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IT Asset Recovery Ultimate Guide: Maximize Returns

Unduit has helped companies of all sizes achieve remarkable IT asset recovery rates. We have successfully boosted recovery rates from minimal fractions to an impressive range of 80-90%, resulting in substantial savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars in IT budgets. What's our secret to success? It's rooted in a decade of dedicated research and mastering the optimization process for complex organizations with thousands of employees spanning the globe.   But here's the best part: we're excited to share all the valuable insights with you. In this ultimate guide to IT asset recovery, you'll find everything you need to know about optimizing your asset recovery process and achieving maximum ROI on your EOL technology. What is IT Asset Recovery? IT asset recovery is the process of retrieving and managing company-owned technology devices from employees or other sources. It helps ensure efficient resource utilization, cost savings, and data security. Sometimes this term is also used to refer to the entire process of retrieving, managing, and potentially extracting value from IT assets that are no longer in use or needed by a company.    Importance of Professional Asset Recovery Service Even though companies have the option to handle asset retrieval in-house, leveraging professional asset recovery services offers several advantages. By partnering with a reputable service provider, organizations can always ensure the following benefits: Cost Savings: Professional services help maximize cost savings by recovering and repurposing IT assets instead of purchasing new devices. Resource Optimization: Partnering with a service provider frees up company resources that would otherwise be dedicated to asset recovery, allowing them to focus on more critical tasks. Data Security: Asset recovery company ensures that sensitive company information is securely handled during the whole process and they can be held accountable if there's any data breach. Environmental Responsibility: Service providers promote sustainability by facilitating proper recycling or refurbishment of recovered assets, reducing electronic waste. Compliance and Risk Mitigation: Specialized organizations specialize in helping companies comply with regulatory requirements and mitigate the risk of data breaches. Automated Workflow: Utilizing an automated workflow system, service providers streamline and ensure efficiency and accuracy at every step.   The Procedure of IT Asset Recovery Assessment and Deployment Recovering company assets is a critical process that begins with a thorough assessment and deployment strategy. This involves identifying the assets to be recovered, evaluating their condition, and determining the most suitable approach for each device. Asset Assignment and Tracking To ensure proper management and accountability, recovered assets are assigned to specific employees or departments. This allows for efficient tracking throughout the recovery process, providing visibility into the ownership and location of each asset. Reporting and Data Security Data security is of utmost importance during the IT asset recovery process. Comprehensive reporting mechanisms are implemented to track the progress and status of each asset. Measures are taken to safeguard sensitive data through secure erasure or destruction methods. Asset Removal and Repurposing Once data security measures are in place, assets are removed from employees' possession. Depending on their condition and company requirements, the recovered assets can be repurposed for internal use or refurbished for resale. Another option is to donate the assets to charitable organizations, extending their lifespan and making a positive social impact. Choosing to Warehouse and Redeploy, Recycle, or Resell Professional asset recovery services usually offer organizations three primary options: warehousing and redeployment, recycling, or reselling. Warehousing and Redeployment  Recovered assets in good condition can be stored in a designated warehouse for future use (after refurbishment). This allows for internal redeployment to other employees or departments, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing unnecessary expenses. Recycling To ensure the safety of company data and minimize environmental impact, assets that are no longer functional or needed can undergo responsible asset disposition.  Reselling Organizations that no longer require old equipment but prefer not to recycle them can opt for liquidation by properly reselling the recovered assets. Liquidation provides an opportunity to recoup some of the investment while ensuring proper data destruction and compliance with regulatory requirements. Choosing the Right Asset Recovery Company It's important to choose a vendor that has extensive experience dealing with retired IT equipment. An experienced team of asset recovery specialists can help you get maximum residual value from every retired IT asset. Here are the major factors when evaluating vendors: Secure Chain of Logistics: Look for a vendor that prioritizes the secure transportation and handling of your assets and offers maximum visibility. This includes secure packing, using asset tag for better asset tracking, chain of custody records, and transportation insurance to safeguard against loss or damage. Global Support: If your organization operates internationally or has a distributed workforce, it's essential to choose a vendor that offers global support. This ensures seamless asset recovery regardless of location, with expertise in navigating local regulations and logistics. Flexibility in Service Options: A reliable vendor should offer flexible service options tailored to your specific requirements, whether on-site asset removal, hard drive destruction, or remarketing assistance. Certificates of Data Destruction: Data security is paramount in asset recovery. Ensure that the vendor provides certified data destruction services, verifying the proper sanitization or destruction of all electronic equipment. Reselling or remarketing: Opt for a vendor with expertise in recovering value from used assets. Look for those with a wide buyer network and the ability to maximize returns on your assets. Environmental Reporting: Choose a vendor with transparent environmental reporting to ensure their commitment to sustainable practices. Certifications and Compliance: Prioritize vendors with certifications like R2 or e-Stewards to ensure compliant e waste recycling. Integration with Systems and Inventory: Opt for a vendor that seamlessly integrates with your current systems to share data about your existing IT assets. This will help minimize conflicts and make the process seamless. Automation and Software Capabilities: Look for vendors leveraging automation and software platforms to take efficiency and visibility to the next level. Typical ITAD service providers usually don't offer this. Other than this, assess reliability through past projects, and client references to ensure their expertise meets your needs. Tips to Maximize Recovery Rates Before discussing best practices to maximize recovery rates, it's important to understand how they are calculated. Recovery rates are simply determined by dividing the number of recovered IT assets by the total number of eligible assets. Early communication with employees Proactively communicate with employees during offboarding, requesting the return of devices and providing reminders at each stage. Automating these communications ensures consistent and timely interactions Utilize automated solutions Implement an automated asset recovery solution to streamline processes, from tracking and management to reporting and disposition. Automation improves efficiency, reduces errors, and optimizes recovery. Ensure full visibility and reporting Establish a system that provides comprehensive visibility and reporting on all levels. Robust tracking mechanisms enable monitoring, and identification of bottlenecks, ensure no valuable assets are lost, and help with informed decision-making. IT Asset Recovery Cost Determining the exact pricing for IT asset recovery services can be a complex task. Here are some of the top factors that impact the cost: Hardware Specifications: The type, age, and condition of recovered IT assets influence pricing. Higher-value or specialized equipment may require extra handling. Electronics Recycling: If included, recycling services add value but can affect costs. The scope of recycling offered may vary. Storage Costs: When warehousing your assets with the vendor, consider expenses related to space, security, and maintenance. The volume of Assets: The quantity or volume of assets being recovered can impact pricing, as larger quantities may require additional resources or processing. Additional Services: Factors like data wiping, asset testing, refurbishment, remarketing, compliance records, and asset management software fees may impact pricing. We hope you found this ultimate guide to IT asset recovery helpful in understanding the importance and intricacies of the process. If you're interested in learning more or need further assistance in optimizing IT asset recovery in your organization, we can help. Get in touch with our team to explore how we can help you maximize returns, streamline your recovery efforts, and maximize ROI on retired assets. Continue reading

