Lenovo points partners towards leasing

Vendor adds new leasing options as research suggests IT leasing volumes will grow by a fifth by 2012

Lenovo has beefed up its leasing facilities for UK resellers amid predictions that the IT leasing market will boom this year.

Working with finance outfit CIT Group, the PC vendor has established the Lenovo Financial Services programme to provide a range of financing solutions to its business partners.

The new service includes zero-per-cent financing for a 36-month lease for qualifying deals between £1,000 and £100,000 until the end of June.

In addition, partner salespeople will be paid a commission for closing deals with a finance option through a new online reward scheme.

Partners can also exploit a new automated online tool providing quotations and enabling them to submit proposals and obtain instant credit decisions.

Jon Singleton, European programme director at Lenovo Financial Services, said: "Given budget constraints and rising inflation, successful dealers will be those who can deliver top-of-the-range technology solutions while helping customers to spread the costs."

According to recent research from INVIGORS, cited by Lenovo, IT leasing volumes in the UK will grow by more than a fifth (21.6 per cent) between 2010 and 2012 to $2.594bn (£1.572bn).

The vendor also pointed to research from IDC suggesting that 50 per cent of firms are planning to lease more frequently this year. Some 70 per cent of respondents in the same study said the availability of leasing is critical in vendor selection.

Laurent said the uncertain economy is prompting customers to seek finance options that allow them to conserve capital. But he denied that leasing is only relevant in the "down times".

"Financing rather than purchasing enables customers to cost-effectively update their technology as their business needs change," he said.

"In addition, the ongoing financing relationship helps dealers to build a long-term customer footprint for repeat business and at the same time helps customers manage and reduce the total cost of ownership of their IT equipment."