Simplifying Device Recovery: How a Fortune 100 Company Boosted Sustainability and Compliance

03/10/25 • 13 min

What simple technology integration nudges employees to return their old devices without disrupting their workflow, and how could it save your company thousands in lost assets?

Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she chats with Mariel Wilding (Sr. Customer Experience Manager) about how a Fortune 100 company enhanced its sustainability initiatives with Apkudo’s Reco software. Learn how they automated employee mobile device recovery and gained access to detailed device circularity insights for the first time. With seamless integration into Omnissa’s Workspace ONE® unified endpoint management platform, they also saw a boost in employee compliance. Discover how this customer simplified a once-complex process into a scalable, repeatable program for sustainable success.
How does Apkudo's innovative UEM tagging system transform recovery rates? Mariel reveals that customizable restrictions encourage device returns without impeding productivity. She explains how the customer evolved from having scattered forgotten devices to implementing real-time fleet visibility. You’ll hear how collaborative problem-solving created features like IT drop-off tracking that now benefit all Apkudo customers. For mobility teams in hybrid environments, this case study shows how proper lifecycle management recovers assets, supports sustainability goals, and generates financial returns through secondary markets.
In this episode:

(00:00) Introduction and Background: Mariel Wilding shares her experience in customer-facing roles at a manageability services startup before joining Apkudo to support enterprise customers with asset recovery.
(01:40) Fortune 100 Customer Profile: Mariel details the customer's 35,000 employees with 19,000 globally deployed iOS and Android devices, their security challenges with outdated devices, and how Apkudo's integration with Workspace ONE addressed their automation and visibility needs.
(05:30) Product Innovation Implementation: Explores how the customer's automation requirements led to development of UEM tagging features and IT drop-off tracking capabilities, creating customizable solutions that nudge employees to return devices and improve recovery compliance.
(10:30) Sustainability Impact and Expansion: Discusses how Apkudo transformed the customer from merely recycling devices to reselling and tracking sustainability metrics, with plans to expand the program beyond US mobile devices to laptops in Canada and UK operations.
Send us your comments, ideas for future shows, and feedback. Subscribe to catch future episodes, and share this episode with someone who might be interested!

Resources:
Mariel Wilding LinkedIn Apkudo LinkedIn
Apkudo
Apkudo Podcast

What simple technology integration nudges employees to return their old devices without disrupting their workflow, and how could it save your company thousands in lost assets?

(00:00) Introduction and Background: Mariel Wilding shares her experience in customer-facing roles at a manageability services startup before joining Apkudo to support enterprise customers with asset recovery.
(01:40) Fortune 100 Customer Profile: Mariel details the customer's 35,000 employees with 19,000 globally deployed iOS and Android devices, their security challenges with outdated devices, and how Apkudo's integration with Workspace ONE addressed their automation and visibility needs.
(05:30) Product Innovation Implementation: Explores how the customer's automation requirements led to development of UEM tagging features and IT drop-off tracking capabilities, creating customizable solutions that nudge employees to return devices and improve recovery compliance.
(10:30) Sustainability Impact and Expansion: Discusses how Apkudo transformed the customer from merely recycling devices to reselling and tracking sustainability metrics, with plans to expand the program beyond US mobile devices to laptops in Canada and UK operations.
Send us your comments, ideas for future shows, and feedback. Subscribe to catch future episodes, and share this episode with someone who might be interested!

Resources:
Mariel Wilding LinkedIn Apkudo LinkedIn
Apkudo
Apkudo Podcast

Previous Episode

Cyculus Leads a New Era in Device Processing

Curious about why Europe lags behind the US in automated phone processing (15% vs 85%)? Hear how one company is bridging this technology gap.

