How is real-time data keeping more phones out of landfills and in customers' hands?

Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she welcomes John Hebert, Executive Vice President for Technical Program Management, and Stephen Mattson, Director of Support and Training at Apkudo. The team reveals the complex world of device repair vendor management. With over 20 years in telecommunications and 18 years in mobile devices respectively, they explain how carriers manage the intricate network of OEMs, repair centers, and return facilities. "We were managing significant inventory levels through spreadsheets by email," Hebert explains, highlighting the manual chaos that once dominated the industry. Their discussion covers how real-time automation has transformed vendor relationships, reduced repair turnaround times, and improved device circularity. How does better data visibility change everything from customer satisfaction to environmental impact? 
 
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How can data standardization drive both operational efficiency and environmental benefits? 

Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she welcomes Tim Esteb (Director of Customer Experience) back to the podcast to explore how one global tech enterprise revolutionized its IT asset recovery process. From warehouses filled with unused devices to a streamlined, automated system for managing returns, this social media and hardware company faced massive challenges across multiple continents. "Prior to the Apkudo platform, this all lived within email inboxes," Tim explains. Through data standardization and API integrations, they processed 40,000 devices while achieving remarkable outcomes. The focus on freight logistics, reusable packaging, and sustainability led to warehouse downsizing and significant environmental benefits. How can automated device recovery drive both operational efficiency and cost savings for your organization? 
 
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What happens when second-life tech becomes second nature for businesses and consumers? 

Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she introduces Second Sense, the newly rebranded podcast from Apkudo that dives deep into the complex world of mobile device supply chains and sustainable technology solutions. Allyson introduces this fresh take on device lifecycle management, exploring the intricate network behind connected devices—from logistics and diagnostics to testing, grading, and resale. The podcast tackles three fundamental questions: How does data shape supply chain decisions? What does this mean for sustainability goals? And how are experiences changing for companies, customers, and the planet? With expert insights from across the industry, Second Sense provides real stories about the future of sustainable technology. 
 
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What if your sustainability initiative could simultaneously reduce costs, increase asset recovery, and support educational opportunities for underserved communities?  

Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she speaks with Ben Jones, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Takeback, about a transformative device recovery program implemented for a major US airline. Ben shares how they helped the airline transition from manual spreadsheets and limited visibility to a comprehensive platform solution that achieved a remarkable 97% asset recovery rate across 110,000+ devices. You’ll hear the surprising details about how innovative approaches like employee purchase programs exceeded expectations with nearly 50% adoption among pilots, while also highlighting the significant environmental benefits of extending device lifecycles. 

Ben explains how the airline's global, constantly-moving workforce presented unique challenges that led to creative solutions now benefiting customers across industries. The discussion covers the evolution of electronic flight bags from 35-pound paper manuals to iPads, the implementation of a transparent commercial model, and exciting future developments including remote wipe capabilities and robotics automation. This episode offers valuable insights for IT and mobility professionals managing enterprise device fleets, particularly in hybrid or distributed workforce environments. 
 
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"There's a huge opportunity to reclaim scarce resources through urban mining of what's inside these phones, tablets, laptops. We have to move away from the linear consumption model - take, make, waste - that we've had for 250 years." - Tony Altmann, Head of Circular Innovation at Apkudo 

Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she speaks with Tony Altmann, Head of Circular Innovation at Apkudo, about transforming the connected device industry through circular economy principles. Tony explains how Apkudo's platform helps customers across the supply chain—from OEMs and carriers to device processors and enterprises—recapture value while reducing environmental impact. With 82 million metric tons of e-waste projected by 2030 and five billion unused phones sitting in drawers worldwide, the conversation highlights the urgent need for improved recovery systems and the $8 billion in gold alone that could be reclaimed through proper urban mining. 

Tony shares insights from Apkudo's 2024 Impact Report, revealing how the company processed 16 million devices last year—preventing 6,100 tons of e-waste, avoiding 1.1 million tons of CO2 emissions, and reclaiming approximately $23 million worth of gold. The discussion explores how sustainability challenges including data availability, trust, and communication are being addressed through Apkudo's analytics platform. For businesses across climate, energy, and technology sectors, the episode offers valuable perspectives on how companies can align environmental goals with financial performance while creating competitive advantage through circular innovation. 

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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. 

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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. 
 
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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. 
 
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(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. 

 
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How does balancing human judgment with robotic precision revolutionize the device grading process in the secondary market? 

In this episode, host Allyson Mitchell, VP of Sustainability at Apkudo, and Asa Gismervik, Apkudo’s Director Of Quality Assurance, discuss the challenges associated with cosmetic grading. The reality is that humans don't agree, which means humans and robots won't agree either. Apkudo is deploying a new alignment process to overcome the inherent limitations of subjective grading techniques to achieve greater accuracy. 
 
The conversation takes a deeper dive into this fascinating world of human-machine collaboration, exploring the pivotal role of blind assessments in ensuring unbiased evaluations. Asa shares his insights into the challenges of aligning human and machine interpretations and the dangers of overfitting algorithms to specific datasets. You’ll hear how large sample runs are crucial in fine-tuning algorithms to bridge the gap between manual and automated grading techniques. Ultimately, Apkudo seeks to establish a unified approach to cosmetic grading that harmonizes the efforts of humans, machines, and supply chain partners, paving the way for a more consistent and reliable secondary market for connected devices. 
 
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In this episode, host Allyson Mitchell, VP of Sustainability at Apkudo, dives into a compelling customer story with guest Manoj Sabhnani, the COO of Apkudo. The conversation explores the transformation of connected devices, highlighting Apkudo's innovative automated device testing solutions that simulate real-world scenarios to preemptively address issues, thereby reducing costly returns and enhancing customer satisfaction. During their discussion, Allyson and Manoj share how solving one customer’s initial challenge sparked interest from other internal stakeholders, which, in turn, expanded into a multi-faceted partnership that transformed their entire connected device operations.

Manoj emphasizes the importance of adapting to technological advancements, particularly the transition from LTE to 5G, and the rise of IoT in reshaping the industry. He underscores the significance of AI-powered analytics in revolutionizing operations and improving efficiency for carriers and third-party logistics providers. The episode concludes with a discussion on the evolving landscape of wireless technology and the growing importance of connected devices in everyday life, reflecting Manoj's forward-thinking views on the future of technology.

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