DAAS Spotlight
Coventry University Group powers growth in students with Lenovo TruScale Device as a Service Solution
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s the university has grown in recent years so has the number of devices being used across campuses, considerably adding to the IT team’s workload as the time spent on managing the
ageing and disparate device estate grew. Coventry University Group looked for a more efficient solution. Steve Rogers, CTO at Coventry University Group, explains: “Over the
years, we had accumulated laptops and desktops from multiple vendors, with no standardised approach to device procurement or management. Our complex device universe was time-consuming to manage and costly to operate – and users had to hold onto their devices for up to seven years before we had the budget to replace them.” With further expansion expected in the coming years, it was vital
that the group ensured its students, faculty and staff had reliable access to the tools needed for their work and studies. However, procurement decisions were oſten made on a departmental basis, leading to a situation where 188 distinct models from a range of manufacturers were in operation, with many being used beyond their suggested lifespan. Te challenges of managing these devices went further than the
number of models. Users were located across the globe in both domestic and international locations, but the IT team needed to manually set devices up before they could be given to their new owners. To simplify its approach to device procurement and management,
Coventry University Group turned to Lenovo and its managed service provider partner CDW. Lenovo introduced the Group to Lenovo TruScale Device as a Service (DaaS), a consumption model that provides an extensive range of digital workplace solutions with flexible payment options, allowing organisations to easily scale and manage their IT estates. Given the challenges faced in rolling out new devices, it was also
vital to Rogers and his team that any new model came with more support options that would help free up time spent on manual processes. Rogers commented: “Lenovo and CDW were one of the only vendors we found that could integrate with Microsoſt Intune.
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Tat integration is a key benefit for us, as it means our IT team doesn’t need to touch the machines at all – everything ships directly to the end user.”
High quality devices backed by robust support Trough Lenovo TruScale DaaS, Lenovo and CDW equipped Coventry University Group’s users with a suite of modern hardware and the ability to refresh laptops and notebooks in a highly cost- effective way. Devices provided include Lenovo TinkPad T14s, X13 2-in-1, and X1 2-in-1 laptops, which are now all available at a single, predictable monthly price. “Of all the DaaS options we considered, the Lenovo and CDW
proposal gave us the best balance of price and performance,” recalls Rogers. “Lenovo and CDW also have a global distribution network, which enables us to deliver ready-to-go devices directly to our users anywhere in the world.” Te devices themselves are higher performing than those used
previously, giving users a better experience and requiring less support from the IT team. All devices will be replaced aſter four years in service, minimising any reductions in performance and management time for older laptops. “Lenovo TruScale Device as a Service offered Coventry University
Group comprehensive solutions, optimising IT management and enhancing productivity,” comments Abdul Hakim, executive director, digital workplace solutions at Lenovo. “Te Group experienced reduced operational costs through flexible device deployment and lifecycle management. Additionally, they benefited from increased efficiency and scalability, tailored to their evolving business needs.” New faculty devices are now pre-configured by Lenovo and CDW,
and then delivered directly to users’ preferred locations, where they are enrolled automatically on first use. “With Lenovo TruScale DaaS, our team has slashed the time spent on provisioning and managing devices,” confirms Rogers. “We’re saving approximately 40 hours a week with TruScale DaaS, which is time we can reinvest in supporting our staff, students, and faculty around the world.”
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