Consortium leases over 14,000 PCs in 18 months

Smart Technologies has leased over 14,000 computers to a cross-section of businesses in its first 18 months to quickly establish itself as one of the leaders in IT leasing and outsourcing, chief executive officer Joe Aquilina told The Times Business.

The company has leased around 11,000 machines to government authorities.

The encouraging response to Smart Technologies' offering has come thanks to businesses' increasing preference to lease rather than purchase equipment.

Its offering is best suited to firms requiring a minimum 15 PCs and personal leasing options are not yet available. However, Smart Technologies has also leased over 800 laptops and netbooks in collaboration with communications provider Go under its Laptop Connect plan.

Smart Technologies, a consortium between Demajo Holdings, Forestals Investments, Hili Company Ltd, and VJ Salomone Group, has a client portfolio which includes airlines, schools, importers, English language academies, and SMEs.

The company particularly benefits from the support of its shareholders - all IT heavyweights in the local market - which enables Smart Technologies to offer a wide choice of leasing options and a comprehensive range of IT brands to businesses.

"In reality, Smart Technologies offers financing," Mr Aquilina explained. "We present clients with possibly the least expensive way to obtain all the latest IT equipment they require for their business. It means they avoid the considerable outlay involved had they opted to purchase equipment allowing them to direct those monies to other areas. It means businesses are able to have an IT set-up that is tailor-made to their needs.They only need to deal with one company. It also means businesses can concentrate on their core competence and leave their IT requirements and support to a company like ours."

Birkirkara-based Smart Technologies offered varying lease agreement options from three years upwards to suit particular budgets and hardware requirements. IT support and replacement terms are often roped into agreements. Technical expertise allowed the Smart Technology team to advise on the most suitable solution and also helped scrap and dispose of clients' old computers.

Mr Aquilina explained leasing primarily offered customers peace of mind particularly as the company had over 120 replacement machines on standby. Round-the-clock support is available to specific clients on request.

"As a company we are passionate about our offering," Mr Aquilina, a former IT manager in the private sector, said. "We believe in offering competitive rates, reliable service and enhancing our reputation. Our business model means that we work around the client, not the other way round, so we are able to mix brands into a single network."

Mr Aquilina believed authorities promoting Malta as a business destination would do well to consider highlighting the availability of leasing options for everything from cars to equipment for organisational requirements.

"If you take issues like financing, standby units, peace of mind and dealing with one supplier, leasing makes a lot of business sense," he added Smart Technologies' team will grow next year as the company gears up to widen its leasing options, including giving clients the facility to lease an entire network together with servers.

The firm is also considering teaming up with leasing companies in other sectors to offer different facilities as preferred partners.