Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award 2024 Finalist

Rentalworks Group receiving the Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award as one of the finalists, presented by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Low Yen Ling.

Rentalworks Group receiving the Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award as one of the finalists, presented by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Low Yen Ling. PHOTO: OCBC

We are delighted to be among the finalists for the Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award 2024. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to OCBC and The Business Times for acknowledging our efforts and commitment to creating a more sustainable future. This esteemed recognition not only validates our initiatives but also inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in sustainability.

Emerging Enterprise 2024 Logo

Rentalworks is committed to being the leading IT Lifecycle Asset management provider in Singapore and the region, championing the circular economy. We assist companies in achieving their sustainability objectives and minimizing e-waste. This approach not only benefits our clients by maximizing their resources and lowering expenses but also positively impacts the environment by encouraging responsible consumption and waste management practices.

Rentalworks was featured in The Business Times for our significant contributions to sustainable solutions and circular futures, showcasing our impact and leadership in promoting sustainability and the circular economy.

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About Rentalworks
Tech Support Hub

If you need to optimize, repair, or maintain your devices, our skilled technicians are just a tap away. All our experts are professionally trained and certified. While they have years of experience, they are constantly upgrading their skills to stay ahead of the game.

Whether you lease a device from us, or you are a service subscriber, we’ll help you ensure your devices are operating at peak performance, enabling you to focus on what matters most – your business or personal pursuits.

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Every Time

Keep your operations - and your productivity - running smoothly with our on-the-dot turnaround times.

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Experts

All our tech support experts have depth and breadth of experience, and are up-to-date with the latest solutions to help you keep your devices in top condition.

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Cost

Our monthly subscription-based service means you only need to pay for the services you need, whenever you need them.

Dedicated Case Manager

You only need to refer to one person, who will walk you through the entire process until your case is resolved.

Upgrade any plan with the Tech Support Hub “Plus” option for advanced deployment and efficiency.

Tech Support Hub Plus​

Drive Efficiency

Drive Efficiency

Streamline your IT operations with advanced deployment services

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Ensure your devices and data are protected with our secured space​

Increased Speed

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TECH SUPPORT HUB SERVICES
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SERVICES

ESSENTIAL

(Getting The Basics Right)

ADVANCED

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ELITE

(Ensure Peak Performance)

Device Troubleshooting

Level 1 Software (OEM) Support

Escalated Technical Support

Dedicated Case Manager

End-To-End Case Management

Next Business Day Onsite Services ³

Asset Management Reporting

Temporary Device Replacement

Operating System & Drivers

Support for Common Applications

Printer & Scanner Configuration

User Profile & Permission Management

Network And Endpoint Security

Onsite Preventive Maintenance

Bi-annual ²

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startup setup

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startup setup

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BUNDLED WITH RENTALWORKS LEASED DEVICES

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SGD 25 

Upgrade your plan with additional features for Tech Support Hub Plus

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Overview Access

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(Monthly price per device,
Tech Support Hub Plus)

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SGD 5

SGD 0

Total Cost

(when you choose Tech Support Hub Plus)
SGD 5
SGD 15
SGD 25

Remarks

Full Service Included​

1   Minimum 30 devices required to qualify for Elite Package
2   Minimum 30 devices coverage to qualify for Bi-annual onsite preventive maintenance
3   Full onsite service available for Elite subscriptions and Rentalworks pre-loved devices. For Essential and Advanced subscribers, Rentalworks supports by coordinating with external on-site service professionals.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US

"Thank you for the support. Looking forward to continuing the collaborative service with Rentalworks."
Leading Consultant in Singapore
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Ticket ID ISD-3096
Log Date 7 June 2023
"The IT Support technician provided prompt assistance and effectively resolved our issues."
Prominent Construction Company in Malaysia
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Ticket ID ISD-3060​
Log Date 1 June 2023​
"Thank you very much for your prompt assistance with our Outlook issues."
Established Food Supplier in Singapore
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Ticket ID ISD-2320​
Log Date 27 July 2023​
"The Rentalworks technical support team is highly knowledgeable and resolved our problem with impressive speed."
Leading Construction Company in Singapore
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Ticket ID ISD-2116​ ​
Log Date 30 December 2022​
"Well done on the swift follow-through!"
Leading Software Company in Subang Jaya​
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Ticket ID ISD-4168​​ ​
Log Date 15 January 2024​​
"Excellent & Professional Services"
Industry-Leading Argriculture Company in Malaysia​
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Ticket ID ISD-4158​​​ ​
Log Date 24 January 2024​
"Exceptional performance—well done!"
Reputable International School in Malaysia​
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Ticket ID ISD-4018​​​​ ​
Log Date 29 January 2024​​
"Solid work—your efforts are truly appreciated."
Established ICT Company in Malaysia
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Ticket ID ISD-3664​ ​
Log Date 16 February 2024​​​
"Thank you for your hard work! The service has been remarkably fast and seamless."
Leading Early Childhood Education Company in Malaysia
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Ticket ID ISD-4769​ ​
Log Date 6 June 2024​​​
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Tech Support Concierge for Advanced & Elite Subscribers

We Have What You Need

If you need additional applications on top of your subscription plan to take your IT system to the next level of performance, we are authorized resellers and licensed partners of the world’s leading software solutions. We make life easy for you by handling it all on our end, so you can just collect your devices and be productive right away.