Suhaib K.

ITAD specialist

Enterprise Device Lifecycle Management

December 08, 2020

Recycling your old cell phone, here

Let’s do our part and save the planet!   Electronic waste or E-waste is the fastest growing and most problematic waste stream in the world currently and not surprisingly with society’s reliance on their cell phone, these devices continue to be the leading contributor to the overall problem.   It’s safe to say in this day and age most of us own a personal smartphone or our employer issues a device to us.  We can make a difference and stop the pollution by recycling our unused smartphones instead of carelessly discarding them.   Thanks to innovative technologies and improved recycling processes up to 80% of materials used in smartphones can be recycled and reused.  When we recycle, we can all play a part in keeping our planet and environment healthy!   Environmental Conservation   Smartphones contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium.  When these materials are thrown into a traditional trash stream they end up in our landfills.  These toxic materials slowly end up contaminating our soil and water resources.  With proper recycling these materials are reused without polluting the environment.   Energy Savings   Just one recycled cell phone saves enough energy to charge a laptop for a week’s worth of use.  A record 150M+ cell phones are thrown away annually, if recycled they could produce enough energy to power over 30,000 homes per year.    Save the resources of our planet   Cell phones are made of valuable materials that are increasingly becoming scarce but can be recovered when recycled.  From 1 million recycled cell phones we can recover 40,000 pounds of copper, 870 pounds of silver and 85 pounds of gold.  This dramatically reduces our reliance on mining the precious resources our planet offers.

