Econocom - 2020 annual report

02 group overview group positioning

Econocom brings down financial barriers for the development of companies with an offer of agile and flexible financial leases that enables them to keep control

security contract financing. Through EDFL, Econocom has been able to boost its independence and refinancing capacity. Competition Econocomhas a uniquepositionin its market, with no directly comparablecompetitors. Its competitors are, for the most part, either generalor independentleasingcompanies,or specialist subsidiaries of hardware manufacturers or bank subsidiary leasing companies. These companies do not share Econocom group’s same characteristics of independenceor technologicalspecialisation, while independentcompetitorsdo not have distribution and service activities. Finally, Econocom is large enough to guarantee sustainability and a balanced force to its customers, compared with major hardware manufacturers and players in the digital sector. Products & Solutions 3.2. 2020: AN ACCELERATOR 3.2.1. FOR THE TRANSFORMATION WORKING ENVIRONMENTS An IT market buoyed by the crisis The IT market was buoyant in 2020. More than ever, this particular context showcased the critical need for IT investment to equip remote users. The reorganisation of working environments is a game changer In 2020, companies dramatically changed their working methods as a result of the crisis. With the revolution in remote work, they are rethinkingthe workingenvironment as a whole through the wide-spread roll out of collaborative solutions. 47% of companies now have more than • 50% of their employees working from home (compared to 21% before the first lockdown); and non-standard

over their expenditure . Staggered payments

Ever attentive to its customers’ needs, Econocom offers all-inclusive or à la carte financial solutions, combining several of its areas of expertisewith a staggeredpayment method, resulting in a comprehensiverange of leasing solutionsand usage- or unit-based invoicing for services, ranging from general scalable lease contracts to subscription service agreements. This contractual flexibility enables the Group to refresh assets on a regular basis and guarantee budget stability. Asset management service In addition,Econocomdeliverseffectiveasset management services, offering operational solutions to meet customers’needs and help them manage, monitor and control resources. Customers benefit from the Group’s expertise throughout the product lifecycle, including the handling of claims and managementof the end of the product use cycle, in compliance with the General Data ProtectionRegulation (GDPR). Financing of green projects Econocomalso offers financing solutions for energy efficiency projects (see part 3 CSR report, Chapter 2.1.2 Development of the Green & EnergyBU). In order to fast-track the roll-out of its most advanceddigital solutions, Econocomset up a specialised unit in 2014 that gives it the capacity for financial innovation. Econocom Digital Finance Limited (EDFL) is a dedicated, centralised unit specialising in risk management and financing solutions. It offers specific expertise in transaction EDFL: the solution for financing the most complex transformation projects

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2020 annual report