Survey Shows Enterprises Gradually Adopting HaaS Model

… manufacturers that want to convince customers to adopt the HaaS model.

“Because devices are provided by and managed by a third party through HaaS, the model is attractive to businesses that have limited tech resources,” Tsai said. “However, many organizations with adequate IT knowledge and manpower opt to manage hardware on their own. Also, many businesses going the DIY [do-it-yourself] route don’t find HaaS to be cost effective, with nearly half of organizations opting to hold on to company-owned laptops for five or more years in order to save money.”

He also noted that two-thirds of IT pros see HaaS as better for communal hardware, like printers, rather than end-user devices.

“However, there is hope for HaaS providers,” Tsai said. “MSPs and hardware manufacturers will have the most luck targeting buyers who already lease when trying to sell the benefits of HaaS.”

MSP need to able to show ROI and offer case studies that support their arguments, ZK’s Kerravala said. They also have to overcome other concerns, including the worry about handing control of systems that can have sensitive data — including PCs, printers and storage devices — to a third party. They also need to be able to make points that are more relatable to business leaders rather than IT people. That includes stressing the importance of businesses being adaptable in such rapidly changing times.

“The risk of not finding new operational models can be a lot more damaging to a business today because things are moving a lot faster,” the analyst said, adding that MSPs need to make customers understand the risks of not making a change, which can include falling behind competitors and possibly having to shut down.

Tsai said that MSPs “act as trusted advisers that help many organizations with IT services they rely on to effectively run their businesses, often filling in for organizations that lack in-house IT expertise. Offering devices through a hardware-as-a-service model represents another way MSPs can help businesses outsource their technology deployment and maintenance tasks, allowing companies to focus on their core businesses.”