Claire Whitman

ITAD specialist

Enterprise Device Lifecycle Management

August 11, 2019

AppleCare+ Could Be Costing Your Enterprise Millions of Wasted Dollars

Organizations with thousands or tens of thousands of iPhones and iPads need to keep these devices working as mobility has become a driving force behind productivity.  When these tools break, non-asset related costs begin to pile up. Consider the impact on the employee who relies on the device, helpdesk personnel who must address the issue, and Procurement and AP departments who are required to process paperwork and payment.  While the premise of AppleCare+ insurance is, on the surface, a sound and logical choice, it can represent the largest financial and operational efficiency leaks in your organization's mobility strategy. What is the actual cost of AppleCare+?  The upfront cost varies from $49 to $199 depending upon the type of device, and the per-incident 'deductible' costs vary from $29 to $99 by the type of damage.  For an easy example, let's use the iPhone XR, $149 upfront cost for AppleCare+, then $29 per incident of screen damage. Now, consider a fleet of 10,000 devices that experience 10% breakage each year.  With our assumptions set, we can do the math: Upfront cost: $149 x 10,000 devices = $1,490,000 Repairs over two years: $29 x 10,000 devices x 20% = $58,000 Total Spend: $1,548,000 That is a significant spend.  Why do organizations do it? AppleCare+ provides multiple methods to report and submit broken devices and receive a refurbished device in its place.  Apple is a trusted brand that can minimize concerns around data security, and service is expected to be consistent nationally. It just makes sense as no alternative can tick the boxes.  Further, employees cannot be allowed to take their devices just anywhere as costs, security, reliability are all over the map.   However, there IS an alternative, and for most a better option. Unduit Wireless is a reliable alternative to AppleCare+ on several fronts.  By way of the multi-admin Cloud-Based Platform, repair orders can be made by Support Staff to recover and repair devices from any employee anywhere in the country in under 60 seconds.  The program supports overnight loaner or hot spare replacement devices. A fully documented and auditable chain of custody and data sanitization certificates ensure security compliance.  Moreover, all information about all lifecycle actions on every impacted device is readily available from one interface. The "single pane of glass" for all repairs across an unlimited number of locations and some impressive staff efficiency benefits are only part of it.  The other part is the cost. No upfront or subscription cost to implement the Platform. The estimated cost of repairs, over two years comes in at a fraction of your AppleCare+ spend, even if we use a high average repair cost estimation: Repairs over two years with Unduit Wireless: $300 x 10,000 devices x 20% = $500,000, less than 1/3 of the $1,548,000 cost with AppleCare+.   AppleCare+, for a single user and device, is a good value.  However, when applying the model to an Enterprise fleet of devices, the costs of AppleCare+ are extraordinary and unnecessary.  Unduit Wireless exceeds operational, efficiency, and security goals of any organization for 60% less than the cost of AppleCare+.  And if you have already taken the AppleCare+ plunge, know that Apple will refund your pre-paid premium on a pro-rated basis.

Gregory Lowes

ITAD specialist

Smart Phones & Device

November 09, 2018

How to develop Enterprise Mobile Device repair strategy in 2019?

