TABLE OF CONTENTS
Edited & Reviewed
What are Asset Retrieval Services?
Asset retrieval services are managed solutions that handle the end-to-end recovery of company-owned hardware, such as laptops, monitors, phones, and peripherals, whenever an employee leaves or a field device reaches the end of its useful life.
Retrieval services help here by handling logistics, tracking, performing data erasure, inspecting the hardware, and then either redeploying, reselling, recycling, or shredding it in line with corporate policies.
The discipline is also maturing under pressure from sustainability. Gartner’s Rob Schafer and Christopher Dixon says:
“Sustainability requirements are compounding the ongoing ITAD challenges of data security and sound reuse/recycling.”
Modern retrieval partners, thus, combine secure data wipes, refurbishing, and certified recycling to help IT teams meet ESG goals and get the most value from every device..
Now, let’s look at the platforms and services that enable this.
Top Asset Retrieval Services
1. Workwize
Workwize is an IT hardware lifecycle management platform that also supports asset retrievals. When you need to offboard an employee or recover unused devices, Workwize provides a reliable and straightforward way to reclaim your equipment.
You can trigger courier pickups or send return kits directly from the platform, eliminating the need for messy coordination and endless follow-ups. Once you request a return, Workwize handles the logistics, and employee communication, provides packaging equipment, and refurbishes or deletes data from the incoming device. You can then store the device in one of our global warehouses or get it shipped to another employee.
The system tracks every step in real-time, so you always know where the device is and when it’s coming back.
Whether your team works remotely, in a hybrid setup, or across multiple countries, Workwize makes it easy to wrap up offboarding and ensure every asset finds its way back.
Workwize best offerings
- Automated retrieval workflows: Quickly trigger return requests with just a few clicks, with no manual coordination or back-and-forth.
- Courier pickup & return Kits: Schedule doorstep pickups or send pre-labeled return kits to make the process easy for employees.
- Real-time tracking: Monitor every step of the retrieval process, from pickup to return, all in one centralized dashboard.
- Global coverage: Retrieve devices from anywhere, with support for over 100 countries through Workwize’s global courier and warehouse network.
- Seamless HRIS & MDM integration: Sync employee departures with retrieval tasks, so nothing gets missed during offboarding.
Ratings and reviews
- G2: 4/5
- Capterra: 4.4/5
2. GroWrk
Via GroWrk
GroWrk positions itself as a full-cycle IT asset platform, but its retrieval module is solid. From a single dashboard, you can trigger collections in 150 countries and watch every leg of the journey in real time.
The pick-up flow is simple: you confirm the departing employee’s address, GroWrk ships a shock-proof laptop box with a prepaid label, organizes the courier, and then moves the device to an in-country warehouse where technicians wipe the drive, run diagnostics, and log the asset back into your inventory.
GroWrk best offerings
- Automate retrieval workflows: Place a recovery order in a few clicks and track status end-to-end.
- Ship prepaid laptop boxes worldwide: Deliver packing materials and labels directly to the employee’s door.
- Wipe and health-check devices on arrival: Run NIST-grade erasure plus break/fix diagnostics before storage.
- Redeploy or retire hardware sustainably: Store ready-to-use devices or arrange certified recycling and buy-back.
Ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (10+ reviews)
- Capterra: N/A
3. Hofy (Deel IT)
Via Hofy
Deel IT’s offboarding module lets you schedule collections, storage, or redeployment of laptops and peripherals across 124 countries from the same interface that handles procurement and support.
Once a return is triggered, Hofy cleans, repairs, and repackages the hardware for “store and reuse” or transfers it directly to the next hire, including secure packaging and customs paperwork. Device-to-device transfers between employees take only a dashboard click.
Hofy best offerings
- Trigger one-click returns: Schedule collection, logistics, and tracking from the Hofy dashboard.
- Store and reuse inventory across 50+ countries: Clean, repair, and redeploy devices as good as new.
- Transfer devices between employees: Reassign kit globally with secure packaging and live status updates.
- Purge data to NIST 800-88: Generate tamper-proof certificates via Blancco for every wipe.
Ratings and Reviews
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
4. ReReady
Via ReReady
ReReady is a laptop-return specialist built for remote HR and IT teams that just want their devices back, fast. The workflow is very simple: enter the former employee’s address, pay, and you’re done.
A prepaid box arrives at the doorstep; ReReady can send up to three reminder emails or texts, and employees either drop off the box or schedule a courier pickup. Tracking updates land in your inbox until the hardware is safely home.
Enterprise customers unlock API hooks and automation options, but even on the standard plan, the company claims an average cost of just $85 per return.
ReReady best offerings
- Send prepaid laptop boxes in two clicks: Deliver vibration-tested packaging with return labels included.
- Automate employee nudges: Send up to three reminder emails or texts.
- Offer optional doorstep pickup: Let users schedule a courier when drop-off isn’t practical.
- Track every shipment end-to-end: Receive status emails from dispatch to warehouse check-in.
Ratings and reviews
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
5. Retriever
Via HelloRetriever
Retriever specializes in getting company-owned hardware back from remote and hybrid employees with the least possible fuss. From a web portal, you type an address, choose “laptop” or “monitor,” and Retriever ships a padded kit to the departing user, anywhere in the US, UK, or Canada. The company’s API enables IT teams to drop retrieval orders directly into off-boarding flows, so the entire task often takes less than a minute.
When the device lands at Retriever’s warehouse, technicians inspect it, photograph its condition, and log it as ready for storage, redeployment, or certified disposal, including NIST 800-88 data destruction for end-of-life gear.
Retriever best offerings
- Ship ready-to-use return kits: Dispatch shock-proof boxes, prepaid labels, and clear packing guides with a click.