Want to elevate your IT experience?

Contact us today and let us show you how our personalized support can unlock the potential of your devices to keep you productive.

FAQ

The Tech Support Hub is a service provided by Rentalworks that offers expert technical support to optimize, repair, and maintain your devices, ensuring they operate at peak performance. Our skilled technicians are professionally trained and certified, ready to assist you whenever needed. ​

The Tech Support Hub offers three subscription plans: Essential, Advanced, and Elite. Services included in the table above. ​
  • Essential: Basic support including device troubleshooting and level 1 software support. ​
  • Advanced: Additional services like escalated technical support, dedicated case management, and bi-annual preventive maintenance ​
  • Elite: Comprehensive support with all Advanced services plus next business day onsite services, monthly preventive maintenance, and advanced deployment options
  • Essential: Bundled with Rentalworks Leased Devices ​
  • Advanced: SGD 10 per device per month (minimum 30 devices required to qualify) ​
  • Elite: SGD 25 per device per month (Minimum 30 devices required to qualify)
All Rentalworks leased devices come bundled with the Tech Support Hub services, ensuring you have access to our support without any additional cost. ​

You can reach out to us at support@rentalworks.com.sg.  If you are a subscriber, your dedicated case manager will assist you directly.

You can upgrade your subscription plan at any time by contacting your dedicated case manager or reaching out to us at support@rentalworks.com.sg.

We also provide productivity, cyber security, device management, and backup solutions as authorized resellers and licensed partners of leading software solutions. We handle all setup and configuration, allowing you to be productive right away. ​

An interview with Alan Puah

7 Ways On How Technology Lifecycle Management Sectors Can Achieve Circularity by 2030

In this interview, we ask...

Mr. Alan Puah, founder and Group Managing Director of Rentalworks, and passionate member of our SGTech Circular Economy Workgroup, to share his thoughts and vision for how technology lifecycle management sectors can achieve circularity by 2030.

In 2021, the SGTech Sustainability Steering Committee was formed to...

drive sustainability transformations across all technology industry verticals, through action plans that enable industry to take collective actions and be part of the solution to green- proof the future of Singapore’s domestic economy.

To-date, six Workgroups are actively addressing six areas of the sustainability problem, out of which Circular Economy and E-Waste & Packaging Workgroups are working collaboratively to drive business and community demand for sustainable IT assets usage and management practices.

Out of this collaboration arose SGTech’s eRevival Square Virtual Pledge in 2021, opened by Dr. Amy Khor, Singapore Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Sustainability and Environment. The Virtual Pledge brings together tech leaders to pledge their commitments to raising sustainable practices in IT assets use and management, thereby encouraging other businesses to step forth to do the same.

Among our first corporate pledgers is Rentalworks, a vibrant Singapore company with strong expertise in this area.

Alan Puah, Founder and Managing Director of Rentalworks Group

“Businesses would need to accelerate adoption of operating models which are circular in nature in support of a sustainable green economy” – Alan Puah

SGTech: We hear much about the term Circular Economy. The SG Green Plan sets circularity targets of Sustainable Living to be achieved in Singapore by 2030. This is also a UNSDG 12.5 which calls for countries to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse by 2030.

Q1: At a high level, what does it mean for the business community in Singapore?

Alan: The Circular Economy is an economic model which revolves around a restorative and regenerative design approach contrasting the traditional Linear Economy where it is based on a take-make-waste system on resources to make products. With Circular Economy, resources and products are processed to maintain their highest value for as long as possible and the elimination of waste is part of the production design process and business model from the beginning.

One of the five key pillars emboldened within The SG Green Plan 2030 is Sustainable Living which is ‘to make reducing carbon emissions, keeping the environment clean and saving resources and energy a way of life in Singapore’. The business community in Singapore could play a significant role with regards to saving resources and energy. This would entail extensive reviews and reengineering of practices to one that embraces circularity in processes, standards, solutions, and performance metrics.

Businesses would need to assess and adopt operating models which are circular in nature. To name a few, product-as-a-service (lease or pay-for-use), product life extension (repair, upgrade, resell) and circular supply chains (renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable resources) are models that would bring about immense economic benefits as it reduces wastage of resources, optimising product utility whilst helping to reduce the environmental impacts of our production and consumption in Singapore.