Mobile devices have become essential computing and communication medium for individuals and businesses. It has become an essential tool of modern workplace usage. Therefore, it is fundamental need of companies to get their mobile device fixed when broken or damaged. It is easy to fix individual devices contrary to the corporate devices. There are multiple smart device repair options for domestic users, however, the corporate mobile devices require more structured approach and effective strategy to manage frequent device repairs. Managed Mobility Solutions help to resolve corporate device repair challenges. According to HP executive, Jonathan Nikols, there is a huge demand for mobile devices among corporate clients. It is estimated that every employee will accompany four devices by 2020. The big question is, how enterprises will secure these mobile devices? Todays’ enterprises rely on Managed Mobility Services to fulfill their mobile device repair needs. However, most of the managed mobility service providers lack in one aspect or the other in order to satisfy enterprise mobility needs. Therefore, it is recommended to choose Enterprise Mobility Management vendors that are capable of managing mobile devices while delivering excellent software and hardware solutions. Managing mobile device repairs is an important part of enterprise mobility management challenges. BYOD practices are evolving, therefore it has become important for corporations to formulate effective device repair strategy in 2019, such strategy should not only be limited to core repair tasks but covers complete device lifecycle management including device recovery, renewal and disposition. The corporations need to look at their day to day device challenges prior to formulate a repair strategy. The enterprises need to understand following key steps while formulating corporate device repair strategy in 2019. Enterprises need to know clearly, how many devices have been deployed? How many have been issued by the company? What is a total number of BYODs (Bring your own devices) and CYODs (choose your own devices)? Segmenting devices usage based on user profiles, how many devices are for the mobile workforce usage? And how many devices have been allocated for in-house team and other employees? Know the percentage of employee who have device repair coverage from the company. Standardize rules around mobile device repairs. Clearly communicate device repair policy with your employees, align their expectations with the company policy. Determine the capabilities of corporate device repair vendors before developing a device repair strategy. What is their turnaround time/? Do they offer loaner pool features? How their pricing work? Corporate mobile device repair strategy requires through understanding of mobile device landscape. There are certain elements of mobile device repairs that are only known to device repair vendors, so it is highly recommended to discuss your corporate device repair needs with the trusted vendor before formulating a mobile device repair strategy in 2019.

Mustafa

ITAD specialist

Smart Phones & Device

November 09, 2018

Top 10 things to consider before choosing a corporate device repair partner

Mobile devices without a second thought run our world. Businesses in the modern world rely on mobile device for almost everything ranging from communication to connectivity and productivity. In today's business world smartphones, tablets and other IoT devices have become essential tools of the trade. So faulty or damaged mobile devices can be nightmare for any business. Therefore, it’s important to have a professional and reliable device repair partner to keep your employee productive and connected. When there are many choices out there, it has become hard to choose a right repair partner. Most of the companies outsource their device repair needs to trusted vendors who provide "when required bases' repair solutions. However, there are certain things that organizations need to consider while choosing a device repair partner, such as; Transparency of entire process Level of control over the devices Safety and security of the devices Service delivery mechanism Certification and qualification of repair team Carefully read and discuss terms & conditions specified by device repair partner Loaner pool capability Real time reporting Personalized help desk support Prices for certain repair issues There are many technical issues of managing enterprise mobile devices, trusted and reliable device repair partner could help to resolve these challenges in an efficient and cost-saving ways.

Mustafa

ITAD specialist

Enterprise Mobility Management

October 16, 2018

How can enterprises benefit from their mobile device recycling?

