The Strategic Value of Managed Lifecycle Services

The Everyday Challenge of IT Leaders

Across industries, IT leaders are wrestling with the same issue: how to keep device fleets running smoothly while budgets tighten and employee expectations grow. It’s no coincidence that Gartner predicts 70% of enterprises will rely on a managed device lifecycle services (MDLS) provider by 2028 – more than double today’s share. The shift reflects a reality many leaders already face: traditional ownership and leasing models are no longer fit for purpose.

This is where Gartner’s Market Guide for Managed Device Life Cycle Services (MDLS) provides timely perspective. The guide outlines how organizations can rethink device management by turning to partners who deliver comprehensive lifecycle solutions rather than piecemeal fixes.

Gartner’s Key Takeaways

The Market Guide emphasizes several trends that shape the future of workplace IT:

• Flexibility and customization are vital. Companies require tailored service models that work with both CapEx and OpEx needs.
• Technology and automation set the standard. Modern MDLS providers increasingly rely on Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) and Digital Employee Experience (DEX) tools to streamline processes.
• Vendor maturity varies widely. End-user leaders must carefully evaluate capabilities before committing to a partner.
• Sustainability is non‑negotiable. Redeployment, reuse, and recycling are evolving into central pillars of lifecycle management.

The message is clear: IT decision-makers should prioritize providers who can demonstrate both innovation and execution at scale.

How devicenow Brings These Trends to Life

What Gartner describes as critical capabilities are not abstract future goals; they are principles that devicenow has already put into practice. By addressing these priorities directly, we’ve built a model that helps enterprises move from complexity to clarity.

• Global coverage with reliable speed. Operating in more than 190 countries, we ensure employees have what they need, supported by next-business-day device swaps.
• Sustainability at the core. We extend device lifecycles through refurbishment and reuse, and ensure end-of-life recycling is managed responsibly, helping organizations make tangible progress on ESG commitments.
• Predictability built in. A simple monthly pricing model combined with one global contract makes planning and scaling straightforward.
• Lifecycle Portal intelligence. Our digital platform removes the inefficiency of scattered processes, giving IT full visibility and employees the autonomy to order, swap, and return devices with ease.

By aligning so closely with Gartner’s guidance, devicenow demonstrates how theory becomes practical value for enterprises navigating today’s IT challenges. This alignment is embodied in our Device as a Service (DaaS) approach, which goes beyond traditional leasing models to deliver the entire lifecycle Gartner identifies as essential.

Why It Matters for Enterprises

The implications of Gartner’s findings reach far beyond IT operations. Delaying the transition to managed lifecycle services means accepting inefficiencies, higher costs, and an uneven employee experience. But moving forward with the right model reframes device management as a strategic enabler. It allows organizations to equip teams consistently across borders, shift IT’s energy toward innovation rather than logistics, and embed sustainability directly into their technology strategy.

In this light, MDLS becomes less about hardware and more about building a foundation for resilience, agility, and measurable progress.

Final Thought

The conversation about device lifecycle management has moved beyond incremental improvement. As Gartner makes clear, it is now about transformation – choosing partners who can deliver simplicity, sustainability, and scalability in equal measure. devicenow was created for this moment, giving enterprises the clarity and confidence to rethink how devices are managed worldwide and unlock the full potential of their IT strategies.

Source: Gartner, Market Guide for Managed Device Life Cycle Services, June 30, 2025.