HP has unveiled a series of “relief initiatives” designed to help partners and end users reeling from the financial and operational effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
The new offerings, which are subject to a range of eligibility requirements, include a mix of geographically-specific financing programs, leasing options, and short-term sales incentives for channel partners.
“As a global company, we understand the importance of acting globally while executing at the local level. Rather than taking a one-size fits all approach, we are taking a customized approach specific to the unique and evolving dynamics at the market and country level, depending on a variety of factors,” said Christoph Schell, HP’s chief commercial officer, in prepared remarks. “We’re structured to ensure the continuity of our business operations even under the most challenging circumstances and we feel very fortunate to be in a position to offer the help and support needed by our valued partners and customers.”
Among the new finance programs is one that lets end users make deferred or reduced payments on new products through 2020, as well as a sales leaseback program that allows businesses short on cash amid stagnant market conditions get paid for previously bought HP technology.
Another new program, meanwhile, lets businesses rent HP PCs for 12 months. At the end of that term, they can extend the rental, purchase the hardware, or return it for an upgrade.
HP has also replaced its current partner sales incentive program with a new flat-rate plan designed to be more predictable, plus extended deadlines for submission of proof of performance and reporting. Partners will receive details from HP on how the new incentive scheme works in their market and country this week.
Lenovo announced a similar flat-rate partner incentive program in response to the coronavirus crisis yesterday.
As ChannelPro previewed last week, HP is also making its Sure Click Pro security system available free of charge to owners of both its own hardware and Windows 10 PCs from other manufacturers through September 30th. Based on technology HP acquired with security vendor Bromium last September, Sure Click is a hardware-based isolation system that confines potentially infected processes in temporary virtual machines sealed off from the rest of the device’s hardware and software. The “Pro” edition adds features such as the ability to edit Word and Excel documents within an isolated container.
In a further bid to help partners address coronavirus-related challenges, HP is also offering enhanced 24/7 customer support, including remote access to the work-from-home technology many businesses have given employees impacted by stay-at-home orders. The company advises partners to use its 24/7 Virtual Agent as a first resolution option, in addition to the COVID-19 specific information posted on its global support website.
HP’s relief efforts come as businesses of every description, including IT providers, suffer through a coronavirus-triggered plunge in U.S. GDP that J.P. Morgan projects to reach 14% during the second quarter of 2020 and Goldman Sachs forecasts to hit a staggering 34%.