Technology continues to improve at such an alarming rate that better models of computers are released every several years. This means that if you are keeping up with the latest technology, you likely have old computers sitting around that you do not know what to do with. They are likely useless to you, but at the same time, it has become more common knowledge that these e-waste products cannot be disposed of with one’s other trash; this makes computer recycling a great option. Recycling your old computers / mobile phones keeps this toxic waste out of landfills, and it provides numerous benefits to the environment as well as your community. Here are just a few of the many benefits of recycling your old computers and phones. Energy Conservation Another advantage of recycling mobile phones is that it helps in energy conservation. According to recent statistics, it is found that recycling a single mobile phone helps in conservation of energy required by a laptop to go on for 40 hours. So, imagine the amount of energy saved on recycling 1 thousand or 1 million mobile phones. You may wonder how does recycling help in energy conservation? When the pre-existing material is used or reused, the energy required for production and transportation of new products is saved. Protection of Environment Mobile phones, their batteries or accessories contain toxic elements like lead, mercury, which can be dangerous to the environment as well as human beings. When the mobile phones are dumped at garbage sites, these harmful material may get into landfills and pollute groundwater sources. Therefore, it can indirectly harm human beings and all other living things. On the other hand, recycling can help in recovering these metals from mobile phones and their accessories, and put them into use again. Electronic Recycling Can Help Create Local Jobs Electronic items that are recycled and are unable to be refurbished and reused are then sent to local electronic recycling plants to be processed. Thus, the more that people in your community decide to recycle their old computers and various electronic waste items, the more need that there will be for people to run these processing plants, which will thus create new jobs in your community. Instead of holding onto the old computers in your house that are simply collecting dust, consider recycling them. Doing so will be extremely beneficial to the environment as well as to your local community. By doing so, you can feel good knowing you are doing your part to benefit your community Reuse of Raw Material Electronic wastes are made of metal and hence, cannot be decomposed in the soil. Similar is the case with mobile phones. Therefore, throwing mobile phones can harm the environment. On the contrary, recycling cell phones can be useful as the metals can be extracted and put into use again. Metals like iron, copper, silver, etc. can be used for making some other products. This will indirectly also decrease the requirement of freshly mined metals. Therefore, the first and the most important benefit of recycling cell phones is: reuse! Make and save money Electronics, old water bottles, and other trash can be sold for cash. So if you sell them, you not only save the environment, but make money as well. If you buy recycled materials, which costs less than the new ones, you will also save money. The more money you will make and save if you re-use some of the trash that your home produces.  In Conclusion, the growing e-waste problem can be solved by electronics recycling. Many electronics are made up of various materials, such as metals, which are recyclable. Dismantling end-of-life electronics such as computers and recycling the various materials in them promotes the conservation of undamaged natural resources. Also, it helps in the prevention of water and air pollution that is brought about by hazardous disposal. In addition, it also helps in reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced as a result of the manufacture of new electronics.

Mustafa

ITAD specialist

Enterprise Mobility Management

October 16, 2018

How Mobility affects the environment. Top environmental Implication of smartphone boom

How Mobility affects the environment. Top environmental Implication of smartphone boom Smartphones and data centers are damaging to the environment and will have the largest carbon footprint in the tech industry by 2040. Researchers came to this conclusion after estimating the carbon footprint of devices such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, and desktops – as well as data centers and communication networks collectively known as information and communications technology (ICT).  Smartphone poses a serious burden on the environment, gobbling up power and precious materials before heading to the landfill. In the developing countries where they are recycled or dismantled, they can end up in the rivers and soil, where they help contribute to cancer, damage to the nervous system and brain development in children. Many people are overwhelmed by the term ‘recycling.’ Recycling is a form of waste management involving turning waste and other used materials into reusable goods. Recycling reduces energy usage, reduce the depletion of fresh raw materials, reduce air pollution and water pollution reducing the need for “traditional” waste disposal and also reduces greenhouse gases emissions. Before venturing into recycling, it is important to understand the good and bad involved in this process. Recycling sites are always unhygienic, unsafe and unsightly. You can visit any waste recycling site, and you will almost always see dirty, unhealthy and unsightly conditions, where every form of waste is piled, provides a nice ground for the formation of debris and spread of infectious diseases. The harmful chemicals from these wastes can also be dangerous. Apart from causing heavy pollution, the whole recycling process poses health risks for individuals responsible for recycling these waste products. Moreover, if such waste products come into contact with water, results in the formation of lead that ends up polluting water bodies, not to talk of drinking water. Recycling saves energy and prevents unwanted waste. However, recycling mobile devices carries some disadvantages, including issues of toxic waste byproducts and problems with personal information contained in the most smartphone.     Personal Information Many people keep information on their smartphones that are potentially dangerous in the wrong hands. Identity thieves and other criminals could get contact information, addresses and even social security numbers from an old smartphone. Clearing the smartphone of all information before recycling is one way to address this issue. Toxicity Levels Smartphones contain some poisonous elements, like mercury, cadmium, and lead. The recycling process for such products is very complex, and toxic waste left over from the recycling process often ends up in trash dumping sites. The soil and water sources surrounding the dumping site are negatively affected by these toxins. Smartphone consist of different metals and plastic components. Separating the different metals poses a problem for many smartphone recyclers. Also, certain plastics cannot be recycled. In fact, less than 10% of the total plastic used in America is recyclable. The environmental challenges of smartphone sales are clear. Without a strong commitment to recycling, electronic -waste is ending up in landfills in large numbers, and the chemicals within these products, like lead and mercury, pose threats to the environment. Environmental concerns remain high That’s why states are pushing for better alternatives, one of which is to take those devices to a proven and reliable e-recycling companies like Unduit Wireless, where the devices can be dismantled, and the different parts used to make new products. Calling on consumers to recycle smartphones is very important, and if they don’t know where to dispose of electronic waste, there are smartphone recycling companies like unduit wireless ready to help. In Conclusion, unduit wireless specializes in enterprise mobile device recycling and is also your proven security specialist. All personal information stored on your mobile devices and hard drives are eliminated, along with your concerns about identity theft.  

