Device-as-a-Service: An Emerging New Model for Equipping Your Workforce
We spoke with Shawn Winter, CCO of PiiComm, to discuss the device-as-a-service model and how it offers a disruptive and efficient alternative for mobile device management.
A decentralized workforce has always been the reality of the shipping and logistics industry. Whether a company is delivering parcels around town, transporting consumer goods from one end of the country to the other, or shipping sea cans across oceans, the workforce that makes it all happen is inherently mobile. Another constant our industry has always had to contend with is the struggle to keep everyone connected.
In the old days, a paper manifest and 2-way radio did the trick—two technologies that didn’t need constant upgrading to keep running. In today’s world of interconnectivity and data-driven decisions, however, things are much different—which is where the beauty of DaaS comes into play.
In recent years, the DaaS (Device as a Service) model has emerged to give companies a trouble-free way to keep staff outfitted with the latest in communications technology. In a nutshell, it offers a subscription-based way to outfit teams with all sorts of tech gear, from smart phones and tablets to mobile printers and RFID, without the need to manage the IT hardware, applications or even the repairs themselves.
Why go with a DaaS solution?
According to a recent report from the U.S. (prepared by VDC Research) there are a couple of key reasons IT directors are beginning to look toward a DaaS solution to their hardware needs. Number one, is that as technology evolves, upgrades to mobile devices and their critical applications need to happen more frequently. The second, is that the flexibility of a DaaS solution, coupled with monthly finance options, make it attractive from a budgeting point of view.
To help us learn more about this innovative approach and the benefits it might have for companies in the logistics space, CITT spoke with Shawn Winter, Chief Commercial Officer of DaaS supplier PiiComm.
Shawn Winter
Managing Partner
PiiComm
According to Shawn, “As a company grows, what may have started out as a dozen or so mobile devices for their workers can quickly scale to hundreds or even thousands of devices to manage. A natural tipping point occurs for most companies where they wonder, ‘Do we really want to be managing all these devices internally?’ It’s at this point where Device as a Service really starts to make sense.”
Ability to stay out front with the most recent technology
Winter notes that one of the most persistent challenges is when hardware can no longer keep pace with software that’s industry standard. “It used to be commonplace that you could keep your hardware running for up to 10 years in some cases. But with the speed in which software applications and security updates come to market these days, this is no longer an option. You can’t compete if you’re the only vendor in a supply chain that doesn’t have mobile technology to run the most up-to-date applications.”
Winter also explained that rather than purchasing technology that will inevitably become obsolete, the DaaS subscription model means companies can switch out entire fleets of devices on a set schedule. What’s more, DaaS suppliers will handle the switch, making the process entirely seamless.
“With DaaS, companies don’t even have to worry about getting rid of their own gear. A DaaS contract can include reverse logistics and decommissioning that takes place in parallel to the deployment of a device refresh. For logistics business leaders, they have the peace of mind knowing that their mobile tech is always current and keeps them competitive, and for IT professionals, they’ve got operating systems that are up to date and ready to handle industry standard apps.”
Peace of mind with stronger IT security protection
Staying up to date with hardware and software does provide a natural benefit of better security against a breach. The best protection against a security breach, however, is active management of your Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. Most internal IT teams are pulled in a thousand different directions each day. But a DaaS provider will have Mobile Device Management (MDM) technicians whose sole job is to monitor and protect your company’s IT assets against security threats.
“At PiiComm for example,” shares Winter, “we do a lot of things proactively that maybe IT departments don't do in-house. Things like leveraging our relationships and working directly with the hardware manufacturers and software vendors, in addition to monitoring trends and analysis reports to ensure the latest available patches are deployed and applications are operational. It’s all part of the job of an MDM technician.”
Reduce downtime with predictive analytics and spares management
As you might imagine, the more secure your network, the less downtime you can expect. But even the most secure environment can’t account for common occurrences like battery failure or an employee accidentally losing or breaking a device. These types of lifecycle management services are also included in a DaaS model.
Just because battery failures, broken devices and employee log-in issues can be expected for any fleet of mobile devices, it doesn’t mean that they don’t pose serious disruption risks. Winter pointed to examples including Canada Post and Amazon delivery partners, where volume and velocity is the name of the game.
“A good DaaS supplier will have an MDM solution with strong predictive analytics, a reliable spares management system to get a functioning device into an employee’s hands as fast as possible, and a 24/7 support desk for any critical issues an employee might run into. Imagine a Canada post or an Amazon partner where things are moving at light speed. If something goes wrong with their mobile device, their DaaS supplier will have a ‘hot spare’ – a device that is already staged and ready to use as a spare -- that their employee can grab and keep working without any interruption to their day’s productivity.. That employee doesn’t need to sit there and try and troubleshoot problems. They can just grab the spare and go, while the defective device will get sent back to the DaaS vendor for repair. No one wants their employees troubleshooting technology problems.”
Cost-assurance with a fixed monthly rate
Another notable benefit of a DaaS solution has to do with strategic procurement and the ability to pay for technology on a fixed monthly bill. Like a phone or hydro bill, paying for a fleet of devices monthly means companies can budget and forecast with accuracy, avoid large capital investment outlays, and eliminate the possibility of unexpected costs in the event of an issue.
“As a DaaS provider, we look at strategic procurement to pick the right technology for the application and define a rate schedule that’s just like your cell phone bill. You now know you’re going to subscribe for a fixed monthly rate on that plan for the next two years.
You not only get the technology, but you also get the accessories, licensing, support agreements, managed mobile device management tools, etc., included in the fixed rate and avoid any hidden operational costs when trying to do it all yourself. From a finance perspective, you can budget for it as an operational expense with no capital or deposits needed upfront.”
With DaaS, the future looks flexible
From our point of view, DaaS solutions look to be a great fit for companies operating in our always-on-the-go industry. There’s no question technology will continue to evolve, and there’s no question transportation companies need to stay ahead of the curve. Is DaaS right for you? We’d love to hear your experience.