Cash is King: New Leasing Options Pave the Way for Global UC

After successfully launching new financing options to support U.S. customers in their procurement of unified communications (UC) solutions, ShoreTel now offers the same advantages to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) through Wyse Leasing.

ShoreTel Financial Services (SFS), powered by TAMCO in the United States, is already helping organizations invest in UC systems that boost productivity and help reduce costs, while conserving cash to help weather the economic storm or to focus on other business uses. SFS offers three leasing options — FlexGuard™, $1 Out and Fair Market Value (FMV) — for customers in the U.S., and these same options are now available to customers in other countries. These lease programs are designed to fit companies of all sizes, as the desire to make equipment purchases out of operating budgets cuts across all organizations and industries in stormy economic times.

"Businesses of all sizes across the globe are finding a tough economic climate," said Tom Perry, director of marketing for EMEA at ShoreTel. "Banks have tightened up on the credit, which makes it challenging for organizations to invest in technologies like UC that can help position them for growth."

SFS fills the gap by helping companies to lease the equipment they need to move to a state-of-the-art UC solution risk-free, and gives companies an option to return the equipment or upgrade at the conclusion of the lease term. "This means companies don't have to carry equipment on their balance sheet and watch it depreciate," Perry said.

Choose Among Three Leasing Plans

Wyse Leasing works with a wide range of in-country partners to connect customers with certified ShoreTel resellers that are well-versed in lease agreements. "We can pull in different areas of expertise very effectively and turn around deals on a faster basis," said Paul Ley-Pollard, senior corporate account manager at Wyse Leasing, based in Daventry, Northamptonshire, U.K.

SFS has developed three leasing options for customers in EMEA:

  • Zero-percent down. ShoreTel works with Wyse Leasing to pick up the interest and pass on the savings to the customer.
  • Three-month deferral. Under these terms, a customer can purchase a solution from a reseller and not start paying for that solution until three months have passed.
  • Finance lease. This program is offered as a fallback position for leases that don't fit other profiles. "Leasing a state-of-the-art UC solution enables companies to invest and grow," Perry added. "When the economic turnaround happens, companies will have a productivity-boosting UC platform in place and won't lag competitors in terms of communications." What's more, leasing helps make UC implementation affordable at any time. Perry advised that organizations talk with their financial advisors about the options particular to their business and balance sheets.

"UC equipment procured via a three- to five-year lease is typically an off-balance sheet transaction, with beneficial tax advantages for the end user organization deploying the UC system," said Wyse Leasing's Ley-Pollard.

In these demanding economic times, agree Ley-Pollard and Perry, cash is king and these innovative leasing schemes keep valuable working capital in the business.

"End users are demanding greater transparency of deals and greater flexibility in their payment terms," said Perry. "Working with Wyse Leasing, a company with access to a larger number of funding partners and products, is key to helping ShoreTel Financial Services deliver that transparency and flexibility." For more information about SFS, e-mail info@shoretel.com.