The 4 challenges of company cell phone procurement. And how you can solve them cleverly.
Are you faced with the task of procuring suitable company cell phones for your company? You will already have noticed: A task that seems easy at first glance quickly becomes complex.
- How do I stick to the budget?
- Can I ensure the necessary security for my company and my data?
- How do I ensure that I do not place an additional burden on my IT department?
We want to help you decide and show you what you should look out for to avoid typical pitfalls.
1. cost control: how do you avoid unnecessary expenditure?
The procurement of company cell phones can quickly become costly. First of all, this includes the purchase costs, which can quickly amount to several thousand euros depending on the number of employees.
However, the running costs are often not sufficiently taken into account. In addition to contract commitments and repairs, it is primarily the management of the devices in the form of personnel costs. The classic mistakes: purchasing devices without a plan, allowing employees to use them privately without clear rules, constantly processing individual orders.
What you can actually do:
- Standardization of IT equipment: Instead of buying many different models at random, define 2-3 device models (depending on requirements and budget). This saves purchasing costs and simplifies administration, accessories and repairs.
- Keep an eye on the total cost of ownership (TCO): Buying cheap = managing expensive. A cheap device with a short service life causes more costs in the long term (downtime, replacement) than a more expensive, more durable model.
- Bundle contracts: If you procure devices including mobile phone contracts, negotiate framework agreements with the provider. Many providers offer business conditions with better terms from a certain quantity.
2. Security: How do you ensure that your data remains protected?
Mobile devices are one of the biggest gateways for cyber attacks. Devices that are used privately, missing updates, unencrypted connections - all of these pose real risks.
How to protect yourself:
- MDM solution is mandatory: Make sure you use Mobile Device Management (e.g. Microsoft Intune, VMware Workspace ONE). You can use it to centrally manage devices, lock them, delete data and enforce security policies.
- Check operating system updates: Devices should receive regular security updates for at least 3-5 years. iOS clearly scores highly here. Apple provides updates for all models for a very long time and reliably. With Android, there are big differences between the manufacturers (Samsung, Google = exemplary; no-name manufacturers often patchy).
- Separation of professional and private data: Use container solutions (e.g. Samsung Knox, Android Enterprise, Apple Business Manager) to separate private and business data cleanly.
3. Compatibility: How do you avoid chaos in IT & Support?
A common pain point: Too many different devices and systems make support and integration difficult. Your IT department is constantly improvising when colleagues bring their own devices or demand exotic models.
Our tip:
- Focus on homogeneity: Define a clear "whitelist" of supported devices, tailored to the apps, VPN solutions and collaboration tools you use.
- iOS or Android? Short & sweet:
- iOS (Apple): Ideal if you want a lean, homogeneous environment. Updates are reliable, devices are secure in the long term and support costs are low. Particularly popular in companies that value data protection and simple handling. Disadvantage: higher price.
- Android: More flexible, wider selection of devices (all price ranges). But: Updates and security patches are regulated differently depending on the manufacturer. Go for providers such as Samsung (with Knox) or Google Pixel if security is important to you.
4. Employee satisfaction & flexibility: How do you ensure everyone is satisfied – without chaos?
Here's the question: BYOD, COPE or CYOD – which model is right for you? Let's take a closer look at the differences:
| Model | What it means | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) | Employees also use their own smartphones for work. | - No acquisition costs for you - employees use their preferred device | - High security & compliance effort - Private & professional data difficult to separate - No standard, high support effort |
| COPE (Corporate Owned, Personally Enabled) | You provide the devices, private use is allowed. | - Full control over security & management - Standardized devices = easy support | - More investment costs - Some employees dissatisfied because they cannot use their preferred device |
| CYOD (Choose Your Own Device) | Employees choose from a predefined selection. | - Balance between control & freedom - Satisfaction increases - Devices remain compatible & secure | - A little more effort for setup - investment costs nevertheless |
Our recommendation:
If you value security and simple administration: COPE or CYOD. CYOD is often the best mix – employees can choose for themselves (within your specifications), and your IT retains control.
You should only choose BYOD if your company is extremely flexible and you are prepared to put a lot of effort into security policies & support.
Find out more in our guide to the right mobile device strategy for your company
Conclusion: Gain clarity about the requirements for the smartphones in your company and avoid common mistakes
As you can see, the choice of company cell phone is more than just a question of price. It's about keeping costs under control in the long term, securing your data, not overburdening IT managers and still keeping your employees happy.
If you:
- relies on standardized models,
- integrate an MDM solution,
- consciously weighing between iOS & Android,
- and choose the right deployment model (preferably CYOD) for your company,
you have already avoided 80% of the typical mistakes.
Phone as a Service: Rent company cell phones with full service from Lendis
If you want to save yourself the entire procurement process, including time-consuming selection and setup, Phone as a Service is the right choice. In addition to a wide selection of the latest company cell phones for rent, Lendis takes care of all tasks and relieves your team:
✔️ Fast provision & delivery
✔️ Preconfigured devices - ready for immediate use
✔️ Central management & support via the Lendis platform
✔️ Flexible terms & easy scaling depending on company requirements
This allows you to remain flexible, avoid high investment costs and at the same time take the pressure off your IT and office team.
With Phone as a Service, you get smartphones for your team with an all-round carefree subscription: no expensive purchase, no annoying setup stress, no time-consuming repair drama. Just use it - the rest is taken care of.