Q2: Moving down to the industry level, for Singapore’s domestic business sectors, how does this circular economy benefit business bottom-lines?

Alan: One of the key lessons of survival learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic is that businesses need to make good and creative use of all available resources to be resilient. The Circular Economy model adheres to this principle as it involves extending the product lifecycle for reuse.

Products then can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value.

Pivoting to a circular economic model, will substantially reduce unnecessary capital expenditure hence improving bottom line. Leveraging on a Device-as-a-Service model for example, which is highly circular in nature, businesses get to steer away from massive capital investments to monthly predictable subscription fees.

Since device ownership still lies with the lessor, repairs, upgrades and reuse of these devices will usually be undertaken by the lessor reducing the complexities and costs involved in managing these devices from cradle to grave.

SGTech: We hear reports that changing business processes to increase the circularity of business operations may be challenging for SMEs, especially the micro-SMEs. However, we also hear of internal challenges for large corporations and MNCs as well.

Q3: In your view, what are the common denominators of the challenges faced by businesses from big to small in raising circularity?

Alan: he two main challenges most businesses especially SMEs face to change their business operations to increase circularity is cost and mindset. Profitability as mentioned earlier is imperative and changing a business process and business direction can be an expensive exercise when viewed on a short-term basis. The mindset of people can be another obstacle where familiarity and comfort with the current process makes changing extremely difficult. Comfort can breed complacency. The Circular Economy model must be viewed as an economically sound long-term business model with buy-in from everyone involved in the business for it to be a viable business approach.

Q4: Based on your vast experience in IT asset lifecycle management or now commonly known as Device-as-a-Service, what are the most common sustainability challenges in digitalizing, you have come across among businesses?

Alan: Businesses generally understand the benefits of digitalising their business processes. A big part of digitalisation involves empowering employees with the right tech devices and applications.

With the rapid proliferation of tech devices, businesses often will feel the need to upgrade their devices within a short period of time and this creates 2 challenges; usable devices which are not being utilized fully to its lifecycle or devices which are potentially disposed incorrectly before fulfilment of its useful life which would add to the surmounting e-waste issue that is harmful to the environment.

The last challenge is on the improper disposal of tech devices at the end of its useful life where many businesses can be confused on the right channel methods of disposal. Improper disposal of tech devices not only contributes to the e-waste problem but can also be a data security concern where 10% of global data leakages are caused by improper disposal of devices.

Q5: What roles can Singapore’s IT managers and service providers play that will be helpful to overcome these challenges?

Alan: To overcome and support businesses in alleviating these challenges of limited budget and complexities of managing the device lifecycle of IT assets (a key enabler in any digitalisation imperatives), IT managers should consider deploying Device-as-a-Service for these businesses.

DaaS combines modern devices with essential software and services in a single, predictable subscription.

Such solutions help businesses improve cost structure while giving them access to modern devices, by shifting from capital expenditure to an operating expense.

With DaaS, it relieves businesses of the hassle of managing the entire device lifecycle – from procurement to retirement – while meeting industry specific compliances for data protection. With device lifecycle management responsibilities with the lessor, businesses could now focus and deploy resources on growing the business.
Further, with businesses now being encouraged to adopt sustainable business practices to meet the Singapore Green Plan 2030, adopting DaaS, would be a practical approach. Towards the end of the subscription, IT managers are provided the option to refresh the subscription with brand new devices, ensuring continued performance and productivity.
The ‘old devices’ will be returned to the provider/lessor, to be refurbished, for use by other businesses with less demanding specifications and requirements thus extending the lifecycle of the devices. With this, businesses will get to meet its sustainable goals without having to invest time and resources to ensure circularity of the IT devices.

Q6: What roles can industry associations like SGTech play to help smooth the way and enable tech businesses become part of the solution?

Alan: SGTech, being the leading trade association representing over 1,000 tech and tech@core businesses in Singapore, plays an extremely important role in creating awareness as the voice of the industry as well building a framework for sustainable practises and processes within and beyond the tech industry where businesses can not only easily begin their journey to be sustainable and in parallel understand the economic benefits of taking this journey.

Q7: Lastly, what advice do you have for SMEs who have yet to embark on their circularity journey?

Alan: Start planning your journey now and understand that the circular economy has many benefits not only to the environment but also potentially to SMEs bottomline. Start your journey with small steps and SMEs can always engage SGTech for ideas and guidance on the where, what, and how of the circular economy.

