Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I use an IT Asset Disposition / computer asset recovery company?
A: There are many complexities in proper asset disposition and computer asset recovery. Working with a partner that is dedicated to understanding these complexities and protecting your company from any liabilities is a must. True ITAD providers have also proven that in addition to providing a secure, environmentally sound solution, they obtain the maximum residual value for your retired assets.
Q: What asset types does Converge support with computer asset recovery?
A: We provide disposition, remarketing and redeployment services for ALL your IT and telephony assets. Whether you need to retire a computer asset such as a desktop, notebook, server, or networking equipment…peripherals such as monitors, printers, modems, keyboards, and storage devices…components and subassemblies such as motherboards, VGA cards, and PC cards…or telecom equipment such as wired and cell phones, PDAs, switches, and routers…Converge can handle it all.
Q: What services do you provide?
A: We are a full-service international IT asset disposition partner and provide services that include but are not limited to:
Q: What factors determine residual value of an IT asset?
A: Residual value of IT equipment is based on many factors, including:
- Age of system
- Physical condition of the system
- Manufacturer’s brand name
- Type of system – desktop, laptop, or server
- Model type
- System configuration
- System completeness
- Options
- Disk capacity
- Geographic location
- Global supply and demand
With more than a quarter of a century of experience in systems and component remarketing, Converge delivers unmatched insights into valuing your assets. Using our proprietary Market Intelligence system and value asset analysis systems, our experts can quickly calculate the market value for any IT asset to ensure that you get the greatest asset recovery.
Q: What disposal alternative will provide my firm with the greatest financial return?
A: As a general rule, it is usually more economical to remarket an entire system. If this is not a feasible alternative, an IT system can be broken down into components to recover residual value from the components that still may hold value.
Converge will take all the complexity and guesswork out of determining the most desirable alternative. With our Market Intelligence system you will be given the most cost-effective option, thereby completely eliminating any guesswork.
Q: How do I get an estimate of the residual value of my IT assets?
A: Converge can quickly provide you with an estimated residual value for your retiring IT assets and provide a risk analysis of your current IT disposal practices and computer asset recovery. Just contact us.
Q: What are some ways I can measure the ROI of my ITAD process?
A: One way you can measure the return on investment of your ITAD process is to remarket the systems or components that have value and apply the revenue generated from remarketing to your ITAD costs. Another consideration is cost avoidance, where a proper, secure ITAD process will mitigate your liability for improper disposal arising from environmental or data security issues. A recent Ponemon industry study places the cost of a data breach at over $200 per record exposed, which can be a good benchmark for measuring cost avoidance.
Q: What differentiates Converge from other providers of similar services?
A: Converge is a full service IT asset disposal partner with facilities and partners around the world. Our strengths lie in our ability to maximize the residual value of remarketed equipment and our ability to ensure the highest level of data security and environmental compliance. Combined with our redeployment and donation services that meet the needs of green oriented and philanthropic companies - and the most robust online reporting tool in the industry, Converge is uniquely positioned to manage even the most demanding projects.
Q: What are the advantages of using a national or global ITAD vendor rather than a local one?
A: Often, local ITAD vendors or recyclers can only service a small geographic location, and the client’s branch locations are often left to find a different solution. This leads to multiple vendors with varying procedures, numerous, disjointed reports and varying results. A company’s risk significantly increases as the asset recovery process gets spread across multiple vendors, making it difficult to audit procedures.
Additionally, local vendors usually support a smaller customer base, potentially leaving them vulnerable to attrition, and the possibility of an unstable financial position. A larger ITAD provider with a more diverse customer base provides a more stable environment.
Q: Will Converge guarantee its service fees and asset value evaluation?
A: Converge prides itself on its ability to accurately evaluate the “right” residual value of a system. Assuming that the assets being evaluated have been properly described, we will always honor our evaluation. Our standard-base-fee services are well documented and have no hidden costs. All custom services are based on the level of services rendered and will be clearly communicated and explained before any work begins. And tracking with our proprietary Asset Manager online reporting system allows you transparency during the entire chain of custody and asset recovery process.
Q: Does Converge indemnify its customers for all potential liabilities associated with asset disposal?
A: Converge carries extensive liability business insurance and can provide additional custom-tailored protection on an as-needed basis.
Q: What constitutes a formal “transfer of liability” for disposed of assets? Is a certificate of destruction enough?
A: A Certificate of Destruction or Certificate of Recycling provides a high level of protection by showing that the organization took all appropriate steps to properly dispose of its IT assets. However, the organization can never fully transfer liability; it will always be accountable for what happens downstream with that asset. A third party provider can promise unlimited liability but they can only cover damages to the extent of their company's worth. Additionally, reputation damage, corrective actions and customer turnover are all costs that reflect back on the original organization. A proper, transparent ITAD process with a proven ITAD provider is paramount to ensuring your organization minimizes liability and risk.
Q: What sort of penalties can companies face for improper ewaste disposal?
A: Companies can face a range of penalties on a state, national and global scale. For example, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act imposes criminal penalties of up to $1 million in fines and up to 10 years in prison. Other regulations include HIPAA, the Massachusetts Identity Theft Law, WEEE, Gramm-Leach Bliley, and scores of others. A reputable ITAD firm will understand the regulations affecting your organization and have controls in place to offer comprehensive liability protection.
Q: How do I find out about specific state laws regarding disposal?
A: If you want to handle your IT asset disposition internally, information on state laws can be found on the internet on state and government websites. However, if you partner with a full service ITAD provider, they will have a complete understanding of the local, state, federal and international laws that affect your IT disposal and should have a proven ITAD process to ensure all requirements are met.
Q: How can Converge protect my company from potential security and environment risks associated with asset recovery / disposal?
A: Converge offers a wide range of standard and custom security services to fulfill a customer’s specific requirements. Whether you require a simple data erasure, multipass DoD erasure, or total disk destruction, you can be assured that the job will be done without ever jeopardizing your company’s data security. Assets that cannot be remarketed or resold are recycled in accordance with all EPA regulations.
Q: What's the benefit of using recyclers that have an industry certification?
A: Recyclers and IT asset disposition providers who attain industry certifications are reinforcing their commitment to certain standards and ideals. Currently within the ITAD industry, certification bodies and standards are still developing and there is no clear frontrunner. That said, service providers with a formal, repeatable process will do the most to protect your organization from liability from data breaches or environmental disasters. The ISO 9001 and 14001 standards are globally-accepted and implemented as measures of excellence.
Q: What is the difference between an IT asset disposition provider like Converge, and a recycler?
A: Recycling has an important place in the IT asset disposition process, but a pure recycling solution is only part of the equation.
Recyclers face a growing dilemma in offering a limited number of services to enterprise clients. These limitations include:
- Inability to effectively remarket or redeploy assets
- Tied to volatile commodity markets – pricing fluctuations effect returns
- Focus is on scrap tonnage and the precious metals inside the assets
Converge as a full-service IT asset disposal partner provides:
- Remarketing channels and revenue returns to customers
- Ability to extend an assets life with redeployment options
- Support of an organizations charitable donations programs
- Stable cost of goods model - pricing is tied to technology
At Converge, we believe the gold is the asset, while a recycler is focused on the gold in the asset.
For more information on IT asset disposition and computer asset recovery, contact us.