Fergal Donovan, CEO and co-founder of Cyculus, joins us to discuss revolutionizing phone recycling and refurbishment through automated processing. Drawing from his 25 years of experience in the mobile industry, including significant roles at Motorola, Brightpoint, and PCS Wireless, Donovan explains how Device Processing as a Service (DPaaS) is transforming the European market.
You’ll hear how Cyculus is addressing a critical gap in Europe, where only 10-15% of pre-owned phones are processed using robotics, compared to 85% in the US. Operating from a sustainable, solar-powered facility, Cyculus combines AI-driven technology with precision robotics to provide consistent, high-quality device grading and testing services. For those interested in phone recycling and circular economy initiatives, this episode offers valuable insights into how automation is making device refurbishment more accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly, particularly for smaller businesses that previously couldn't access such technology.
In this episode:
(00:00) Introduction and Background: Fergal shares his 25-year journey in the mobile industry, from working at Motorola during the Razr era through distribution roles at major companies, ultimately leading to his focus on sustainability and circularity at PCS Wireless.

(02:25) DPaaS Origins: Explains how Europe's fragmented business landscape (600+ businesses across 28 countries) led to the development of Device Processing as a Service, aiming to provide widespread access to automation technology for processing pre-owned phones.

(04:27) Partnership Benefits: Details why Cyculus chose Apkudo, highlighting the advantages of automated solutions including controlled testing environments, consistent grading, high-resolution imaging, and AI-powered assessment capabilities compared to manual processing.

(12:15) Sustainability Impact: Discusses how Cyculus fits into the circular supply chain by improving device processing efficiency, reducing return rates, and increasing quality of pre-owned devices, while operating from a fully solar-powered facility with heat pump technology.

(14:43) Certification Goals: Outlines Cyculus's pursuit of key industry certifications including ISO standards, Ecovadis, and potential B Corp certification, along with membership in industry bodies like Eurofast to improve right-to-repair initiatives.

(16:15) Market Expansion Plans: Reviews strong customer interest in DPaaS from various sectors (insurance, operators, distributors, traders, resellers) and discusses how upcoming European regulations around CE branding and USB-C will impact the market.

Resources:
Fergal Donovan LinkedIn Apkudo LinkedIn
Apkudo
Apkudo Podcast

Next Episode

Behind the Scenes: How Quality Managers Shape the Mobile Experience with Device Intelligence

How are leading companies transforming quality management from a cost center into a strategic advantage?

Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she welcomes Manoj Sabhnani, Chief Operating Officer at Apkudo. With over 25 years in the wireless industry, Manoj illuminates the critical role quality managers play in determining a device's fate between its first and second life. With experience spanning carriers, OEMs, and infrastructure development, he explains how quality management directly impacts customer satisfaction, return rates, and ultimately, profitability. Manoj emphasizes that while quality departments are often viewed as cost centers, their work translates to measurable ROI through reduced returns and logistics costs.

Discover how quality managers navigate complex challenges including disconnected data systems, manual processes, and cross-stakeholder collaboration. Manoj details how Apkudo's Device Intelligence platform has revolutionized quality management through real-time dashboards, predictive analytics, and seamless collaboration features that save quality managers up to 20% of their time. The conversation highlights the sustainability implications of quality improvements and how reducing "bounce rates" for refurbished devices delivers millions in savings while decreasing environmental impact. This episode offers valuable insights for professionals across the connected device ecosystem seeking to optimize operations and lead in sustainable device management.

In this episode:

(00:00) Introduction and Background: Manoj Sabhnani brings over 25 years of wireless industry experience to Apkudo, working across carriers, OEMs, and infrastructure to understand quality management challenges from multiple perspectives.
(05:03) Key Quality Processes and Challenges: Critical processes quality managers oversee including first article inspection, early warning processes, and device triage, while managing disconnected systems and manual data collection.
(10:15) Daily Operations and Collaboration: Manoj details a typical day for quality managers, highlighting their work with multiple stakeholders, data management responsibilities, and the need to take timely action on quality insights.
(15:35) Quality ROI and Business Impact: How quality teams demonstrate ROI through reduced returns, decreased logistics costs, and improved sustainability metrics, translating into millions in annual savings.
(24:01) Technology Solutions and Future Innovations: Apkudo’s Device Intelligence platform integrates disparate systems with real-time dashboards and cross-stakeholder collaboration, plus upcoming innovations in predictive analytics and sustainability metrics.
Send us your comments, ideas for future shows, and feedback. Subscribe to catch future episodes, and share this episode with someone who might be interested!

Resources:

Manoj Sabhnani LinkedIn Apkudo LinkedIn
Apkudo
Apkudo Podcast