Taking the lead with global leasing solution

For over 20 years, leasing products and services developed by DLL and Konica Minolta have helped Konica Minolta achieve its global leadership position. They have mastered the art of offering global leasing agreements that are tailored to local levels.

Local leasing headaches
In the past, Konica Minolta arranged equipment leasing on a local basis. But for customers with a global footprint in particular, this local approach often resulted in poor coordination, higher spend and unnecessary inefficiencies. Among other things, using multiple suppliers makes standardization very difficult for IT departments. 

Global leasing solution
Konica Minolta and DLL came up with a global framework agreement that Konica Minolta could offer as an alternative financing option. It is customized to each global customer’s specific needs and circumstances. This single leasing portfolio makes it easier for both the customer and Konica Minolta to manage the customer’s assets and reduce bureaucracy.

The global challenge
“Global relationships create opportunities but also challenges.  They test our infrastructure, engagement practices, internal governance, KPIs, and administrative and support capabilities,” says Fred Winckler, Konica Minolta’s Director of Operations, Global Major Accounts. Because each customer has their own specific requirements and circumstances, it was also important for Konica Minolta that their financial solutions partner could adapt to each customer individually.

Big and flexible
“With their flexible approach, DLL has the ability to create global financing agreements that can be tailored to the unique needs of each of Konica Minolta’s biggest accounts,” Winckler adds. “Plus DLL’s leasing program is truly global. So rather than having different country managers trying to deal with our various needs at the local level, a single global account manager acts as a central point of contact, coordinating the development of formal agreements anywhere in the world.”

Happier customers, lower costs
The benefits of this global strategy are huge for both Konica Minolta and its customers. The simplified financial solution for equipment leasing creates happier customers, increasing the chance of agreement renewals without having to retender. Plus, office equipment can be consolidated across markets, lowering operating costs.

Simpler processes
Standardizing equipment with one manufacturer and a select number of devices simplifies management of network traffic, drivers and data reporting for IT departments. And finally, DLL is flexible enough to customize payment terms. For example, by letting Konica Minolta invoice and collect themselves, or by adjusting billing cycles from monthly to quarterly to further streamline processes.

Creating value for everyone
Winckler says, “Partners make each other better at what they do individually, and what they can do collectively for their mutual customers. I’ve always said that this is the true value of our global partnership. Fortunately, the depth of our relationship with DLL gives us both the impetus to improve our processes, deepening our relationships with our customers.”