Device-as-a-Service: The New Playbook Amidst Supply Chain Disruptions

PC shipments around the world were hit by their worst slump in the past nine years, research firm Gartner said on Monday. For the second quarter of 2022, global shipments fell to 72 million, a decline of 12.6% compared with the same quarter in 2021.¹

The decline we saw in the first quarter of 2022 has accelerated in the second quarter, driven by the ongoing geopolitical instability caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, inflationary pressure on spending and a steep downturn in demand for Chromebooks,” said Mikako Kitagawa, research director at Gartner. “Supply chain disruptions also continued, but the major cause of PC delivery delays changed from component shortages to logistics disruptions.¹

Closer to the Southeast Asian region, Malaysian companies from palm oil plantations to semiconductor makers are refusing orders and forgoing billions in sales, hampered by a shortage of more than a million workers … due to protracted negotiations with Indonesia and Bangladesh over worker protections.²

The industry-wide silicon chip shortage and disruptions related to COVID-19 lockdowns in China have left the technology sector facing renewed supply constraints.

These are familiar narratives which many businesses could resonate with – a “perfect storm”, amidst other structural global disruptions, driving costs northwards. It presents a slew of challenges to businesses in trying to grow revenue and maintaining profit margins.

Device-as-a-Service… the new playbook to ride the ‘storm’

Realities: IT projects cannot be stalled notably so in this era of digitalisation of operations for cost rationalisation and improvement of productivity; hybrid work arrangements are here to stay. Against the backdrop of supply chain disruptions and increasing costs, ability to scale up and leverage on growth opportunities are key considerations for many C-suites and entrepreneurs.

In efforts to resolve this dilemma between growth and cost rationalisation (budget), Device-as-a-Service is one solution that businesses could adopt. Device-as-a-Service or commonly known as DaaS is a platform that manages the device lifecycle – it is a supply chain model combining device fulfilment, services, recovery, right
up to device refresh (to avoid device obsolescence which could hamper productivity). It provides an integrated seamless end-to-end device lifecycle management for a seamless user experience.

DaaS is emerging as a desirable playbook as it alleviates the issues inherent to direct procurement, which may have longer delivery time frame (because of the inherent which currently has become dire due to supply and logistics challenges) hence putting projects, expansion initiatives at risk. DaaS providers on the other hand, due to the nature of their business, generally would have buffer stocks be it new or pre-loved devices which businesses could ride on empowering them to be agile and scalable.

Beyond stock availability, DaaS has manifold benefits:

  • Boosts Cashflow
    An off-balance sheet item companies can benefit from favourable financial ratios namely leverage and liquidity in addition to conserving capital. DaaS (which incorporates leasing) allows companies to enjoy exemptions from capitalizing the leased endpoint computing device in balance sheet ( IFRS 16 lease )

  • Reduces Total Costs of Ownership
    DaaS devices minimizes the burdens associated with rapid deployment of IT assets due to faster pace of new technologies and digitalisation initiatives. Companies get to manage/reduce total costs of ownership due to mechanical failures as the assets age and unbudgeted software upgrades as the service provider as the owners of the devices undertakes maintenance and inventory management in addition to the costs that is associated with it.

    According to “IDC 2021 Device as a Service MCS Study,” IDC, August 2021, DaaS is helping companies reduce their PC costs by up to 17 percent, with small businesses experiencing a greater impact. DaaS helps reduce IT workloads by up to 16 percent.

  • Empowers Responsible Refresh
    DaaS enables companies to refresh their IT assets with latest technologies maintaining performance and reliability. Old devices will be re-furbished and leased out as pre-loved assets or recycled within the context of circular economy, supporting companies in achieving their sustainability goals.

    In summary DaaS, subscribers gain flexibility, lower costs, and freedom from device management responsibilities hence reducing total costs of ownership.

Founded in 2007 Rentalworks Group, with regional footprints in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and partners in other parts of Asia, Rentalworks offers integrated DaaS solutions consisting of specially curated device leasing programs. “We work out the best available tech devices that fit each business requirements at the cost that fits their budget. Our unique approach ensures the process of deployment, maintenance and refresh are all managed throughout by Rentalworks; at the same time ensuring all endpoints are monitored and protected from anywhere, at any time, think Device-as-a-Service” said Alan Puah, Managing Director of Rentalworks Group.

With Rentalworks retaining ownership of the assets throughout its lifecycle. Rentalworks takes responsibility for extending its useable life, recovering it for reuse. In doing so, maximizing its economic utility while minimizing environmental impact without creating unnecessary e-waste due to improper disposal. In addition, for devices that have attained its end of life, Rentalworks will recycle the devices responsibly in accordance with local environmental laws.

