Cleared for Takeback: Inside a Major Airline’s Device Recovery Mission

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. 
 
In this episode: 

• (00:00) Introduction and overview: Allyson Mitchell introduces special guest Ben Jones to discuss airline device recovery. 

• (06:13) Commercial model transformation: Implementing a new consignment approach and recover platform to solve the airline's device tracking challenges. 

• (09:02) Surprising adoption results: Pilot device buyback rates exceeded expectations, reaching nearly 50% versus the predicted 5%. 

• (10:46) Measurable business impact: Impressive metrics include 97% recovery rate across 110,000 devices and $3 million in returned value. 

• (14:50) Social impact initiatives: Donation program with Aerospace Center of Excellence helps underprivileged students pursue careers in aviation through device reuse. 

• (19:08) Innovation roadmap: Exciting future developments including remote wipe capabilities, robotics automation, and further sustainability enhancements. 

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Resources:  
Ben Jones LinkedIn 
Apkudo LinkedIn 
Apkudo 
Apkudo Podcast