Expert interview with Blerim Rudhani, Head of re-useIT. Conducted by Tanja Mettauer, Netzwoche.ch, published on 14.10.2024. See: Sustainability has arrived in people’s minds.
Millions of IT devices are produced, put into operation, and discarded before their end of life each year. With re-useIT, SPIE Switzerland provides a B2B platform to extend the life cycle of hardware.
How has SPIE’s B2B platform re-useIT developed since its launch in February?
Blerim Rudhani: Re-useIT has met with great interest, both from SPIE’s clients and the market. We are receiving many inquiries, which means our innovative service has hit the zeitgeist. Looking at the market, it’s clear that sustainability has become a priority. Companies are aware of their social and ecological responsibility. In the field of IT infrastructure, it’s essential to minimize resource consumption and environmental impact. With re-useIT, we take care of decommissioned IT hardware – for instance, after a successful ICT environment modernization. By reusing it, we promote ecological sustainability.
What strategy are you pursuing to attract new companies to re-useIT?
With re-useIT, we offer a digital and straightforward B2B platform to promote the circular economy and contribute to ecological sustainability. As a young company, we focus on two communication goals: raising awareness and building trust. Personal contact is crucial. In our industry, trust is everything. Our approach is based on personal consultation and understanding customers’ specific issues. While we follow a standard process, each customer’s needs are unique. Thanks to our start-up groove, we are flexible and can meet individual requirements. We want our passion to resonate with customers – not just a few buzzwords on a PowerPoint slide. Our primary focus is on infrastructure hardware like switches, access points, servers, etc., as the market in this segment is opaque, and customers struggle to find a trustworthy partner. However, other product categories like laptops, smartphones, tablets, monitors, and displays can also be processed through re-useIT. Printers, on the other hand, are hard to market.
How does the SPIE brand play a role in marketing the platform?
SPIE plays a crucial role. It’s a trusted brand, which certainly benefits re-useIT. With re-useIT, SPIE demonstrates its “Corporate Social Responsibility” DNA, showing that we’re not just theorists – we take action. Re-useIT continues SPIE Switzerland’s commitment to innovation, quality, and environmental awareness.
What priority do circular economy and sustainability have for your customers? How do they respond to the offer to reuse their unused IT hardware?
Ecological sustainability is no longer a trend; it’s becoming the standard. It’s increasingly important for companies to provide evidence of their sustainability efforts. Some partners in the re-useIT network provide CO2 certificates. These show how much CO2 was saved by reusing hardware instead of scrapping it. Our commitment is met with great interest and approval. With millions of IT devices produced, operated, and eventually disposed of each year, the environmental impact is alarming. Many companies are increasingly concerned and looking for solutions. That’s where we come in.
What financial incentive do companies have to use this service?
Customers can turn their old IT hardware into cash. One of the main benefits is that re-useIT, through its broad partner network, secures the best price. By gathering multiple offers, the market functions efficiently, and customers get the best possible price. Additionally, the effort for them is minimal, as the application form on the website is simple, and they only need to have the goods ready for collection. Everything else – collection, transportation, data deletion, hardware refurbishment, etc. – is offered as a service by the respective partner. Furthermore, they save on storage costs for decommissioned IT infrastructure. So, customers not only save costs but also time and space. In summary: best market price through offer comparisons, minimal time investment, and savings on storage costs.
How is the partner network structured for collection, data deletion, refurbishment, upcycling, and resale of IT hardware?
Our partners operate in a closed, non-public, and exclusive network. They are carefully selected, and I know each one personally. I ensure they are certified and sign contracts with them. They can only participate in orders after passing various checks. The market itself is huge, with plenty of providers. However, the selection process and the human factor are very important. For example, our partners have ISO or ESG certifications and use recognized data deletion software, such as Blancco. I personally oversee each customer request, ensuring the quality is guaranteed. Personal consultation – from person to person – is also very important to me.
How do you ensure that data deletion is complete and secure in compliance with the DSG?
This is a serious matter. Our partner network is equipped with recognized certifications and data deletion programs that ensure compliance, security, and transparency at every step of the process. Standard norms and procedures must be followed. Customers receive documentation of the data deletion, a proof of concept. This documentation describes each step with a protocol.
What are the most common challenges in refurbishing and upcycling IT hardware? How do you address them?
The biggest concern for companies is data security. So we need to guarantee and prove certified data deletion with our partners. In discussions, we explain in detail what such a process looks like and what proof customers receive. This issue is very important to me. I take the time that our customers need. Through education and transparency throughout the refurbishment process, we build trust and reinforce our expertise. Of course, we also address all legal questions so that our customers are covered there as well. Another challenge is small quantities. From a quantity of 50 units per model, it becomes interesting for potential buyers, and the chance of an attractive offer increases. Smaller quantities, under 50 units, are difficult to sell. Hardware older than five years is clearly harder to market. The more current the hardware, the better the chances of success.
Re-useIT launched here this year – what are your plans for the B2B platform internationally?
First and foremost, we want to increase awareness and establish re-useIT in Switzerland. We are currently in talks with large companies and aiming for long-term partnerships. As a start-up with Swiss roots, we primarily want to contribute here. At the same time, SPIE group companies from France and the Netherlands have already expressed interest in expanding the service accordingly. That sounds exciting, and we will definitely consider it. Thanks to SPIE group’s strong network, expansion at the European level is a promising outlook.
How should the B2B platform develop in the long term regarding resource optimization?
The B2B platform can be easily expanded and optimized since it is entirely digital, and we don’t manage warehouses. Goods are always directly transported from customers to partners. The only limited resource is my time. I’ve been deeply involved with re-useIT for more than two and a half years, and my enthusiasm hasn’t just stayed – it’s grown. I hope the development continues, and I can support many more companies.
About the person
Blerim Rudhani (43) is Head of Procurement and Logistics at SPIE Switzerland and is passionate about sustainable IT projects. During his EMBA studies, he developed the start-up re-useIT. Within a year, he turned the idea into reality and created a market for his sustainable IT solution.