Addressing Device Management Challenges in Schools: Solutions for Strategic Device Transitions

Schools of all types—whether large or small, public or private, K-12 or higher education—are facing a common set of challenges when it comes to managing their device fleets. Based on a recent conversation with a school district, these issues are particularly pressing as schools strive to maintain efficient technology use while navigating tight budgets and limited resources.

Key Challenges Schools Face:

• Device Preparation Workload: Schools are dealing with the heavy workload of preparing devices. Often, devices are delivered directly to schools, and the site director is responsible for getting them ready for student use, which can be an overwhelming task.
• Funding Limitations: With the end of ESSER and ECF funding, schools still face the need for new devices, yet refreshing outdated equipment is becoming an ongoing necessity without sufficient financial support.
• Device Recycling and Disposal: Managing the recycling or disposal of outdated or obsolete devices is an additional burden for school staff, consuming time that could be better spent elsewhere.
• Cybersecurity Risks: Out-of-service devices that are not properly managed pose potential cybersecurity risks, threatening the safety of school networks and data.
• Device Management and Tracking: While schools may have some capability for tracking and managing devices, there is room for improvement. AMOS, a lease contract management tool, could enhance access and visibility across a district’s entire fleet of devices.

How IFS Supports Schools Through Leasing and Lifecycle Management:

Insight Financial Services has partnered with numerous schools facing similar challenges. Through our leasing and lifecycle programs, we provide a comprehensive solution that helps schools efficiently manage their technology needs. Here’s what our clients appreciate most:

• Predictable Budgeting: Establishing a sustainable, predictable budget for device management, reducing financial uncertainty.
• Comprehensive Services: The ability to consolidate all upfront and end-of-life services into a single annual payment, simplifying financial planning.
• Planned Device Removal: A structured plan for device removal, including timing, scope of work, and budgeting, ensuring smooth transitions.
• Enhanced Asset Control: Improved access, visibility, and control over assets and leases with AMOS, making device management more efficient and secure.
• Focus on Education: By handling the complexities of device management, IFS enables schools to “get out of the Chromebook business,” allowing educators and administrators to focus more on enhancing teaching and learning.

If these challenges sound familiar, it may be worth exploring how IFS’s solutions can help your school district manage its device fleet more effectively.