Mustafa

ITAD specialist

Enterprise Mobility Management

October 16, 2018

How can businesses make smartphone recycling and buyback programs part of their sustainability effort?

Starting a business that specializes in recycling smartphones typically involves researching recycling services, writing a business plan, and marketing your company’s services. A smartphone recycling business usually offers buyers the opportunity to get money for their old smartphones. To reuse phones, ensure they work properly, have not been water damaged, have all personal information removed, and have no broken parts before sending them to a service, such as unduit who reuse working electronic or recycle nonworking parts. The benefits of responsibly recycling and reusing smartphones are substantial. Beyond the monetary and humane considerations, conserving highly-engineered materials like precious metals, copper and plastics can help firms reduce the air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by mining and processing raw materials. Much-needed service Smartphones, when disposed of inappropriately, can pose a serious threat to our health and the environment.  Harmful chemicals and heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants (BFR) can drain from used smartphones deposited in our landfills to the surrounding water systems and soil. By helping recycle the millions of smartphones that are being discarded every year, you’re doing a great service to the community. Moreover, as we learned from the factors mentioned above, the smartphone recycling business is not just good for the environment, but good for your financial bottom line as well. Start a smartphone recycling business today, and profit by providing this much-needed service to your community. Head to the cloud for sustainability On-site servers consume a lot of energy and can eventually end up in your company’s electronics dumpsite. By comparison, cloud-based data storage uses some servers and is meant for large-scale energy efficiency. Moreover, to these green technology benefits, cloud-based data storage and computing usually come packaged with hardware and software maintenance and repair. For you and your firm, this means you’ll have more time to focus on optimizing IT operations to advance your company’s business strategy. Leverage other people’s activities Smartphone collection can be easily integrated into community social and sports activities. You can, for example, coordinate with the organizers of a local marathon to place your collection boxes at their registration tables and ask participants and fans to bring in smartphones for recycling. You can’t probably do this if you’re recycling bulky items like car batteries, old smartphones, etc. activities seamlessly. Handy-dandy smartphone Smartphones are very portable. Anyone can easily place a used smartphone in his or her pocket or purse and bring the phone to where you have one of your collection cartons. However, people don’t have to make any extra effort to join your cloud drive, if they wish to do so. Widespread community support Smartphone recycling is a well-known and accepted way to help preserve the environment, conserve resources, and raise funds. Groups and organizations, like student organizations and social clubs, in your area, can easily be convinced to give their support to your collection efforts. Moreover, it’s up to you to convince these groups to work with you, and that might mean splitting the profit with your group partner.  

Mustafa

ITAD specialist

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