– PHILIP McMICHAEL, CEO, VYTA
India has established itself as one of the world’s most important technology markets. Home to major global IT services companies, multinational technology operations and an expanding digital economy, the country plays an increasingly significant role in how businesses manage their technology infrastructure.
However, while India’s IT services industry is highly developed, the market for managing technology at the end of its first useful life is following a different path.
I recently spent time in India visiting three of Vyta’s IT asset disposition (ITAD) service partners, meeting their leadership teams and seeing their operations firsthand. The visits provided a valuable opportunity to understand how the market is evolving, the challenges facing service providers and what multinational organisations need to consider when managing IT assets across the region.
A major global technology hub
India’s position in the global technology industry is well established. The country is a major centre for IT services, software development, business process outsourcing and technology operations, supporting some of the world’s largest organisations.
Cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai and Gurugram have developed into significant technology and business centres, hosting multinational offices, global capability centres and extensive IT infrastructure.
For organisations operating across these locations, the challenge extends beyond deploying and supporting technology. Thousands of laptops, desktops, servers and other devices must also be tracked, recovered, redeployed, refurbished or securely disposed of as they move through their lifecycle.
As India’s technology infrastructure continues to expand, so does the need for effective IT asset management and disposition services.
However, the ITAD market operates quite differently from those in Europe and North America.
An ITAD market developing on its own terms
One of the clearest observations from the trip was just how competitive India’s ITAD market has become.
The providers we visited operate in an environment where pricing is a major consideration and where individual ITADs often seek to manage as much of the process as possible themselves.
In Europe and the US, ITAD providers typically operate within established service models, with clearly defined charges for collection, processing, data sanitisation, reporting and value recovery.
In India, the commercial approach can be quite different.
Fixed purchase prices for equipment are common, with providers acquiring assets for refurbishment and resale rather than operating on a service-fee and revenue-sharing model.
This reflects the strength of India’s domestic market for used technology.
There is significant demand for refurbished laptops and other IT equipment, with devices often remaining commercially viable despite cosmetic wear or age. Extending the useful life of technology is therefore an established part of the market, supported by a strong culture of repair, refurbishment and resale.
From a circular economy perspective, this is encouraging. Keeping equipment in use for longer can reduce the need for new devices and help organisations maximise the value of their existing assets.
However, the emphasis on commercial value also creates challenges when balancing financial returns with consistent security, traceability and environmental requirements.
Different approaches to processing and recycling
Another interesting observation was the extent to which service providers have developed their own processing and recycling capabilities.
Rather than relying extensively on specialist downstream partners, many operators are investing in facilities that can handle multiple stages of the process, from initial asset collection and testing through to dismantling, recycling and material recovery.
This approach reflects the competitive nature of the market and the relatively low cost of labour.
Across the facilities we visited, there was a strong reliance on manual processing, although the level of investment in automation, specialist machinery and operational infrastructure varied considerably.
Some providers were operating relatively small refurbishment facilities while expanding their capacity. Others had invested in larger, purpose-built ITAD and recycling operations.
What stood out was the ambition to grow. There is clearly investment taking place across the sector, with businesses recognising the opportunities created by India’s expanding technology market and the increasing requirements of multinational customers.
At the same time, the maturity of individual operators varies significantly. For global organisations, this reinforces the importance of understanding what happens to equipment once it enters the local processing network.
Navigating a complex regulatory environment
India also presents a different regulatory landscape for IT asset disposition. Requirements relating to electronic waste, recycling, refurbishment and the movement of materials create additional considerations for service providers operating across different regions.
During the visits, it was clear that licensing, documentation and local operating requirements play an important role in determining how providers structure their services.
For multinational organisations, this creates an additional layer of complexity. An organisation may have offices across several major Indian cities, but collecting, transporting and processing equipment across those locations requires an understanding of the applicable regulatory requirements on a state by state basis.
The challenge is delivering a consistent service while accommodating the realities of the local market. This is particularly important for organisations with global IT asset management policies that require standardised approaches to data security, environmental compliance, reporting and asset traceability.
Three providers, three different approaches
During the trip, we visited three service providers operating in different parts of the Indian market. Each had developed its business around different strengths, from refurbishment and recycling to enterprise IT services and technical support.
The visits included operational facilities in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, alongside meetings with senior management teams to discuss service delivery, infrastructure investment and future growth.
It was particularly interesting to see the differences in scale, technical capability and operational maturity. Some businesses were focused on developing their ITAD capabilities and expanding processing capacity. Others had broader IT services operations, supporting enterprise customers with deployment, installation and ongoing technology management.
There was also a clear recognition among providers that the requirements of international customers are becoming increasingly important. Security, asset tracking, reporting and recognised industry standards are all areas where continued investment will be essential.
For Vyta, the purpose of these visits extended beyond reviewing facilities. They provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships, understand how each business operates and assess how their capabilities can support our customers.
There is considerable value in seeing operations firsthand, meeting the people responsible for service delivery and understanding the practical challenges they face.
Why local expertise matters in global IT lifecycle management
For multinational organisations, managing IT assets consistently across international locations is rarely straightforward. Different countries have different regulatory frameworks, commercial practices, infrastructure and levels of market maturity.
India is a good example of why a single global operating model cannot always be applied in the same way across every market. The requirements for secure data sanitisation, responsible processing and accurate reporting should remain consistent. However, the way those outcomes are delivered may need to reflect local conditions.
That is where strong local partnerships become particularly important. Working with established service providers gives organisations access to local infrastructure, operational knowledge and an understanding of the market. But those relationships also need appropriate oversight, clear expectations and ongoing assessment.
For Vyta, our approach is to combine local delivery capabilities with the standards and accountability our international customers expect.
This means understanding the strengths of individual partners, assessing their operational capabilities and ensuring that service delivery aligns with customer requirements.
It also means recognising that different partners may be better suited to different activities, whether that involves IT asset disposition, technical services, refurbishment or equipment redeployment.
In Summary
India is highly competitive, commercially driven and characterised by businesses that are willing to invest and adapt. There are still differences in operational maturity compared with more established markets, particularly around infrastructure, standardisation and service models. However, there is also considerable experience in refurbishment, resale and recovering value from used technology.
As multinational organisations continue to expand their operations in India, expectations around secure and responsible IT asset management are likely to increase.
That should create opportunities for providers willing to invest in stronger processes, technology, infrastructure and recognised standards.
For organisations managing technology internationally, the key is understanding these market differences and working with partners who can deliver the required outcomes. The trip reinforced the value of spending time on the ground, seeing how businesses operate and building relationships with the people responsible for delivering services.
Ultimately, effective global IT lifecycle management depends on combining consistent standards with the local knowledge needed to deliver them.
At Vyta, we work in partnership with multinational organisations to develop and deliver IT lifecycle solutions across multiple countries, combining our direct operations with an established international service partner network.
We’re always interested in exploring new partnerships with organisations looking for a coordinated approach to developing their global IT Asset Lifecycle Management offering. We’d welcome the opportunity to understand requirements and discuss how we could work together.
