Mr. Jarkko Veijalainen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of 3 Step IT, and Mr. Marko Sjöman established 3 Step IT in 1997. The company operated under the name Computer Rental CR Oy, but in 2001 the name was changed to 3 Step IT because it better represented the company’s business concept.
3 Step IT initially specialized in the leasing and management of computers. The basic idea was to lease computers to companies and organisations at a competitive price and resell them after the leasing period.
The operating model required accurate management of hardware and, as a result, a separate tool was developed. 3 Step IT required precise information about the volume, type and location of leased equipment and lease periods so that the computers could be efficiently sold on the secondary market. The management tool also raised interest among customers, and the first version aimed at customers was released in 1998. In 2000, the management tool became web-operated and, today, 3 Step IT’s asset register is one of the cornerstones of the company’s services and operations. The asset register is under continuous development to ensure that it meets our customer’s needs.
Caring for the environment and ensuring data security for technology equipment has been the foundation of 3 Step IT’s operations from the very beginning. In 2000, the company acquired Smålandsbörsen AB, a computer reprocessing plant in Sweden, to facilitate environmentally friendly and efficient retailing of used hardware. Through the acquisition, 3 Step IT became the largest reseller of used computers in the Nordic countries. In 2005, a similar plant was established in Finland, where 3 Step IT’s current reprocessing operations are centralised. Internationally, we work with carefully selected local reprocessing partners.
Profitable growth
3 Step has grown rapidly and profitably since its inception. In 2001, the company started a determined internationalisation process by expanding its service operations to Sweden and Estonia, followed by Norway and Denmark a year later, and Latvia and Lithuania in 2005. In 2006, service operations were expanded to Great Britain, and to Russia and France in 2009. In 2010 3 Step IT acquired BNP Paribas Lease Group subsidiaries in Sweden and Norway and business operations in Denmark.
The success of 3 Step IT has been based on innovative business operations and its service concept. The concept, developed for the management of IT equipment, has also been found to be suitable for the management of other equipment and hardware. In addition to internationalisation, the growth of 3 Step IT has, since 2007, been supported by the expansion of services to cover all fixed assets. 3 Step IT’s aim is to continue its profitable growth, internationalisation and development of new innovative services.