Mid-Year Insights: Leasing Trends and Client Priorities

Special Guest Contributor: Josh Schulman - SVP, National Sales Manager

As we pass the halfway mark of 2025, it’s a good time to reflect on what we've seen in the equipment leasing market so far this year. The first two quarters have brought notable shifts in client priorities, industry activity, and the strategic role leasing plays in capital planning.

What Trends are Standing Out so Far This Year?

Clients across various industries are increasingly relying on leasing to navigate an economic environment characterized by budget constraints, rising interest rates, and ongoing supply chain uncertainty. This year, leasing is less about convenience and more about strategy, helping organizations preserve cash, hedge against risk, and maintain operational agility.

We've seen a clear uptick in:

Lease Restructures and Extensions: Clients looking to optimize cash flow and payments Multi-Year Technology Roadmap Leasing: Aligning financing with long-term strategic planning Creative Bundling of Hardware, Software, Installation, and Services: A single payment structure

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What’s Driving Leasing Decisions in 2025

Client priorities have shifted notably in 2025, with a stronger focus on long-term strategy over short-term fixes. Across industries, we’re seeing increased demand for infrastructure-based leasing tied to:

Technology Upgrades: Supporting hybrid work environments and strengthening cybersecurity

Medical and Diagnostic Equipment: Especially in healthcare, as patient volumes rebound

Energy-Efficient Systems: Fueled by ESG goals and regulatory changes

At the same time, the motivations behind leasing are evolving. Traditional drivers like preserving capital and avoiding obsolescence still matter, but today’s decisions are also shaped by:

Budget Cuts and Spending Freezes: Impacting both public and private sectors

Supply Chain Delays: Making flexible financing more appealing

ESG Alignment: Leasing offers a path to upgrade sustainably without large upfront investments

Clients are coming to us earlier in the planning process, asking bigger-picture questions about total cost of ownership, asset lifecycle, and agility. That early engagement is enabling us to co-create financing solutions that directly support their evolving business goals.

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Industries Leading the Leasing Surge

Several sectors have been especially active in leasing during the first half of 2025:

Education: Preparing for back-to-school cycles with leased devices, classroom tech, and facility upgrades. Healthcare: Expanding diagnostic and surgical capabilities while preserving liquidity. Finance: Investing in IT modernization and security amid tighter regulatory oversight. Public Sector: Accelerating year-end spend through leasing structures that align with complex procurement processes.

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Creative Solutions in Action

One of our proudest achievements this year has been enabling clients to execute projects they would otherwise be unable to fund. Whether it’s fast-tracking school modernization projects, supporting urgent hospital expansions, or creating flexible payment ramps for existing customers, our team has delivered innovative financing tailored to unique needs.

In Q2, for example, we supported a mid-sized healthcare system with a phased lease structure that aligned funding with their construction milestones, allowing them to move forward without tapping into their capital budget.

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Looking Ahead: Forecast for Q3 and Q4

The second half of 2025 brings both opportunities and uncertainties. We’re closely watching macroeconomic developments like:

Potential Tariffs on Imported Technology and Infrastructure Equipment  Shifts in Interest Rate Policy & Impact on Cost of Capital Budget Reallocations Within the Public Sector 

We expect continued momentum in healthcare with continued uncertainty in reimbursement and the status of the current administration’s policy on Medicare/Medicaid, education, and government as back-to-school and year-end budget cycles ramp up. There’s also growing interest from enterprise IT teams seeking longer-term leasing options for “as-a-service” models that bundle hardware, software, and services.

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Vantage's Role: Strategic Partner, Not Just a Transaction

At Vantage, our role continues to evolve to being a true strategic partner. More clients are involving us earlier in the capital planning process, and the payoff is real. Early engagement allows us to:

Build multi-year leasing programs that align with growth plans. Help clients evaluate funding alternatives before making vendor decisions. Offer insight into benchmarking, structuring, and compliance across industries.

We're not just helping clients lease equipment, we're helping them future-proof their capital strategies.

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Final Thoughts

As 2025 progresses, we’re seeing leasing become an indispensable tool for organizations navigating complexity. Whether it's enabling flexibility, aligning with corporate priorities, or unlocking funding for high-impact projects, leasing is proving to be more than just a financing option, it’s a strategic lever.

At Vantage, we’re excited to help our clients move forward with confidence in the second half of the year and beyond.