Industry Knowledge
The Maintain Segment of the Business Technology Life Cycle
What happens in this segment?
As the Business Technology Life Cycle moves into the Maintain segment, most businesses re-enter familiar territory. The tasks
associated with this segment are, after all, the primary function of the corporate IT department: system maintenance and administration, asset
tracking, etc. Many companies assume that the familiarity of these tasks means that they need not seek assistance; this assumption can prove
problematic.
With the adoption of new technology come new challenges to the IT support team. Often, new systems require new maintenance and administrative
skills. Similarly, the powerful new administrative tools that accompany many new technologies can uncover hidden performance issues in older
elements of the network. Familiar upgrade paths must be set aside to accommodate new equipment and applications. New tools and metrics must be
adopted to verify that the organization is seeing the promised benefit from its investment in new systems. Together, these seemingly small
adjustments can become a significant barrier to the return to business-as-usual following implementation.
Perhaps most problematic of all is the increasingly thorny issue of disposal. IT equipment contains many exotic elements now classified as
toxic waste; the days of throwing broken monitors and PCs into the trash are gone forever. Often even outdated equipment has value to someone,
but considerable expertise is required to identify the best buyer and realize the highest value. Most companies simply do not have the time or
resources to get more than token value from the equipment they have replaced.
What specifically is involved?
The Maintain segment of the Business Technology Life Cycle involves largely familiar tasks:
- Maintain systems
- Measure and track results
- Upgrade or replace as needed
- Dispose of old equipment
These include:
Asset Tracking
Asset tracking is one of the most important jobs in corporate IT. It is also one of the most painstaking, and among the most undervalued.
The level of bookkeeping required for effective asset tracking is simply too much for typical IT department resources to keep up, and little-known
requirements from individual vendors can lead to costly oversights. Presidio Technology Capital helps our customers with our user-friendly asset
and lease management tool, built into our Presidio Access Support System (PASS)
. This online toolset allows clients to keep abreast of asset inventory, upgrades, and even maintenance contracts effortlessly,
and provides instant access to lease and other key documents.
Maintenance Agreements
Presidio Technology Capital provides innovative financing plans which combine the substantial cost savings of multi-year agreements with the
convenience of periodic payments. And our sister company, Atlantix Global Systems
, is the industry leader in spares, replacement parts, and guaranteed reliable unused and refurbished midrange and network systems.
Technology Updates and Upgrades
Updates and upgrades can be a real headache for companies that lease their IT equipment. Most leases simply do not accommodate these
standard-practice changes. Presidio Technology Capital Technology Investment Protection and
Quarterly Takedown programs are flexible, specifically designed to
recognize the need for upgrades and even fold the associated costs into the existing lease. Replacement PCs and additional hardware can be
accommodated easily, and Presidio Technology Capital’s innovative residual terms allow like-for-like equipment credits for PCs. Rather than
charge penalties for a lost or damaged PC at lease-end, we can accept a different machine with the same specs for full credit.
End-of-life Valuation
Most businesses overpay for leased equipment, and the reason is simple: the lease undervalues the equipment at the end of the term. Presidio
Technology Capital is affiliated with the industry leader in used equipment, Atlantix Global Systems, allowing us to set
end-of-life valuation with unparalleled accuracy. This means Presidio Technology Capital leases are written without the “fudge factors” commonly
used by others, and our customers enjoy lower lease payments. We are also one of the few technology lessors who actually expect to get leased
equipment back at the end of the lease, so we don’t artificially deflate the value to make an end-of-lease purchase more attractive. Again, our
customers can enjoy lower payments, and avoid the hassle and expense of disposing of old equipment..
Equipment Trade-ins
Because our sister company Atlantix Global Systems is a used-equipment giant, Presidio Technology Capital is able to obtain
real value from aging systems. For many customers, we recognize this value in the form of trade-in allowances; others prefer to place replaced
equipment on consignment, which can yield a slightly better return in exchange for postponing payment until the equipment is sold.
The Business Technology Life Cycle
- Presidio Technology Capital Financial Products offer flexible, cost-effective
acquisition options.
- Explore the tools available in the Presidio Technology Capital's customer information portal
(PASS).
- Our unique Quarterly Takedown leasing option lets you refresh your
IT throughout the life of your lease.
- Presidio Networked Solutions provides industry-leading technology solutions for business.
- Atlantix Global Systems leads the world in unused and refurbished midrange and network equipment.
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