by our 3-Year Warranty & Support Wrapper where HardSoft will support, manage and maintain all devices for you. 

Does DaaS increase the security of my organisation’s technology?
Yes – Devices are always delivered & set up with the latest Operating System (OS) available for that device. Plus we offer support to ensure Apple Devices are enrolled into Apple Business Manager to manage and track your assets via an online portal – for further control of your devices MDM Solutions are also available for deployment. 

What managed services come as part of the DaaS provision?

• 3-Year Warranty
• Optional Accidental Damage Cover
• Pre-Configurations
• Tech Support (30min SLA response time)
• Loan Devices shipped next-day delivery

Does DaaS deal with just hardware assets or does it include others?

We can help you with the hardware but also all the software in it

• Office 365
• Security / Anti-Virus – Sophos / Avast
• Mobile Device Management (MDM)

We can also offer more than just a laptop, desktop or iPhone but also all the accessories you need plus other office equipment. 

Monitors, docks, keyboards, interactive whiteboards, AV systems, etc – all on a pay monthly solution designed to fit around your business requirements!

What happens if a device gets broken?
Every device includes our Support Wrapper with 3-Year Warranty, equivalent loan devices delivered in 24 hours & Tech Support with 30-min response time. There’s also access to optional accidental damage cover options if required.

How do you update our devices and when?
Apple (12 months) &  PC (18 months) – Ultimately you just let us know when you’re ready to upgrade. We can spin up or spin down devices in as little as 24-hours, getting you the latest tech fast. Stop paying for the old device and start paying for the new one.

Why do I need to think about upgrading my IT using a subscription model?

• Good for Cash Flow
  Small monthly payments that are Opex tax-friendly. 
• Increase Productivity & Morale
  Everyone has the latest personalised tech they need when they need it. 
• True Flexibility
  Add, subtract and change devices as & when your business needs. 
• Avoid Obsolescence
  No more depreciating assets – upgrade after 12 months. 
• Full Support
  Full service and support during business hours. 
• Trusted Partner
  With over 35-years of experience in IT, Apple & FCA approved. 

How does Windows ending their Windows 7 support impact DaaS? 
Support & Security updates for Windows 7 OS was officially ended in January 2020. To keep your company secure you shouldn’t have any endpoint Windows 7 users. Avoid the upfront costs associated with upgrading to Windows 10 and start paying monthly for your IT.

Can a shared document space be included in a DaaS service?  
Cloud-Computing, Network Attached Storage (NAS) & Traditional local servers are all services we can recommend & provide on a pay-monthly plan for your business to enable greater fluidity in task & file management – Contact us for more information & a business ready solution tailored for you.