Page 258 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2024

2024 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

Create Lab has been teaching the public how to repair, reuse 1. The target smartphones in the proposed model are in the
and recycle EEE and e-waste in their communities [23]. low to medium-price segment i.e. under Rs. 17,000.
2. The target buyers are individuals from low-income
4. CHALLENGES IN THE EXISTING MARKET groups, particularly those living below the poverty line,
who cannot afford to buy new smartphones.
The challenges facing the refurbishment market are 3. The proposed cost model is simpler and does not
multifaceted. Firstly, the existing refurbishing infrastructure explicitly show factors such as transportation charges,
struggles to extend its reach to Tier-3 cities and rural areas, value-added charges, and data deletion charges, as these
posing significant barriers for potential buyers and sellers in are considered part of other cost variables.
these regions. Secondly, the absence of a clear procedure for
transferring phone ownership raises legal concerns for 5.1 Stakeholders in our Framework
buyers, sellers, and aggregators (explained in section 5.1),
leading to a lack of trust within the market and hindering its The “seller” is any entity such as person or organization
expansion. Data security is another critical issue, with many willing to sell off their used phone in the market i.e., to
potential sellers hesitant to sell their used phones due to the refurbisher, in exchange of a reasonable price offered by the
absence of a framework for ensuring the deletion of personal refurbisher who thoroughly assess the phone's condition
data. The lack of a systematic approach for determining cost based on various parameters (as mentioned in the next
paid to sellers and setting prices for refurbished phones subsection).
further poses transparency and trust issues within the market.
While the organized players such as Cashify, Yaantra, The entity “Point of Sale (POS)” is the location where the
InstaCash, Flipkart Refurbished, Amazon Renewed etc. are selling of refurbished phones and buying of old phones occur.
more regulated and work according to government-led legal Each Aggregator operates multiple POS situated in diverse
requirements, the unorganized channel which dominates the locations.
secondhand market has no legal boundaries or set
rules/regulations, thus having no warranties or service The term "Aggregator" denotes an entity with multifaceted
guarantee attached. This further hinders the acceptability or responsibilities within the phone refurbishment ecosystem.
accountability of the secondhand smartphone market. Firstly, it meticulously examines phones by conducting tests
and assessing their performance against predetermined
Additionally, insufficient awareness about recycling options parameters. Subsequently, it determines the price to be
and disposal methods for used phones limits the entry of offered to the seller for the used phone, ensuring fairness and
devices into the refurbishment market, constraining its transparency in transactions. Additionally, it engages with
overall size and growth potential. Addressing these Point of Sale (POS) facilities to facilitate the purchase, sale,
challenges requires concerted efforts from stakeholders to and scrutiny of phones, streamlining the refurbishment
enhance accessibility, transparency, data security, process. Whether refurbishment occurs in-house or through
environmental sustainability, and consumer education within external entities like Original Equipment Manufacturers
the refurbishment market ecosystem. (OEMs), the Aggregator oversees this critical stage.
Moreover, it upholds data privacy standards by adhering to
5. THE MODEL guidelines outlined in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
mentioned in further subsections, ensuring the secure
The Proposed refurbishment framework addresses the deletion of sensitive information. Furthermore, the
existing challenges in the refurbishment market and also Aggregator is responsible for establishing POS presence
provides a streamlined process. This model aims to replace across all designated areas as stipulated in the registration
2 crore feature phones per annum with smartphones. The process, enhancing accessibility for buyers and sellers alike.
model in Figure 1 describes entities of the framework and Finally, it sets prices for refurbished phones, balancing
describes the flow. market dynamics and consumer expectations to foster a
sustainable refurbishment market.

The term "certifier" denotes an entity responsible for
registering and accrediting aggregators. It establishes
guidelines for the registration process, certifies aggregators
based on specified terms and conditions concerning data
deletion, environmental sustainability, and other factors.
Moreover, it ensures rural coverage by imposing obligations
and mandates, facilitating sales smartphones replacing the
existing feature phones in rural areas by conducting regular
audits of maintained records to uphold compliance.
Figure 1 - Model Flowchart with All Stakeholders
Potential Sellers who wanted to sell their phones may reach
Following are a few assumptions for the model:
out to the nearest retailer (POS) of aggregator. Retailer will
analyse the condition and performance of phone based on

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