When managing client hardware becomes a burden for the internal IT department, Device as a Service (DaaS) comes into focus. The pain points in midsize companies are usually the same: fragmented procurement processes, incomplete asset databases, unresolved return logistics for remote work, and the manual effort required for certified data erasure.
DaaS promises to simplify the entire process—from procurement and deployment to operation, support, and decommissioning. However, the market for DaaS providers is diverse. Providers differ significantly in areas such as technological integration and operational focus. We compare five German Device as a Service providers to assess their suitability for IT infrastructures in small and medium-sized businesses.
An Overview of Leading Device-as-a-Service Providers
For our comparison, we examine five of the best-known providers of Device as a Service solutions in German-speaking countries. We analyze each provider’s business focus and create a strengths-and-weaknesses profile.
A Comparison of German DaaS Providers
| Criterion | Lendis | Everphone | TKD Solutions | Grover Business | CHG Meridian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Focus | Software-driven DaaS with LendisOS | Mobile Device Lifecycle for Smartphones & Tablets | Mobile devices and cell phone plans | Flexible Hardware Rental | IT Leasing and Asset Lifecycle Management for Complex Infrastructures |
| Customer segment | SMEs and mid-sized companies, approx. 50–500 employees | Enterprise fleets with approximately 1,000 users or more | Mid-sized company with a focus on telecommunications and more than 250 employees | Startups, freelancers, and small teams with as few as one employee | Larger medium-sized companies and corporations with 1,000 or more employees |
| The most powerful IT lever | Automated Asset Lifecycle Management | CYOD, device replacement service, mobile processes related to MDM | Bundling of hardware, plans, MDM, and ServiceNow processes | Quick access to devices without a long-term contract | Financing, residual value, compliance, ESG, global processes |
| Critical point | Less suitable for large-scale global legacy systems | Laptop and accessory management is not part of our core business | Lock-in through the coupling of hardware and contracts | Hardly any real IT operations or lifecycle management | A more traditional, slower-paced leasing approach |
1. Lendis: Process Automation for Workplace IT
Lendis does not see itself merely as a hardware financier, but rather as a software-driven lifecycle management partner. Procurement and management tasks can be managed digitally through its proprietary platform, LendisOS.
Lendis’ solution is designed for IT teams that want to systematically free themselves from operational and administrative tasks related to workplace equipment. The model covers the rental of everything from laptops and smartphones to peripherals, thereby addressing the entire workplace.
The service is primarily aimed at small and medium-sized businesses(with approximately 50 to 500 employees) where administrative workloads are increasing but there is no dedicated enterprise leasing department.
Strengths
- Financing: When it comes to financing, Lendis relies on reputable partners (Grenke, ALSO, etc.). Through these partnerships, the company is able to offer favorable terms—well below the market average—for a wide variety of scenarios. This is reflected in high approval rates.
- Process Integration: Our service portfolio covers the entire asset lifecycle, from automated onboarding via zero-touch deployment to GDPR-compliant device offboarding.
- Service Quality: Lendis emphasizes its excellent service throughout the device lifecycle. This includes quick access to a personal contact person and 24/7 support in the event of malfunctions.
- Transparency: LendisOS provides accurate real-time data on device status, assignments, and upcoming lease expirations.
Restrictions
- Managed Services: Lower-level IT services such as endpoint monitoring, security operations, or ongoing administration of the client environment are not the focus. Traditional IT service providers or specialized MSPs are better suited for such managed services.
2. Everphone: Focus on the Mobile Device Lifecycle
Everphone has its roots in the smartphone and tablet market and focuses on mobile device management (MDM).
Everphone’s solution is designed for companies with 1,000 or more employees that have a high level of mobile device adoption and a need for standardization across iOS and Android clients. This model is ideal for customers who manage large IT fleets and whose internal support is hampered by issues such as broken screens, battery replacements, and SIM card logistics.
Strengths
- Reducing the burden on support: The 24-hour direct replacement process bypasses the internal help desk and is handled directly with the end user.
- MDM Focus: Deep integration with popular MDM/UEM systems to enforce compliance and security policies.
- Sustainability: Integrated refurbishment process for end-of-life equipment (important for ESG audits).
- CYOD: Everphone supports CYOD models, including employee co-payments.
Restrictions
- Focus: Everphone remains a specialist in the "Phone as a Service" sector. The provision of laptops and workstations is more of a secondary focus.
- Complexity: Because the solution is designed for large corporate structures, it is often too powerful and slow for small and medium-sized businesses.
