Automating Growth in the Smart Device Refurbishment Industry
The refurbished smartphone market is at a crucial growth stage, driven by conscious consumers, financial constraints, and increasing acceptance of pre-owned devices. To maintain and expand your market share amid the projected 10% CAGR over the next decade, your business needs scalable solutions.
Key Challenges for Growth
The smart device refurbishment process faces three major challenges that need to be addressed for successful scaling. These challenges have emerged as key barriers to growth across the industry, impacting both operational efficiency and profit margins:
1. Labor-intensive Manual Work
Recycled devices arrive in various models and conditions, requiring individual handling. This ties up valuable human resources and slows down the preconditioning process.
2. Delayed Time to Market
Suboptimal refurbishment flow leads to revenue loss, as devices take longer to reach sales inventory. Due to the rapid depreciation of smartphone technology, faster processing directly impacts profitability.
3. Limited Scalability
Current automation solutions often provide only short-term fixes. As operations grow, manual labor costs increase proportionally, while factory floor space becomes less efficiently utilized.
Automated Smart Device Preconditioning for Refurbishment
Cut down on time-consuming manual work, accelerate time to market, and scale your operations efficiently with the Wisematic SOLU™ RF solution.
The SOLU™ RF solution covers the following stages:
- Charging the device
- Data wiping
- Trusting
- Sorting
Thanks to its modular design, distributed solution components, and machine vision controls, the SOLU™ RF is a smart, reconfigurable system that grows with your operations.
Wisematic SOLU™ solutions
Meet the Wisematic SOLU™ RF-series – a streamlined automated solution that processes high volumes of refurbished smart devices.
Preconditioning Cell
Prepares devices for testing through automated charging, data erasure, diagnostics, and device management.
The system fully automates handling and connection of incoming devices, using machine vision identification and adaptive robotics to accommodate all common phone sizes and types (iOS and Android).
Customizable Testing Cell
Features a fully customizable testing configuration to match your specific process and volume requirements.
A high-capacity folding industrial robot arm manages multiple testers for diagnostics, functional testing, and grading.
High Capacity
Accommodates up to 600 unique device slots in a single cell setup, expandable to 1,200 slots in a double cell configuration. Achieves throughput of up to 300 units per hour, featuring dedicated trusting stations for iOS devices.
The system includes integrated USB hubs and 1U server PC racks, with IT infrastructure customized to your preferences.
Efficient Outbound Conveyor System
Maintains continuous material flow to downstream processes through right-hand, left-hand, and dual layout configurations—matching your volume needs and floor plan.
The unique folding robot arm enables compact cell design, maximizing floor space efficiency.
Why Choose Automated Preconditioning?
Automation in smart device refurbishment transforms the process into a more efficient and reliable operation by offering key advantages:
- Increasing throughput, speed, and accuracy
- Ensuring consistent quality standards
- Meeting high market demand
- Lowering operational costs
- Enabling operators to focus on higher-value tasks
The system provides flexibility and scalability while optimizing resource usage. It also promotes sustainability by extending device lifecycles. Most importantly, automation delivers higher customer satisfaction through consistently high-quality refurbished devices.
Compare the manual and automated options below
| Manual Process | Automated Solution | |
| Processing Speed | Limited by human capabilities, typically 20-30 devices per hour | Up to 300 devices per hour |
| Error Rate | Subject to human error, fatigue, and inconsistency | Consistent performance with machine precision |
| Labour Costs | High ongoing labour costs, training requirements | Initial investment with lower operational costs |
| Scalability | Linear relationship between workforce and output | Easily scalable with modular expansion |
| Space Utilization | Requires large workspace for manual stations | Compact, efficient use of floor space |
| Quality Control | Varies based on worker experience and attention | Consistent quality with machine vision verification |
| 24/7 Operation | Limited by shifts and worker availability | Continuous operation possible |
| Device Handling | Risk of physical damage from manual handling | Precise, controlled movement with robotics |
| Process Tracking | Manual logging prone to errors | Automated tracking and reporting |
| Adaptability | Easily adapts to new device types but requires training | Adapts to new device types with modest reprograming work |
| Human workers | Work on mind-numbing tasks which can be both physically and mentally straining | Focus on higher value tasks unlocking more potential for growth |
A Trusted Provider of Smart Automation Solutions Across Industries
Find Out Our Solution’s Suitability for Your Operations
Our modular and flexible solutions can accommodate various refurbishment preconditioning scenarios. However, since one size doesn’t fit all and certain limitations exist, we recommend scheduling a brief meeting to determine if our solution matches your needs.