Sustainable Tech Services Creating Opportunities for the Channel
Article submitted by David Nelson, Director of Mobile & Trade-In Services at TD SYNNEX, Europe
According to TD SYNNEX’s recent Technology Ecosystem Benchmark Report, by early 2025, 70% of partners expect to deliver both Anything-as-a-Service (XaaS) and credit, financing, and leasing offerings. Furthermore, 43% of technology ecosystem partners plan to offer sustainability reporting in the next 24 months. In fact, TD SYNNEX is one of those companies having just published our first Global Corporate Citizenship Report, which covers our sustainability KPIs.
Businesses and employees are looking for new ways to make devices last longer, save money, and protect the environment. So, how can companies choose sustainable options while meeting the rapidly changing needs of the market?
Good as new
Device sustainability and longevity are important, which is why there are now several trade-in services on the market to help individuals and businesses reduce their carbon footprint. A lot of mobile phone retailers now offer cashback incentives to consumers that trade-in their old devices — so they recycle devices while making a bit of extra cash at the same time.
When businesses enroll on these programmes, the entire device trade-in process — from real-time quoting for a single device (or multiple devices), order tracking, secure shipping, and guaranteed data erasure — is taken care of.
Consumers can make affordable monthly payments for beauty products, gym classes, and streaming services. These subscriptions provide flexibility with the option to end the membership whenever the user chooses. Likewise, Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) offerings allow us to swap traditional technology purchases for new and sustainable consumption models. By returning the equipment at the end of the programme, companies prevent the unnecessary storage of depreciating assets for long periods of time and avoid any improper disposal. Applying the principles of the circular economy, returned devices also get a second life.
Wise decisions
More consumers are beginning to consider a product’s lifecycle, this means purchasing products built to last, that are repairable, and can be recycled. In the workplace, organisations can implement a similar approach when purchasing new equipment or considering TaaS. They can also create programs to educate employees on making eco-friendly technology purchases. Employees can leverage internal and external expertise, enroll on courses to build awareness and knowledge, gain certifications, or consult advice guides.
The printing revolution
As businesses move to a hybrid work model, we’ve seen an increased demand for personal use, multi-functional printers, and more reusable, sustainable printer options for the office. Stocking 100% certified and recycled paper is becoming more common as paper producers are increasingly offering both certified virgin fibre and recycled content. At the same time, there is also a growing hunger for refillable tank printers, with sales consistently rising year on year as consumers and organisations look to take a more sustainable approach to IT and alleviate the impact on the planet. The per-page cost is significantly lower over the lifetime of the device, allowing users to reduce their CO2 emissions and plastic/electronic waste generation.
We expect the volume of trade-in and refurbishment devices to grow as second-hand smartphones generated $13.3 billion revenue in 2021 alone. Find out more about how to take a sustainable approach to running your business by exploring TD SYNNEX’s TaaS and TD SYNNEX Renew services.