3. TKD Solutions: The Telco-Centric Version
TKD Solutions integrates hardware lifecycle management with traditional mobile communications and fleet management. Its typical clients are small and medium-sized businesses—particularly those in the field service, logistics, or mobile workforce sectors—that seek to consolidate their service plan and hardware costs. TKD also serves medium-sized companies with approximately 250 or more employees.
The TKD solution becomes particularly interesting when IT infrastructures need to treat and manage mobile devices, mobile service contracts, and SIM cards (eSIMs) as a single logical unit. A key technical advantage is the ability to integrate it into existing IT service management (ITSM) systems.
Strengths
- All-in-One Mobile Services: As an expert in the telecommunications sector, TKD enables the management of plans and devices through a single interface.
- ITSM Integration: Native interfaces to systems such as ServiceNow make it possible to embed lifecycle processes into existing IT workflows.
Restrictions
- Vendor lock-in: Using the complete package increases the risk of vendor lock-in. Switching mobile service providers or financing models later on often involves significant hurdles.
- Sizing: For fleets consisting solely of laptops without cellular connectivity, the system may be oversized.
4. Grover Business: Flexible hardware rental without the need for in-depth IT knowledge
Having started in the consumer segment, Grover Business is now extending its flexible tech rental model to the B2B sector. The focus is on rapid hardware availability combined with maximum flexibility in contract terms. The ordering process is extremely streamlined, yet offers minimal integration with existing IT infrastructure.
Consequently, the customer base primarily consists of startups, project teams, agencies, and companies with highly fluctuating, short-term hardware needs (e.g., for freelancers or test environments).
Strengths
- Scalability: Extremely short minimum contract terms allow for rapid scaling up and down of the fleet.
- Low barriers to entry: Quick device onboarding without lengthy credit checks or enterprise leasing contracts.
Restrictions
- Scope of Services: Grover solves the procurement problem, but not the IT operations. It lacks native features for automated deployment (zero-touch), MDM orchestration, and audit-proof evidence of data deletion.
- Cost-effectiveness: For the long-term operation of large fleets, this model is usually not economically viable (high TCO).
- Service quality: Because the focus is on hardware, service plays a secondary role. You should expect difficulty reaching customer service and longer response times.
5. CHG Meridian: Enterprise Asset Finance for Complex Environments
CHG Meridian is a leading player in the fields of technology leasing, IT hardware financing, and international asset management.
The provider focuses on areas where the IT landscape extends far beyond workplace clients. CHG manages and finances large, diverse fleets: from data center infrastructure to industrial PCs (OT) and medical equipment.
Upper-mid-market companies, large corporations, and public sector clients with an international presence and strict compliance requirements are the target audience for CHG’s as-a-service solutions
Strengths
- Compliance & Audit: Our focus on large corporations is reflected in our expertise in certified data erasure in accordance with international standards (e.g., BSI), including a complete audit trail. We also have proven strengths in areas such as ESG and residual value reporting.
- Global Scalability: CHG Meridian is designed to manage asset fleets across multiple countries, companies, and locations. This is particularly important when different tax, contractual, and compliance requirements need to be managed centrally.
Restrictions
- Process speed: Enterprise processes are rigid. For agile IT departments at midsize companies looking for a fast, software-driven solution for daily onboarding and offboarding, CHG Meridian is often too cumbersome when it comes to contract management and does not offer lightweight operations software for system administrators as part of its standard package.
- Contract Structures: At CHG Meridian, the focus is often on long-term, relatively rigid contract structures. While this works well for predictable enterprise fleets, it can be cumbersome for IT teams dealing with short-notice changes, rapid onboarding, or dynamically fluctuating device volumes.
Conclusion: Which approach solves your business problem?
The right DaaS provider isn't defined by the price per client, but by how well it aligns with your IT processes and the challenges you need to address:
Lendis is the best DaaS provider for traditional small and medium-sized businesses (50–500 employees), enabling them to automate the entire client lifecycle (laptops and mobile devices) using software and relieve their internal IT teams of the operational burden of handling support tickets.
Everphone is particularly well-suited for large smartphone fleets. It offers the most efficient out-of-the-box system for the centralized management of device fleets of 1,000 or more devices.
When both hardware and mobile service plans need to be deeply integrated into an ITSM platform (such as ServiceNow), TKD’s telecommunications-specific solution comes into play.
As a solution that goes little beyond the hardware itself, Grover Business is a good fit for temporary projects and freelancers who don’t require deep IT integration.
CHG Meridian remains the bank of choice for large international companies that need to manage complex asset financing and meet strict compliance audits across all hardware categories.
Lendis helps IT teams streamline manual device management processes—from procurement and deployment to asset visibility, return, and data erasure.
