Buying laptops outright used to be the only option for most businesses. You paid for them, you owned them, you eventually replaced them. Simple enough, but also lumpy, unpredictable, and surprisingly expensive when you factor in management and support.
Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) offers a different model. Instead of buying devices, you essentially rent them - meaning you get the hardware and lifecycle management baked into a fixed monthly fee.
For some UK SMEs, it's a game-changer. For others, it's not the right fit. Here's how to tell which camp you're in.
There are different DaaS packages available. The typical services that may be included in the bundle, depending on the tier selected include:
The hardware itself (laptops, phones, tablets)
Device configuration and deployment
Ongoing management and monitoring
Support and repairs
Refresh at end of contract (usually every 3 years)
Secure disposal of old devices
Your team gets the right kit, and replaced on schedule - without your finance team having to approve a capital expenditure every few years.
The appeal of DaaS for SMEs comes down to predictability. Instead of a large capital outlay every few years, you have a fixed monthly cost that covers everything.
For businesses that are growing, this scales well: add a new team member, add a device to the contract. No procurement process, no budget surprises.
It also moves IT spend from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operational expenditure (OpEx), which has tax and cash flow implications worth discussing with your accountant.
DaaS isn't for everyone. If your business is small, stable, and already has well-managed devices, outright purchase might still be more cost-effective over the long term.
It also requires choosing a provider you trust, since they'll have ongoing responsibility for your devices. The contract terms matter too. Understand what happens if your headcount changes mid-contract.
The right choice depends on your business size, growth trajectory, cash flow preferences, and how you currently manage devices.
At Equipped, we can help UK SMEs work through this decision honestly. We're not here to sell you DaaS if it's not the right fit. If you'd like to explore your options, get in touch and we'll walk you through the numbers for your specific situation.