Office Equipment: The Digital Inflection Point

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented disruption to nearly every market. Companies small and large have been forced to reevaluate business models, find ways to recoup lost revenue, and redefine commercial strategies – all while keeping their employees and customers safe. A recent article by McKinsey views the crisis as a digital inflection point, where B2B sales operations will look fundamentally different going forward from what they were before the pandemic. Many companies have put in place what they perceived to be short-term fixes; however, as the pandemic progresses, many are realizing that those short-term fixes will evolve into long-term solutions. Simply put, the business environment that we eventually return to will be vastly different than the one we knew pre-COVID-19.

Over the last 15 weeks, the office technology industry has been no stranger to this transformation. The pandemic, while it brought great disruption, forced many companies in this space to shift and improve their digital strategies.  We see this transformation happening with our office equipment partners, customers and within our own Office Equipment Business Unit. Digital was always a high priority, now it is vying for the top of the list.

The importance of digital channels for B2B companies has grown significantly in the past few years and has radically increased since the COVID-19 crisis began. According to McKinsey, sales leaders rate digital channels approximately twice as important, on average, now as they were before. Similarly, Gartner shows that 74% of CFOs plan to shift previously on-site employees to permanent remote positions as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold. This underpins the need for streamlined and efficient digital solutions for office equipment dealers and manufacturers, as well as their customers.

DLL has expanded and amplified access to digital solutions for our partners to make their equipment leasing and financing processes easier, better and faster. Our goal is that our partners can interact with us from anywhere, on any device, at any time. Our @OnceFinance portal allows users to submit applications and monitor portfolios. Our Express Finance Mobile Application allows sales representatives to quote deals, submit applications and even sign docs from their phone. We utilize electronic documents and accept most electronic signature platforms to expedite and simplify the document execution process. Our API integration with Digital Gateway allows direct system-to-system connectivity that streamlines monthly service revenue and meter cash applications. DLL is here with the right technology, to support our partners digital transformation.

Want to learn more about how DLL’s digital solutions can position your company for success in a COVID-19 market? Click here to contact our team.