An Interview With Worldwide Recruitment Solutions (WRS) Pte Ltd

WRS began in 2008 with just five founding members and a turnover of £250,000. With an initial focus on the energy market, WRS now employs more than 50 specialist consultants with expertise in specific geographies and key sectors in the energy, maritime and technology industries. As well as our UK head office in Altrincham, South Manchester, we have busy offices in Singapore, Kurdistan and North America, and we have recently registered a joint venture company in Kampala, Uganda to provide recruitment and workforce solutions to Uganda’s Oil & Gas sector called WQS Recruitment Services. From our core permanent recruitment services, we have now successfully expanded into the contract, global mobilisation, managed services and technical services space, in three key industries. We have won numerous awards over the years, including The Queen’s award for enterprise 2015, LinkedIn most socially engaged staffing agencies top 25 in Europe, Middle East and Africa regions in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, The Sunday Times International Track Top 200, 2021 and Recruiter Fast Forward top 50 Recruitment companies 2021.

What does Global Workforce and Mobilisation entail?

WRS works with major clients who have global projects requiring permanent and contract personnel, sometimes at short notice. Having offices in Europe, Asia, America and Africa with specialist consultants in each, WRS are able to supply our clients with the best talent available both locally and globally. We provide an end-to-end service.

WRS is a Global Workforce and Mobilisation specialist primarily in the energies, maritime and commodities sector

Our Global Mobility team, work with around 1,500 contractors and permanent staff each year, across every continent. We ensure that their journeys are seamless, from the moment they get on the flight, to their return home, meaning that you don’t need to have any hands-on involvement in the process of getting individuals on site and ready to begin work.

Our service encompasses travel arrangements, safety and security, visa processing, pre-employment checks, medical and travel insurances, and local compliance. Increased buying power means that we are able to pass on significant savings to our clients.

What are the critical success factors and challenges in running a global recruitment outfit?

Like any other recruitment company, the most critical factor is attracting great talent and retaining them. Our employees are the heart of our organisation, they are the people who ultimately decide if WRS will be successful or not. That’s why we give each and every new starter a comprehensive training plan and a clear agenda for their personal progression. We have a real family feel and ask that all our staff are treated and treat each other with respect and courtesy. You’ll often hear us talking about the ‘WRS Community’ which everyone joins when they embark on a career with us. We believe it’s this fantastic culture and the continual career progression and personal development that makes people want to stay at WRS.

How can WRS support hiring managers in achieving an agile and scalable workforce?

Finding permanent staff in any industry can be very challenging and takes a huge amount of skill and knowledge – particularly when filling niche roles. The pandemic increased this challenge exponentially due to international travel restrictions. At WRS, we pride ourselves on sourcing, selecting and shortlisting not only those candidates with skills needed to get the job done, but also the people with the right attitude to ensure that the work is completed in a timely and professional manner, every time. We listen to our clients’ exact requirements so that when they work with us, they can rest assured that our specialist teams have the expertise and knowledge to find the people they need to get the job done.

The pandemic underscores the urgency for a dynamic talent and work model

We reference-check all of our candidates prior to submission to ensure that their career history will truly benefit the client’s project and organisation. We also decipher each candidate’s long-term career aspirations and motivations to ensure their values and goals match those of both the role and the company, providing employees who can grow alongside the company. Not only do we save our clients the time and effort of finding suitable candidates, but also the costs involved in the whole process of sourcing and screening to find the right talent.

What were the compelling reasons for the franchise to shift to this model versus outright purchase
of laptops?

WRS subscribes to Rentalworks Group’s leasing solutions

In an era where technology has never been so important, WRS needs to ensure that it equips its employees with the best tech stack and hardware available. With the sheer speed of technological advances, it is no longer economical to purchase equipment outright. Alongside this, the need to be flexible regarding working location and time zones means we must work with vendors that can meet our requirements globally. WRS needs to be in sync with the ever-changing needs within the Recruitment Industry and be able to offer bespoke solutions dependent upon any scenario – a one size fits all approach will no longer cut it. Rentalworks were able to offer us flexible, tailored solutions which enabled us to give our employees the capability to work from any location. This in turn helps us to provide the highest level of service to our candidates and clients no matter where they, or we, are in the world.

A Conversation with Alan Puah, Managing Director of Rentalworks Group

Path To Recovery, Adopting a New Normal

Economies are on a recovery path. How can SMEs benefit from the services offered by Rentalworks?

We’re indeed in the midst of an economic recovery although with still reeling with oscillating COVID infection rates. To tap on this growth trajectory and seize businesses opportunities, businesses need to be versatile and agile in mobilising its workforce-juggling between work-from-home and hybrid work models. Businesses need to be able to equip its workforce with the right devices and at the same time ensuring the endpoints are protected from inherent cyberthreats.

