Introducing Device Buyback: Secure device disposal that pays for itself

We’ve heard it from countless IT admins over the years: “I’ve got a pile of old laptops just sitting in a closet or warehouse collecting dust. What do I do with them?”

Whether it’s from offboarding employees, device refresh cycles, or just outdated hardware sitting on a shelf, those assets lose value every day — often still loaded with sensitive company data. Managing the “last mile” of the device lifecycle is continually one of the most painful and forgotten parts of IT operations.

Today, I’m thrilled to say we’ve closed that loop with the launch of Device Buyback in Rippling Inventory Management — the easiest way to safely retire old hardware and get value back instantly. IT teams can now securely sell and dispose of eligible devices in just a few clicks. Every device is professionally wiped, certified for data destruction, and earns money back.

How Device Buyback works

Device Buyback is easy and accessed directly within the Rippling Devices app. Admins can select and sell multiple devices at once — there’s no limit to how many you can process in a single transaction. Rippling even handles unenrolling devices from Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Microsoft Entra in bulk, something most other providers don’t support.

Here’s how it works:

• Check value instantly: Eligible devices stored in Rippling’s US warehouse display real-time resale value directly in the Rippling Devices portal.

• Select and sell: Choose which devices you want to sell back to Rippling. Select as many devices as you want per transaction. Bulk processing dramatically reduces the time and effort it takes to manage Device Buyback, especially for larger organizations or IT teams dealing with lots of unused devices or high turnover.

• Track progress: Manage the entire buyback flow within Rippling, from eligibility checks to credit issuance and certificate retrieval.

• Save on Rippling: Once devices are processed, credits are automatically applied to your next Rippling invoice.

• Secure data wiping: Our partners ensure all data is securely wiped, compliant with NIST SP 800-88, ISO and ADISA, and provide certificates for your peace of mind, which you can download in the device details page three weeks after the sale has been processed.

• Reuse or recycle: Devices are repurposed or refurbished for resale, or responsibly recycled to eliminate waste.

It’s simple, secure, and fully integrated into the platform you already use to manage your devices.

The value for IT and Finance

Adding Device Buyback to Rippling Inventory Management delivers measurable benefits across IT and Finance teams:

• Recover costs: Turn unused laptops into credits that reduce future bills.

• Save time: Skip the hassle of negotiating with and shipping to third-party resellers or OEM trade-ins. Rippling handles it all, fast.

• Stay compliant: Ensure data is securely removed and certificates are created for compliance evidence.

• Support sustainability: Devices are either resold for reuse or responsibly recycled.

• Reduce clutter: No more warehouses — or IT closets — filled with aging devices.

It’s secure device disposal that pays for itself.

How much can I make back?

Most laptops today sell for between $100 and $800 each, but ultimately it depends on the device’s age and condition and its market value. Think about how many unused devices you have sitting in a closet or warehouse. For many companies, that’s thousands of dollars. That’s real money your company could be putting back into its IT budget instead of leaving on the shelf.

End-to-end device lifecycle management

When we built Rippling Inventory Management, our goal was to create your “virtual IT admin” — handling all the logistics of buying, shipping, storing, and tracking devices so you don’t have to. Combining Inventory Management with Rippling Device Management, IT teams everything they need in one platform to manage the entire device lifecycle:

• Purchase & Provisioning: Buy new devices directly in Rippling’s Device Store and automatically configure them with the right apps, accounts, and security settings before they even ship.

• Deployment: Ship devices to offices or remote employees anywhere in the world.

• Management: Enforce security policies, monitor compliance, and track devices in real time.

• Retrieval & Storage: Automatically retrieve devices from departing employees and store them securely in Rippling’s global warehouses.

Now, with Device Buyback, Rippling completes the lifecycle. It’s easy to securely retire unused hardware, ensure data is wiped and certified for destruction, and reclaim the remaining value of every device.

Whether you’re refreshing your fleet or clearing out old inventory, you can turn idle assets from a security risk into immediate savings, all within Rippling. From procurement to buyback, every step of your device’s journey is automated, secure, and visible in one system.

Want to see how Rippling streamlines the full device lifecycle?

Book a demo to explore how Rippling simplifies IT across identity, access, and device lifecycle management. Or start a 14-day free trial (no credit card required).

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