Rentalworks Indonesia – Our Latest Footprint

Rentalworks Group is pleased to announce our latest footprint in the Southeast Asian region. Our foray into the Indonesian market is a testament of our commitment in supporting the growth of business entities (mid-large corporations and SMEs) in this region.

Rentalworks’ integrated IT asset lifecycle management solutions consisting of specially curated device leasing programs enables businesses reduce costs of sourcing, procuring, and managing these devices – so that they can focus on growing their businesses. “We work out the best available tech devices that fit each 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 monitored and protected from anywhere, at any time. Esentially think Device as a Service” said Alan Puah, Managing Director of Rentalworks Group.

Apart from boosting the cash flow of a business, leasing is a good platform and “well-positioned” to be a front runner to support the growth of a circular economy. Rentalworks Technology 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. 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.
“The presence of Rentalworks Indonesia augurs well with its existing clients in Malaysia and Singapore, likewise Indonesian companies which have regional presence. Businesses can leverage on synergistic benefits derived from regional subscription of our unique leasing solutions.” added Alan. “Within the SME space, currently there are over 62 million SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) in the country, which is one SME for every five Indonesians. This is a significant scale that can transform and catapult digitisation initiatives by enabling SMEs with the right IT devices; in efforts to rationalise costs and reduce their carbon footprints”.
Located at AIA Central, Level 31, Jl Jend. Sudirman Kav 48A, Jakarta Selatan 12930, Rentalworks Indonesia will be helmed by its General Manager, Primawan Badri. Primawan brings with him more than 20 years of leadership role within the tech space. His leadership and stellar achievements in Dell Technologies and Hewlett- Packard as Country Lead/Director and Country Business Lead respectively, added with his vast knowledge of the Indonesian market, augurs well for Rentalworks in its pursuit of penetrating and supporting Indonesian businesses with its sustainable lifecycle technology lifecycle management.

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.

References:
¹ https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-07-11-gartner-says-worldwide-pc-shipments-experienced-the-sharpest-decline-in-nine-years-in-second-quarter-of-2022
² https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/malaysia-firms-turn-down-orders-as-migrantlabour-shortage-hits

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.

Visit WRS’ Website At :  www.worldwide-rs.com

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Worldwide Recruitment Solutions
Worldwide Recruitment Solutions – Singapore

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?

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.

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.