Rentalworks’ integrated IT asset lifecycle management solutions consisting of specially curated device leasing programs enables businesses to maneuver seamlessly in this new normal. We work out the best available tech devices that fit each SMEs business requirements at the cost that fits their budget. Our unique lease-to-use approach ensures the process of deployment, maintenance and refresh are all managed throughout by Rentalworks; at the same time ensuring all endpoints are managed and protected from anywhere, at anytime. Our solutions help businesses reduce costs of sourcing, procuring, and managing these devices – so that they can focus on growing their businesses.

Why leasing instead of buying and how much cost savings can be achieved ?

Laptop leasing is an alternative to buying; a favored alternative when a business is looking at defraying/rationalize its costs. The purchase price of a laptop typically constitutes 20% of the total costs which is just the tip of the iceberg when taking into consideration total costs of ownership of that device throughout its lifespan. The balance of the 80% are hidden costs which encompass updates and fixes, support and maintenance, failures and recovery and last but not least, decommissioning and recycling of the device. By subscribing to Rentalworks leasing solutions which incorporates end-to-end IT asset lifecycle management, that 80% is ‘incurred’ and is the responsibility of Rentalworks as the lessor of the device. Imagine the amount of cost savings of that approximately 80% costs of managing the device?

What makes Rentalworks different from other service providers?
Rentalworks’ leasing does not merely provide lease-to-use IT devices notably laptops. Its solutions extend beyond financing the device. Rentalworks provides end-to-end IT asset lifecycle management services i.e. from assisting in curating a plan that meets the requirements and budget of its clients ( hence eliminates the hassles of sourcing ), deploying the assets and securely within the chain-of-custody to managing/maintaining the devices throughout the lease period. Our clients see the value of our solutions as it alleviates the 80% ‘hidden’ costs, diversify the procurement options, off-loads inventory management, and provides up-to-date firmware cyber-security.
Apart from cash flow, how does Rentalworks support SMEs in building a robust secure work environment?
Apart from boosting the cash flow of a business, Rentalworks in addition to its end-to-end IT asset lifecycle management services, provides endpoint protection and secure data erasure services. Most businesses across the globe have embraced a hybrid work model. This has made it even more critical that endpoints are securely protect from cycber-threats and remote data erasure on devices can be easily and promptly executed. Rentalworks Endpoint Protection and Secure Data Erasure services ( which are packaged along with its leasing plans ) are such services which businesses can take advantage of to mitigate these risks.
What is Rentalworks’ role in supporting a sustainable greener economy?
Leasing industry is “well-positioned” to be a front runner to support the growth of the circular economy. Rentalworks IT Asset Lifecycle Management supports this in that it promotes a business model that allows its customers to have access to IT devices they need to run their business, and with Rentalworks retaining ownership of the assets throughout its lifecycle, can Rentalworks takes responsibility for extending its useable life, recovering it for reuse and remanufacturing. In doing so, maximizing its economic utility while minimizing environmental impact. In addition for devices that have attained its end of life, Rentalworks will recycle the devices responsibly in accordance to local environmental laws.

Propelling Adoption of Circular Economy Through Leasing Programs

Propelling Adoption of Circular Economy Through Leasing Programs

COVID-19 Pandemic has altered the way companies operate, bringing forward sustainable imperatives – cost rationalisation and reduction in carbon footprint. Spotlight is now on companies to play a big part in managing climate change, with Circular Economy high on the agenda.

By design Circular Economy is engineered to be restorative and regenerative retaining as much value as possible from products, parts and materials. One of the key drivers in propelling Circular Economy forward is an effective sustainable ICT Asset Management solution – a solution that ensures responsible consumption and efficient waste management through a lease-for-use platform versus outright procurement of the assets.

The economic benefits of circular economy are immense. The Circular Economy Advantage, Waste to Wealth report by Accenture indicates that Circular Economy can deliver US$4.5 trillion economic benefits by 2030 primarily through the following 5 business models:

* Sharing Platform: Stimulates collaboration among users
* Product-as-a-Service: Lease or pay-for-use arrangement
* Product Life Extension: Repairing, upgrading and reselling.
* Circular Supply Chains: Supply of renewable, recyclable and biodegradable resources.
* Recovery and Recycling: Eliminates material leakage

A sustainable ICT Asset Lifecyle Management that leverages on a lease-for-use platform is an example of Product-as-a-Service and Product Life Extension business models. Innovative lease-for-use platforms provide effective device health checks and preventive systems will ensure efficient use, and when warranted, collection of these devices.

Companies which leverage on lease-for-use programs when compared to outright purchase will benefit from a few advantages:

* Reduced carbon footprints
* Gains in economic benefits
* Increased efficiency
* Improved cash flow & profitability

A lease-for-use program provides the opportunity for companies to refresh their IT devices as they age, maintain performance and reliability while also reducing overall capital expenditure. The aged assets will then be re-purposed to support the Circular Economy Agenda.

