A school district’s technology refresh doesn’t begin when the old devices are packed into boxes.
By that point, much of the planning should already be complete.
For districts managing hundreds or thousands of student devices, planning ahead can make the difference between an organized technology transition and a rushed end-of-year project.
One part of that planning is device buyback.
The Best Time to Start Is Before Devices Are Retired
A district should begin considering buyback while it is planning the next technology refresh — not after the old devices are already sitting in a warehouse.
Early planning allows the technology team to answer important questions:
- Which devices are being retired?
- How many devices are involved?
- Which models are included?
- When will the devices be removed from service?
- How will they be collected?
- How will data be handled?
- Where will the devices be stored?
- When will they be shipped or picked up?
- How will the district use the recovered value?
Build Buyback Into the Refresh Calendar
For many districts, the end of the school year creates a natural opportunity to collect student devices.
But that doesn’t mean the buyback process should wait until summer.
A better approach is to work backward from the planned retirement date.
For example:
Technology refresh decision
↓
Identify retiring devices
↓
Inventory and organize fleet
↓
Request buyback quote
↓
Approve buyback
↓
Collect and prepare devices
↓
Ship or schedule pickup
↓
Inspection and grading
↓
Receive payout
AGi’s current buyback process follows this general progression, beginning with a quote and continuing through logistics, inspection/grading and payout.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Week of School
One of the biggest problems with waiting until the end of the school year is that technology staff are already managing numerous competing priorities.
Summer can involve:
- Device deployment
- Repairs
- Inventory
- Network projects
- New equipment
- Student account preparation
- Classroom preparation
- Staff technology setup
Adding a large-scale device retirement project at the last minute can create unnecessary pressure.
Starting earlier gives your team more time to coordinate the process.
Organize Devices Before They Leave the District
Before a buyback shipment leaves the district, the technology team should have a clear understanding of what is being sent.
That may include organizing devices by:
- Model
- Quantity
- Location
- Deployment group
- Condition
- Accessories
The better organized the inventory, the easier it becomes to manage the transition.
Consider Data Security Early
Data security should also be part of the retirement plan.
A device that was used by a student or staff member should not simply be placed in a box and sent away without considering the data that may remain on it.
Districts should establish their own data-retirement requirements and make sure their buyback partner’s process aligns with those requirements.
Note: AGi provides secure data destruction as part of its buyback services.
Think About What You’ll Do With the Buyback Value
Buyback planning isn’t only about getting devices out of the building.
It’s also about deciding what happens to the value recovered from those devices.
AGi offers districts the option of receiving cash or selecting AGi account credit for 10% more value. The credit can be used toward AGi technology solutions.
That can make buyback particularly relevant when a district is simultaneously planning its next technology deployment.
Connect Buyback to the Bigger Lifecycle
AGi’s REFRESH program was developed around this idea of connecting multiple stages of a K-12 technology lifecycle.
The program combines Buyback, AGiProtect and Provisioning and is designed to help districts manage technology from one deployment cycle to the next.
Instead of thinking about:
“What do we do with our old Chromebooks?”
the larger question becomes:
“How do we manage our entire device lifecycle?”
That shift can help technology departments plan more strategically.
A Simple Rule for District Technology Teams
If you already know that your district will be retiring a large number of devices in the coming months, it’s not too early to start planning the buyback.
Getting the process started early gives your team time to evaluate options, organize inventory and coordinate logistics.
Planning a Technology Refresh?
Make device buyback part of the plan from the beginning.
Request a K-12 Device Buyback Quote.
