As remote and hybrid work models continue to take root in today’s workforce, navigating the return of corporate IT assets, especially PCs, has emerged as a challenging operational task. According to a Gartner report titled Improve PC Return Rates for Remote Employees, published on October 4, 2023, many organizations struggle to retrieve devices once employees exit or move on. Here's what they found:
- A typical return rate is just 70%, with high turnover industries plummeting to 50%.
- Root causes include lack of clear guidance, data-loss fears, low urgency, inconvenient processes, and limited IT oversight or tracking.
Why Remote Work Exacerbates this Challenge
Office returns weren’t such an issue pre-pandemic—but over the past few years, hybrid and remote working models have surged:
- In the UK (ONS, 2023), around 11% work fully remotely and another 28% have hybrid working arrangements. Similarly, the trend towards remote work has been increasing in France, with almost 11% (Eures, 2023) of the workforce in remote roles.
- In 2023, 23.5% of the workforce in Germany were in hybrid working arrangements, with 13.2% using the home office daily, or most of the time (Destatis, 2023)
- In the US, (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023) around one fifth (1/5) of the workforce are in remote work
- Singapore is reported to lead the way in remote work adoption, with 23% of the working population in remote roles (Remote, 2025)
- Australia also reports a high volume of remote and hybrid arrangements with 36% of employed people that ‘usually work from home' (ABS, 2024)
- Gallup reports that 59% of remote-capable jobs use hybrid or remote setups, and the majority of employees actively seek hybrid roles
This shift highlights why the Gartner recommendations are more relevant than ever.
Gartner's Recommendations
To address the growing challenge of low PC return rates among remote employees, Gartner outlines a set of practical strategies designed to make the return process easier, clearer, and more effective.
1. Define clear policy with HR and Legal
Establish unambiguous expectations: explain the return process, set deadlines, and outline consequences for failure.
2. Simplify returns
Create drop-off points (offices or third-party sites) and offer courier pick-up from employees’ homes.
3. Automate follow-up
Set up reminders and tracking through IT systems to reduce manual oversight and oversight gaps.
4. Incentivise timely returns
Motivate employees with rewards like gift cards or raffle entries for on-time device returns.
5. Offer employee purchase options
Introduce buy-back/sale programs for used devices—turn a retention challenge into a revenue and ESG opportunity.
These steps aim to alleviate friction, boost return rates, and build smoother IT asset lifecycles.
How SK Tes Can Help
Managing the return of IT equipment from remote employees requires coordination, visibility, and robust infrastructure - challenges that can quickly overwhelm in-house teams, particularly as hybrid work becomes more widespread. SK Tes supports organizations by delivering comprehensive hardware asset management services that simplify these processes and reduce administrative burdens.
One of the key enablers of effective asset management is visibility. SK Tes provides tools that give organizations real-time insight into the location and status of their IT equipment, from initial deployment through to end-of-life return. This makes it easier to track which devices are due for return, automate follow-ups, and maintain compliance with internal policies.
For companies with distributed teams, logistical challenges are often the biggest barrier to timely device returns. SK Tes addresses this by facilitating convenient return options, including access to drop-off locations and the coordination of home collection via courier. These flexible solutions reduce the effort required from employees, helping improve return rates and operational efficiency.
Data security and environmental responsibility are also essential components of modern IT asset management. Returned devices are processed through secure data sanitization procedures that meet established data destruction guidelines including NIST 800-88 r1 and IEEE 2883-2022. Where possible, SK Tes refurbishes and redeploys devices, extending their useful life and supporting circular economy goals. Equipment that cannot be reused is responsibly recycled in line with environmental best practices.
IEEE 2883 & NIST 800-88 Data Destruction Guidelines Explained
Looking to understand global data destruction standards? Check out our free guide to the right data destruction method for your data-bearing PCs.
These services also tie in closely with HR and legal functions. SK Tes can support the implementation of device return policies by integrating key requirements such as return deadlines, process documentation, and employee obligations into offboarding workflows. This alignment ensures that expectations are clearly communicated and consistently enforced.
Ultimately, improving PC return rates is about controlling costs, reducing environmental impact, and creating a smoother experience for both IT teams and employees. By supporting all stages of the hardware lifecycle, SK Tes helps organizations operate more sustainably and efficiently, while also safeguarding data and minimizing asset loss.
Manage Your PC Returns Effectively
Managing remote employee device returns is a growing operational challenge, and Gartner’s Improve PC Return Rates for Remote Employees Report provides essential guidelines for success. With remote and hybrid work as the new norm, organizations need appropriate policies, user-friendly processes, and tech-enabled tracking to avoid asset loss and inefficiency.
SK Tes’ end-to-end Hardware Asset Management services directly address these challenges—reducing costs, streamlining operations, and supporting sustainability goals.
Contact us today to regain control of your IT asset lifecycle, including remote returns.
