Do you need to recover IT equipment from your employees working from home? Are you finding it costly and time-consuming redeploying such IT assets?
While there are many advantages to remote working for companies and colleagues alike, it’s important that hidden costs associated with the ‘new normal’ are minimised. Wisetek’s new Remote IT service recovers and redeploys IT equipment to and from home addresses, thus dramatically reducing these costs.
One of the immediate – and possibly – lasting legacies of Covid-19 will be the shift to remote working. For many people, it’s been a welcome change as it offers a better work/life balance, while securing their employment.
However, while in the short term it’s a win-win for both companies and colleagues alike, in the long-term the cost of remote working for companies will start to add up.
The Cost of Remote Working
From an IT Department’s perspective, the shift to remote working has been a difficult one. There are many issues at stake such as security, the potential of data breaches, hardware and software support, and deploying and recovering assets from colleagues.
‘As more and more companies are encouraging their employees to work from home in the long-term, this is impacting on people’s lives in a dramatic way. For example, having to live near your company in order to reduce your commute time is no longer necessary. You can live wherever you like, and reduce your expenses accordingly,’ explains Gary McCarthy, Head of Sales Operations and Customer Service, Wisetek.
‘However, from a company’s perspective it means that a lot of time and therefore costs are being racked up trying to service the IT asset demands of a dispersed workforce.’
Wisetek’s Response
Wisetek’s Remote IT service reduces the administrative burden which IT, HR and Financial departments have in supporting their remote workforce. It’s a simple process designed to be convenient, reliable and most importantly, secure.
There are ten steps:
Using Wisetek’s Innovative Returntek.com portal, the client requests their ‘box’ remote solution which they require.
Wisetek confirm the schedule with the end user.
Wisetek schedules the delivery of Remote IT Service
Customer receives the returns packaging and returns label
Wisetek confirms the asset collection and tracks on the Returntek.com system
Asset arrives for processing at Wisetek – chain of custody completed.
Secure data erasure completed on asset.
Depending on customer preference, asset will be remarketed, re-used, or recycled.
Asset processed.
Via Returntek.com portal, reporting and certificates available to customer.
‘What is unique about our service is that we have a truly global reach. It doesn’t matter how spread out your workforce is as we have the logistical capacity to deliver wherever the customer is,’ explains McCarthy.
The Circular Economy
While Wisetek’s ability to service clients will have a dramatic effect on lowering logistical costs to companies, the service is also aligned with the ‘circular’ economy and thus brings more savings. Furthermore, it helps companies to boost their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
‘We strongly believe that helping the environment is not only good for the planet, but it helps the bottom line of a company’s balance sheet. When we collect an asset from a customer, we do so after consulting with them on their IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) strategy,’ says McCarthy.
Typically, there are three approaches a company can take. They can remarket the asset; re-use it in part or in whole; or recycle it.
‘As we have a global presence, we have a thorough understanding of how much a used asset is worth, and also how much each part is worth too. We don’t send anything to landfill. Instead, we strip assets down to their component parts and either sell them on behalf of the customer or encourage the customer to re-use the parts in their internal supply chain.’
Only when an asset or a part is truly ‘End of Life’, then it’s recycled in line with the most stringent environmental standards.
Redeployment
When it comes to assets set for redeployment, Wisetek perform a number of steps to ensure that the asset is fit for purpose. These steps include a hardware/test audit, data erasure, and re-imaging.
‘We also liaise on the client’s behalf with the manufacturer regarding the under-warranty repair. And if it’s out of warranty, we assess the cost of repair to bring it back to Grade B Standard in order to redeploy it,’ explains McCarthy.
Despite the immediate impact – and potential legacy – that Covid-19 will have, it’s vital that companies process their assets in line with a cost-effective and ethical ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) strategy. Failure to do so, not only costs more in the long run, but may be harmful to the environment.
‘With our new Remote IT – Recover and Redeployment Service, we offer convenience, cost-savings and a clear-social conscience to our clients. It’s a win-win for all,’ says McCarthy.
