Just because you no longer have a need for your used IT equipment isn’t to say that it couldn’t still be of value to someone else. Selling your used IT equipment is a useful way to recuperate some of the cost of upgrading your devices, but it’s also more environmentally friendly than disposing of old IT assets. However, understanding the nuances of selling used IT equipment is key when it comes to unlocking the maximum value for your assets.
Selling Used IT Equipment: Factors to consider
Whatever the equipment you’re selling, whether it’s a data centre, or your company computers, there are a few factors to consider:
Data erasure
The first, and most important, step in selling used IT equipment is ensuring that all data is completely erased from the IT assets. Data security is vital for the sake of your business and your clients, which means it’s important that you approach data destruction in the correct way for the asset in question. While deleting and overwriting data may work for selected pieces of computer equipment, the likes of hard drives and SSDs require more thorough data erasure to ensure that the data can’t be recovered.
Compliance with regulation
From data protection laws to environmental protection regulation, there’s a whole host of regulation with which you must comply when selling old IT equipment. While reselling your redundant IT assets is certainly a more environmentally friendly option than disposing of them, it’s still important to do so according to best practices and guidelines to minimise harm to the environment.
Market knowledge
Selling used IT equipment on any scale requires a sophisticated understanding of the resale market. While it’s relatively easy to sell an old computer or mobile phone, unlocking the maximum value from the sale of your whole data centre or fleet of computers is different. Demand for specific equipment will vary over time and between markets, meaning the market value of your old assets could vary dramatically depending on where and when you look to sell.
Solution: Invest in an ITAD partner
While these factors may seem daunting, enlisting the help of a trusted and certified IT asset disposition supplier can make the process easier.
While your in-house IT department may have the knowledge to erase the data from your old computer equipment, they won’t necessarily have the correct tools to perform physical destruction techniques, such as data degaussing or shredding. Not only will an ITAD partner have these data destruction tools, they will also be able to provide a certificate of destruction to prove the security of your data. You would then be able to use this certificate as a guarantee that you took due diligence regarding the protection of your business and client data.
Partnering with an accredited ITAD supplier also leaves you safe in the knowledge that you are complying with all relevant regulation. Of course, thorough and effective data destruction ensures compliance with laws such as the GDPR and minimises your chances of a data breach. However, certified ITAD suppliers will also act according to environmental regulation, minimising the risk of environmental damage. In the eventuality that the resale of your old IT equipment is not possible, your ITAD partner will act in line with the WEEE Directive to ensure that it is recycled or disposed of sustainably, rather than contributing to the ever-growing global e-waste problem.
However, an ITAD vendor’s expertise goes beyond the destruction of data and compliance with regulations. Your partner can also play an integral role in unlocking the maximum value from your old equipment. While their market knowledge is of undeniable use, their network of contacts is also useful. An experienced ITAD supplier will be able to advise you of the best time to sell your particular set of equipment, but they will also be able to put you in touch with potential buyers. This brings an additional benefit: if the buyers are familiar with the ITAD supplier and know that they have previously provided them with quality second-hand equipment, your ITAD partner is more likely to be able to negotiate a better price for your equipment. This situation is beneficial for all parties, as your buyer will trust that they are buying high-quality computer equipment, making for a smoother, potentially more lucrative sale.
Once the sale is complete, your IT vendor will then assist you in getting your old equipment to the buyer. This includes packaging it safely to minimise in-transit damage, as well as transporting it in secure, tracked vehicles.
Before you sell: Document your equipment
While an ITAD supplier will make the process of selling old IT assets much easier, documenting the equipment you intend to sell can also help the process. You should document the name and model of each device, as well as details about its age and condition. Wherever possible, you should add photos of each device to support this information. This document is a useful way of keeping track of the equipment you intend to sell, but will also be useful when it comes to the valuation of your old IT equipment and quotes for ITAD services – even the slightest variation in model could have a huge impact on the resale value of a piece of equipment, so having as much accurate information upfront is always useful.
Whether you’re planning an upgrade for your desktop PCs, or an overhaul of your entire data centre, you’ll want to get the maximum return for your old IT equipment. With over 25 years industry experience, tier1 is perfectly placed to help you unlock the maximum value for your used IT equipment. As the UK’s most accredited ITAD supplier, we possess the skills, accreditations and experience to handle our clients’ data with the care they deserve, and to dispose of it responsibility and legally. Contact us today on 0161 777 1000 or visit https://www.tier1.com to find out how we can help resell your used IT assets.
