WHY CONSIDER THE SECONDARY MARKET?
Refurbished data center equipment, which is essentially used hardware that has been restored to its original factory condition and thoroughly tested, is popular for its low cost. But this is just one of the many advantages of opting for the secondary market. As there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly products and IT budgets are being trimmed, incorporating refurbished products into the data center is a smart choice for businesses in the present day.
INFANT MORTALITY
a common misconception about refurbished products is that they have a high failure rate and are frequently returned. However, this is not the case. According to the Bath Curve, the most likely time for equipment to fail is during the commissioning stage or initial use. At REF Group, our Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) rate is lower than the manufacturer’s rate. Unlike OEMs which only perform spot testing, REF Group undergoes a rigorous 25-point recertification process to guarantee the quality of all refurbished IT parts. REF Group matches the OEM warranty and also implements security software from White Canyon and Blancco to sanitize all data on devices, putting any General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) concerns to rest.
PROLONG THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR EXISTING SYSTEM
Finding replacements for G5 and G6 components can be challenging, causing businesses to abandon their functional IT system. By purchasing from the secondary market, you can access parts that are no longer offered by the manufacturer. REF Group has a vast in-house inventory of over 225,000 IT components, covering old and new generations, allowing for the prompt delivery of a variety of IT solutions to your location.
GREATER VERSATILITY
With REF Group, you have a wide range of configuration options. Our Configure to Order service lets you customize a server to meet your specific needs by selecting from among our 225,000 in-house IT parts. If you have an unused server, you can re-deploy it and reuse its components in a newer system. We offer both new and refurbished hardware at the component level, including cold pull (never used), and third-party (made in the same factories as new, but at a lower cost) options. Mixing and matching new and refurbished components is a smart way to achieve technical specifications, keep costs down, and maximize performance.
ACHIEVE BETTER PERFORMANCE AT A LOWER COST
In today’s environment where IT managers must do more with limited funds, cost-saving is a desirable option. Upgrading older systems with higher-spec memory, for example, helps extend their lifespan while providing improved results. In fact, our research project showed that simple changes to configurations can make older servers perform as well as newer ones. Google is a prime example of a company that has leveraged refurbished equipment successfully. According to their 2017 report, 18% of their newly deployed servers were refurbished and 11% of machine upgrade components were refurbished.
REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT IS AN ECO-FRIENDLY OPTION.
Every year, approximately 50 million tons of electronic waste end up in landfills, the equivalent weight of all the commercial airplanes ever built, according to the World Economic Forum. The constant drive to upgrade technology and buy the latest products results in IT hardware being discarded before reaching its full lifespan, causing significant harm to the environment.
Choosing refurbished equipment helps reduce e-waste and minimize the demand for new raw materials, which has a value of $62.5 billion. Despite servers being able to function for a long time, they are typically only used for an average of 3 years. Refurbished equipment can also assist in meeting sustainable procurement goals.
REF Group is a worldwide expert in buying, refurbishing, and selling data center equipment. With its extensive testing process, secure data deletion, and a vast selection of 225,000 IT components, you can find a dependable data center solution for your company. To learn more, go to our page on refurbished servers.