- Trigger automated reminders: Send up to three polite nudges so IT never chases hardware manually.
- Track every leg in real time: Receive status updates from the box shipment through the warehouse check-in.
- Erase and redeploy or recycle: Perform NIST 800-88 wipes, then store, redeploy, or certify eco-friendly disposal.
Ratings and reviews
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
6. Rayda
Via Rayda
Rayda claims to be a full-lifecycle device platform, but its off-boarding workflow is where many IT teams start.
Available in 170 countries, the service arranges professional pickup at the former employee’s home or a nearby drop-point, then moves hardware to a regional facility for secure processing.
Once the courier scans the package, Rayda’s tech crew performs a certified data wipe, logs serial numbers, and photographs the device’s condition. Clean machines can be shipped to the next hire within a few days, while aging units are funneled into Rayda’s recycling program; companies earn “Rayda Credits” that they can apply toward future hardware purchases.
Rayda best offerings
- Schedule doorstep pickups worldwide: Arrange courier collection in 170 countries without local paperwork.
- Wipe drives before redeploy: Run professional data erasure and attach tamper-proof certificates to each device.
- Redeploy, store, or recycle with credits: Choose next-day employee-to-employee transfers or earn credits on EOL gear.
- Track assets in one dashboard: Monitor shipping, storage, insurance, and lifecycle events from a single view.
Ratings and reviews
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
On-Premises vs. Courier vs. Third-Party Retrieval: Which Route Makes Sense?
Recovering hardware appears simple until scale, geography, and compliance are factored in. Broadly, you have three ways to get devices back:
- On-premises drop-off: Employees return gear to an office or depot; IT staff handle wiping, repairs, and storage.
- Courier self-managed: IT generates prepaid labels or boxes, books a carrier like UPS, FedEx, or DHL and tracks every shipment.
- Third-party retrieval services: A dedicated vendor (Growrk, Hofy, etc.) manages pickup, chain-of-custody, data erasure, redeployment, and recycling.
Keeping hardware in-house provides full visibility and eliminates third-party fees, but it also entails handling courier bookings for remote staff, stocking packing supplies, and securing space for wipe stations.
Most providers add a per-pickup charge, yet they also address these issues. Secure tracking, NIST 800-88 wipes, and eco-certified recycling shift the liability away from your internal teams. Here’s how all three approaches compare:
|
On-premises (in-house) |
Courier self-managed |
Third-party retrieval service |
|
|
IT workload |
High: book couriers, handle returns, wipe devices |
Medium-high: automate labels but still monitor each shipment |
Low: vendor manages end-to-end workflows |
|
Employee experience |
Must travel to the office or arrange shipping themselves |
Receives a label or box but may still schedule drop-off |
Box and scheduled pickup, reminders, tracking portal |
|
Geographic reach |
Limited to office footprint |
Global if the carrier network supports it |
100+ countries via specialist partner |
|
Chain of custody |
Manual logs; risk of missing scans |
Carrier tracking only; no asset-level photos |
Device-level tracking, photos, and signed custody events |
|
Data security |
Internal wipe processes; variable rigor |
IT wipes on arrival; delay introduces risk |
Certified NIST 800-88 erasure with audit certificates |
|
Compliance and ESG |
IT must document disposal routes |
Carrier shipping only; IT documents wiped and recycled |
Vendor provides disposal, recycling, ESG reporting |
|
Cost profile |
Low direct cost, high labor/space overhead |
Shipping fees and staff time |
Per-pickup fee, lower hidden costs |
Best Practices for Asset Retrievals
Getting your assets back is simple, only on paper. A lot of things can go wrong with each retrieval. Follow these best practices to minimize errors:
- Set clear return policies: Define who initiates returns, which assets qualify, timelines, and data-wipe standards to avoid confusion later.
- Automate retrieval triggers: Embed a “create return order” step into HRIS offboarding and ITSM tickets for seamless pickup and tracking.
- Keep inventory data current: Maintain a centralized, up-to-date record of purchase dates, serials, and asset locations to enable fast matching.
- Ensure chain-of-custody and secure wipes: Require scans, photos, and certified erasure for each device to meet security and audit standards.
- Redeploy or recycle responsibly: Store usable hardware for new hires or recycle through certified partners to cut costs and support ESG goals.
Conclusion
These were six reliable asset return services.
Some are dedicated device return solutions, while others, such as Workwize, offer comprehensive device lifecycle management.
I recommend Workwize as it offers visibility and management of devices, right from procurement until their decommissioning, while handling returns flawlessly. Retriever and ReReady are also solid options if all you need are your devices back.
Talking about Workwize, it’s trusted by brands like HighLevel, which saves up to $1.4 million a year using it.
Schedule a demo with Workwize to learn more.
FAQs
What is the best asset retrieval service?
We’re a bit biased, but Workwize offers one of the most reliable retrieval solutions—automating return orders, pickups, and certified data wipes across 100+ countries. That said, the best choice depends on your team size, regions, and compliance needs.
What happens if an employee refuses to return a device?
Most companies escalate in three stages:
(a) written reminders that cite the employment or equipment-use agreement,
(b) payroll deductions or deposit forfeiture where local law allows, and
(c) civil claims for the device’s replacement value and any related breach-response costs.
How do asset retrieval services protect the data on returned hardware?
Reputable vendors follow a closed chain-of-custody model. Every hand-off is scanned, and time-stamped, and drives are erased to NIST 800-88 or ISO 27040 standards. The service then issues tamper-proof certificates and stores them in a portal or feeds them back into your CMDB.
Can retrieval partners support fully remote, global teams?
Yes, some providers maintain regional warehouses and courier networks in 100+ countries. They ship boxes with prepaid labels, handle customs paperwork, and offer multilingual support for employees who need help scheduling pick-ups.