Founded in 2007 Rentalworks, with regional footprints in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and partners in other parts of Asia, aims to help companies achieve their Circular Economy goals. Rentalworks provides a cost-efficient ICT asset management with the mission of extending the lifespan of the assets to its optimal lifecycle. It offers carefully curated operating lease propositions enabling companies to boost their cash flow and at the same time be a significant player in reducing greenhouse emissions for a greener Circular Economy.

In its mission to enable early adoption of the Circular Economy, Rentalworks proudly brings innovation to IT acquisition through its unique ThinkZero Leasing Program with the following benefits:

* Device Insurance for accidental damage and loss of asset
* Premier support with next business day on-site service
* Sealed battery warranty for leased devices
* Temporary laptop during downtime with no extra charges required
* Eco-friendly data erasure service with proper disposal of assets

Additionally, productivity tools such as Microsoft Office 365 Suite, G-Suite Work and Enterprise class anti-malware software are available as add-ons.

Beyond procurement or acquisition of the IT devices, Rentalworks’ leasing program, applies Device-as-a-Service at the core of its business model to ensure that its customers receive an all-inclusive service engagement through the devices that are leased. This business model not only supports Circular Economy, it also bundles in inventory management system by tracking devices’ plan updates with regular health checks to ensure that devices are performing at its best. Not only that, this will also optimize the overall lifecycle value of the devices as it alleviates disposals that are caused by breakdowns.

Once a device is at its end-of-life lifespan and no longer has any reuse value, responsible disposal of the device is pivotal in maintaining a sustainable Circular Economy. Rentalworks ensures its end-of-life management solutions include responsible disposal and secure data sanitization for all IT devices leased under its program. Once the device has exhausted its lifespan and no longer has any reuse value, it will be recycled in accordance to local environmental laws.

Rentalworks ensures that eco-friendly data erasure is completed before recycling by erasing all confidential information from the hard drive to eliminate risks of data leakage. To further ease the process, Rentalworks deploys a team who will manage both the logistics and processing of these IT devices with its certified partners.

Once a device is at its end-of-life lifespan and no longer has any reuse value, responsible disposal of the device is pivotal in maintaining a sustainable Circular Economy. Rentalworks ensures its end-of-life management solutions include responsible disposal and secure data sanitization for all IT devices leased under its program. Once the device has exhausted its lifespan and no longer has any reuse value, it will be recycled in accordance to local environmental laws.

Rentalworks ensures that eco-friendly data erasure is completed before recycling by erasing all confidential information from the hard drive to eliminate risks of data leakage. To further ease the process, Rentalworks deploys a team who will manage both the logistics and processing of these IT devices with its certified partners.

Article by:
Lisa C.

Footprints of Industrial Revolution 4.0

Footprints of Industrial Revolution 4.0

Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4), the buzzword in many speakers’ vocabulary across the past events I’ve attended in recent months. The spotlight on IR 4 and its eco system is about digitalisation of everything we use today from work to play. Recently I caught a biographical thriller series on Eli Cohen, an Israeli Mossad agent sent to Syria which could not have been more apt to showcase technology usage at its most basic form. Suffice to say he managed to achieve most of his goals however he was eventually caught red handed communicating to his agency via Morse code. Comparing that to today in 2019, and in the middle of IR 4 and the Internet-of-Things; the technology options available to us to go about our life is simply mind boggling.

With the advent of IR 4; cloud, artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous driving and of course IoT have been trending words bandied around to describe the aftermath of digitalisation of the economy. We have been so fixated with all these trending technologies that it’s easy to forget that the fundamentals of all these high tech mumbo jumbo is your humble yet still relevant personal computer. According to 2018 report by the Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan, the number of PCs in use worldwide is more than 1 billion units since 2008 and touching 2 billion units today. That’s a massive amount of computers and I am sure many of you are not aware that the manufacturing process of a personal computer represents up to 85% of its entire lifecycle energy demand while for smartphones their manufacturing energy demand is up to 60% throughout its useful life.

The same report also states that the energy burden of a typical computer used for 3 years is 4,222 kWh. Taking that into consideration since most computers in an enterprise environment has a typical lifecycle of 3 years, the energy generated from the manufacturing process itself for a computer equates to CO2 emissions emitted from the charging of 380,700 smartphones or carbon sequestered by almost 50 tree seedlings grown for 10 years. Clearly this is an environmental and long term sustainability challenge which we all need to address more so with the current climate change effects already bearing down upon us. Add that with the current smog pollution we are facing, any steps taken to reduce CO2 emissions is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

So how can we ordinary folks do our part as a responsible citizen of the world? Start small and take baby steps to improve your knowledge on climate change. Understand what causes this global phenomenon and identify changes which you can make fairly quickly and easily in places you spent most of your time in i.e. your home and office comes into mind. Since I am an active proponent on proper IT asset lifecycle management, one of the best methods I could suggest is to take the trinity of R’s approach of Reuse, Remarket and Recycle. I have intentionally removed ‘reduce’ as this term personally does not resonate in today’s business environment as technology innovation for productivity is the main driver for any industry and it’s challenging to set limitations to this approach.

