Organizations that rely on their IT assets should expect significant benefits from right-to-repair policies as they continue to attract greater interest and support. President Biden recently made remarks in favor of the Federal Trade Commission’s announcement that it would take action against illegal repair restrictions. This follows his Executive Order on Promoting Competition, signed in July, which specifically addresses restrictions to third-party repair.
Allowing independent companies to repair electronic devices has clear advantages to consumers and ITAD businesses alike.
- Companies choosing devices that are designed to be repaired will see greater reductions to their total cost of ownership when it comes time to upgrade or retire their equipment.
- Those offering ITAD services will also be able to recover maximum value from devices that they can refurbish and remarket, sharing that added value with their partners.
Additionally, some OEMs may be better able to profit from selling parts, tools, and repair manuals to certified ITAD providers than they would by only offering repair services.
On a broader level, increasing the rate of repair and keeping IT equipment out of landfills will have a positive environmental impact. This is an important consideration, and possibly a quantifiable one, for the growing number of organizations that are adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting. Companies that work with their ITAD partner to develop a plan for their electronic assets will be in the best position to take advantage of this industry shift.
