Michael AG launches a Device as a Service offering

There are some distributors who offer Device as a Service – this often happens in direct sales to major customers. The distributor Michael AG is now adding a service to its program that is specifically aimed at its resellers. It is being implemented with the fintech company Topi, which previously worked with the Freenet subsidiary Gravis, among others.

The advantage for Michael dealers: Thanks to the cooperation with Topi, they do not have to make any financial advance payments; Topi takes care of the financing and other services in the background, such as handling the rental or the manufacturer’s guarantee for the products during the rental period. With this model, Topi invoices the end customer and also bears the financial risk.

In addition to financial flexibility, rental options also offer a high degree of customization. Rental periods for hardware and accessories can range from six to 36 months. At the end of the rental period, end customers have a choice. They can simply return the devices, upgrade for a fee, or purchase the products. Early upgrades and returns are also possible.

Another advantage for customers, according to Michael, is security. All rented devices are covered by a comprehensive warranty for the duration of the rental period. In addition, the “topi Care+” service protects the rented hardware from unforeseen damage. Customers can use the Topi portal to view the status of their rental devices, retrieve invoices and manage orders at any time – all in one central location, simple and clear. The Topi portal also makes it possible to assign rented devices to employees.

“We have been looking for a simple and fair DaaS solution for our partners for a long time and are very happy to have realized this together with Topi. The advantages for our partners are obvious: no financial risk, no processing effort, extension of the warranty to the rental period and a completely digital process from our shop to the end customer without any paperwork. Our partner sets his own margin and the monthly amounts offer scope to improve this,” says Michael board member Oliver Hemann.

The launch will take place at this year’s autumn fair on September 13, 2024. All visitors can see the solution live and see for themselves the advantages and simplicity. All partners who cannot be there live can find the information at www.michael-ag.de/michael-daas.