OVERVIEW

When it comes to managing evaluation activity, different products present very different challenges. It is a whole different ballgame just dealing with handling new and unused equipment, compared to handling equipment that has been used by one customer, and having the challenge of restoring it to an as new condition for the next customer.

PC’s and NOTEBOOK CLIENTS

Obviously any computer product needs to be re-imaged after being used by one customer, before it can be passed to another…… the transfer of one customer’s data to another has to ruled out as even the remotest possibility. The images need to be updated by any updates to the Operating system. There are requests, particularly in the Vista era, for upgrades and downgrades for specific loans. There are requests for upscoping the standard configuration with upgrade options. One client has a range of different images that it wishes to be used on each machine it sells… eg including a lot of additional application software and content material for its press reviews.

Laptops, in particular, are very prone to scratches, scuffs and other signs of damage, that need to be recovered as best as possible.

As well as the main hardware items Technology Manufacturers are always keen for the evaluation program to promote accessories and add-on products

THIN CLIENTS

Although these are simpler devices than PCs, they still need to be reset after being used by one customer, and upgrades flashed to the firmware, when releases are issued

SERVERS

Servers can present more challenges from their increased physical scale, especially Rack and Blade enclosures. 

The configuration options with regard Servers are enormous and typically a loan pool will contain a huge selection of upgrade options, and individual loans require a specific build. 

Commercially, the challenge with regard servers is the very significant investment in inventory that is required to create a pool of equipment. However a contract is structured the financial investment involved will be a challenge, that needs to be discussed and resolved. 

PRINTERS AND IMAGING

Printers have the distinctly additional challenge that the value of the product is eroded as the consumables that are inside the product as new, are consumed by the usage by customers in the evaluation. This inevitably means that as much focus has to go in to managing the consumable status of the machines in the evaluation pool, as the machines themselves.

The physical logistics around moving 100kg+ devices have their obvious challenges, often requiring a site survey exercise prior to delivery and tremendous care taken to avoid Toner spillage inside the machine in transportation. Vendors frequently opt for an Unpack, Set-Up and take packaging away service, in order to make the start of an evaluation as smooth and as customer orientated as possible.

Over the years Printing & Scanning products have become ever more sophisticated, with the current range of MultiFunction devices with Scan to email, and Scan to file functionality, being complex computing devices requiring Hard Disc resets, Firmware upgrades etc to remove previously installed software, and make the machines optimally effective. 

DISPLAYS AND PLASMA SCREENS

There has been an explosion in the deployment of Large Screen displays as public information devices. These machines are physically large and have, what is in effect, a Thin Client Computer at the back of them and again require handling that recognises them to be a computing device. Samsung have achieved a market leading position with their MagicNet enabled devices and we have been pleased to have helped to achieve this.

MOBILE PHONES

Not the most physically demanding of products to handle in an evaluation pool but a sophisticated computing device nevertheless, that does need to be controlled…. particularly in respect of tracking the Sim card, in addition to the phone itself.