Once again this year, we participated in the RedIRIS 2019 Technical Conference to promote sustainable solutions for the circular economy through the use of refurbished equipment in public schools. After attending this event in Seville, we’d like to share the impressions we gathered from the visitors. We met many people from different universities, and we were honestly surprised to find that technical managers are largely unaware of the advantages of using refurbished equipment compared to other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, etc.
Still, there aren’t enough national universities that dare to commit to using and integrating refurbished equipment into their networks, although the number of technical directors who are breaking away from traditional telecommunications infrastructure paradigms is growing. Many universities in Spain opt to use new, high-cost equipment, when in reality they could utilize refurbished equipment that offers the same performance at a much lower cost. In many cases, it is the manufacturer that looks down on refurbished equipment, when it should be the other way around, since this demonstrates MercadoIT The problem is that they have a great product, which they pull from the market prematurely. And what's worse is that they try to influence customers not to buy refurbished equipment from their own brand.
Unfortunately, education budgets are not always the ones that receive the most funding. Therefore, refurbished equipment is an option that should be seriously considered, as it offers top-brand equipment at much more affordable prices. This would allow education budgets to reach more areas without compromising the quality of education; in fact, this approach could actually enhance it.
Another aspect to consider when using refurbished equipment is the benefit it can bring to the planet. The student movement #FridaysForFuture is making headlines in many news outlets and newspapers with its strikes, in which students are calling on governments to take action to curb climate change. One of these measures against climate change is the rational use of our resources, and at MercadoIT, we promote this rational use by giving a second life to fully functional equipment that shouldn’t be discarded since it meets 100% of its intended needs. Universities are the ideal setting for promoting the responsible use of electronic devices, as they are the foundation of our future as a society.
The approach of MercadoIT has always been to provide the best value and, as such, to work with schools to develop solutions that meet their needs and fit their budgets.
Advantages of Using Refurbished Equipment.
There are many benefits to purchasing refurbished equipment for universities:
- All refurbished equipment comes from well-known and reliable businesses and manufacturers (top-brand equipment that meets the highest quality standards).
- All refurbished equipment undergoes a thorough quality inspection and comes with at least a one-year warranty, although at MercadoIT we offer a lifetime warranty on refurbished Cisco and Juniper equipment.
- Save up to 70% compared to an equivalent new model, while getting the same features.
In MercadoIT For many years, we’ve been demonstrating to our clients that, for most of their projects, we can offer the best and most cost-effective solution thanks to the use of refurbished equipment. We’re experts in networking equipment for schools, high schools, and universities, so don’t hesitate to find out how we can help your educational institution. We’re convinced that if school administrators asked us for advice on many of their projects—and considered solutions using refurbished equipment—they’d be pleasantly surprised.
The RedIRIS Technical Conference was a success because we met with university representatives who are truly committed to using refurbished equipment and who, together with us, are promoting it as one of the ways to protect the environment in a smart way.
At MercadoIT, we are doing everything we can to reduce electronic waste in Spain. We hope that at the next RedIRIS Technical Conference, we’ll be pleasantly surprised by the shift toward refurbished equipment in schools and the benefits this brings, thereby showing respect for our planet—since we only have one.
THESE ARE TIMES FOR THE BRAVE!
