In today’s competitive IT landscape, technology resellers and service providers are constantly looking for ways to add value for their customers while growing their own business. Refurbished IT equipment, when sourced from an accredited provider, offers a compelling opportunity to achieve both objectives. Let’s explore why refurbished IT should be part of your service offering.
The Windows 10 Challenge
With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025, businesses face a significant challenge. Approximately 70% of global users still run Windows 10, and many existing devices won’t support Windows 11. This creates an immediate opportunity for IT solution providers to help customers navigate this transition.
The solution isn’t necessarily a complete refresh with new equipment. A blended approach, incorporating both new and refurbished devices, can help customers manage this transition effectively. By combining new and refurbished hardware, organisations can reduce the overall cost of moving to Windows 11 while maintaining security and compliance. This approach allows businesses to manage budget constraints effectively without compromising on performance or security.
Sustainability Goals
Environmental responsibility is no longer optional for businesses. Your customers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, and IT procurement plays a crucial role in their environmental impact.
The environmental benefits of choosing refurbished IT are significant and measurable. A single refurbished laptop saves 225kg of CO2e emissions compared to buying new, with water savings amounting to 190,000 litres per device. This represents a 75% reduction in carbon footprint. To put this into perspective, for a business refreshing 100 devices, choosing refurbished equipment could save 22.5 tonnes of CO2e – equivalent to taking 25 cars off the road for a year. These are meaningful metrics that your customers can include in their sustainability reporting.
Enterprise-Grade Quality and Reliability
One common misconception about refurbished IT is that it compromises on quality. However, when sourced from an accredited provider like Tier1, refurbished equipment undergoes a rigorous BSI-certified remanufacturing process. Every device goes through comprehensive testing and quality checks, resulting in a failure rate of less than 1.5% in the first 14 days – comparable to new equipment.
Our commitment to quality is backed by a standard 12-month warranty, with options to extend to 3 years. To minimise any potential disruption to your customers’ operations, we offer a swap-out service that ensures business continuity. This comprehensive approach to quality assurance means you can confidently recommend refurbished equipment to your customers.
Supply Chain Resilience
Global supply chains remain unpredictable, affecting the availability of new IT equipment. A robust refurbished IT programme can help mitigate these challenges by providing a reliable alternative source of enterprise-grade equipment. Tier1 processes over 150,000 laptops and PCs annually through IT disposal contracts, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality equipment.
Our clear product roadmap focuses on major manufacturers including Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft, providing consistency and reliability in our offering. We understand that every business has unique requirements, which is why we offer flexible specifications with RAM and storage upgrades. Quick turnaround times mean you can respond rapidly to your customers’ needs.
A Value-Added Service Opportunity
IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) represents another significant opportunity for channel partners. By partnering with an accredited ITAD provider, you can transform end-of-life IT management from a necessary expense into a value-adding service. Our secure data destruction meets government standards, and we provide detailed compliance reporting for every device processed. This comprehensive approach supports your customers’ sustainability goals through our zero landfill policies while generating additional revenue streams for your business.
The Social Value Benefits
Beyond environmental benefits, working with the right ITAD partner can help your customers deliver meaningful social value. Tier1’s prison workshop programme, which has been running since 2011, helps inmates develop employable IT recycling skills while contributing to a circular economy. This programme helped Tier1 win the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in 2019 and the King’s Awards for Enterprise in 2024. This innovative approach to social responsibility provides your customers with a compelling story of how their IT procurement decisions are making a positive impact on society.
Making the Business Case
For IT solution providers, offering refurbished IT and ITAD services creates multiple benefits that extend far beyond simple cost savings. By incorporating these services into your portfolio, you can develop new revenue streams through equipment sales, ongoing ITAD services, and additional implementation and support services.
These offerings also help you build stronger customer relationships by helping them meet their sustainability goals while providing cost-effective solutions. The ability to offer end-to-end IT lifecycle management sets you apart from competitors and demonstrates environmental leadership. This comprehensive approach to IT services creates a unique value proposition that resonates with increasingly environmentally conscious businesses.
Getting Started
Beginning your journey with refurbished IT starts with choosing the right partner. Look for an accredited provider that offers BSI-certified remanufacturing processes, comprehensive warranties, and reliable supply chain capabilities, alongside full ITAD services.
Consider which of your customers might benefit most from these services. Organisations facing Windows 11 compatibility challenges, working with budget constraints, or pursuing sustainability targets are excellent candidates for a conversation about refurbished IT.
We recommend developing a blended approach that combines new and refurbished equipment while integrating ITAD services to create comprehensive IT lifecycle solutions. This flexible approach allows you to tailor solutions to each customer’s specific needs and circumstances.
Future-Proof Your Business
The transition to Windows 11, combined with growing environmental awareness and budget pressures, creates a perfect opportunity for channel partners to introduce refurbished IT solutions. By partnering with an accredited provider, you can offer high-quality, sustainable IT solutions that benefit both your business and your customers.
Ready to explore how refurbished IT can enhance your service offering? Contact Tier1 today to discuss partnership opportunities and request our latest stock list.