A typical PCs lifecycle journey within an enterprise would include planning on the right processing power with customised specifications driven by business requirements, acquisition by either purchase of more commonly today, by flexible leasing agreements, deployment of assets with application bundles, support maintenance and management of assets with proactive tools and lastly, secure disposal of assets with industry standard data erasure to ensure data security compliance. The implementation of the trinity of R’s within an enterprise ensures PCs that have reached its end of life within an organisation can go on to gain new purpose, based on its ability to fulfil productivity requirements in different areas which has lower computing requirements.

These processes dramatically lower the need for unnecessary forced disposal of IT assets which could otherwise be reused or remarketed. Selecting the right IT asset lifecycle management partner will be crucial to ensure these processes are done correctly and responsibly. Rentalworks Group is a leading provider in sustainable ICT asset lifecycle management services. We have assisted enterprises and government agencies to navigate their IT asset lifecycle from IT planning, acquisition by leasing, deployment management and asset maintenance and secure disposal processes in a responsible manner. Observing the trinity of R’s approach ensures the lifecycle management of tens of thousands of ICT assets like PCs, notebooks, smartphones, tablets and tech wearables would be in the most sustainable manner.

Article by:
Alan Puah
Managing Director

Telecommuting A New Normal…Benefits & Challenges

Telecommuting A New Normal…Benefits & Challenges

Digitalisation efforts have been accelerated tremendously the past one year due to COVID-19. Many businesses have brought forward their digitalisation plans and efforts in order to adapt to the new normal business landscape. Banks ramped up digitization efforts with expanded digital payment tools/channels, shopping malls begun enabling online stores complementing footfall traffic which has taken a dip with lock-downs and social distancing measures coupled with schools pivoting to online lessons.

One such common theme of the digitalisation effort is remote collaboration or more commonly known as telecommuting. It is without a doubt that hybrid work environment seems to be here for the long haul, businesses nowadays are leveraging on online meeting and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams to communicate and deploy cloud based storage to share files real time and remotely.

The trend in pivoting towards telecommuting indeed brings many advantages such as :

  1. Increased productivity – With social distancing rules still in place in many locales, virtual collaboration tools allow employees to collaborate remotely in real-time. Hosting online meetings or webinars, making calls, chats, sharing files, and collaborate in real time allows employers to continue to operate with minimal disruptions and at same time be connected with employees and clients remotely or onsite.
  2. Costs Savings. Many financial savings can be derived from telecommuting. With telecommuting, transportation costs ( for both employees and employers ) will be reduced – meetings are hosted online and employees need not commute to work nor to clients’ workplaces. Further, companies will see reduction in operating expenses such as office rentals, utilities and supplies of stationeries. Another plus point is that most online collaborative platforms provide functionalities such as cloud storage at cost effective rates.
  3. Interactions and communications. Remote collaboration platforms such as Microsoft 365, Skype provide a central hub to communicate with colleagues. The best collaboration and community platforms connect employees, giving them a place to chat, discuss, leave feedback and suggestions – enabling effective and unified interactions and ease of communications.
  4. Increased cross-cultural awareness. Global and regional companies are now able to engage with teams from different countries at the same time. Companies are no longer restricted by travel budgets limited to one or two company personnel as the representatives in regional/global meetings for example. Telecommuting allows communications across regions, countries from any levels – not just C-suites. This would through time improve synergy, cross-cultural awareness across all levels within the company; extending leaders and employees the information, skills and confidence to successfully collaborate and conduct business across cultural boundaries.

Telecommuting has its own set of challenges too. Some of the challenges are:

  1. Striking a balance – Working-from-home requires discipline – discipline in knowing how to manage distractions in the home for example children requiring attention. In addition some may find it hard to switch-off from work taking a toll on family life.
  2. Feeling isolated – Individuals who are extrovert in nature, particularly, may feel isolated from colleagues, clients or even strangers ( ‘bumping’ into commuters in public transportations for example). Lack of face-to-face social interactions may lead to depressions resulting in reduced productivity.

Companies certainly need to find an optimum balance between on-site and remote working arrangement – a balance that ensures productivity is not at stake and employees are not burned out. Be it a hybrid model or an environment that adopts telecommuting holistically it is without a doubt remote collaboration platforms and compatible IT devices are key components in ensuring sustainable uninterrupted business operations.

Article by:
Lisa C.