The French smartphone market has seen a strong shift toward second-hand and refurbished devices. Today, 1 in 5 smartphones in circulation is no longer new. However, the growth of the refurbished segment slightly slowed in 2023, as concerns around product reliability rose. For e-Recycle, a Lyon-based refurbisher, this marked a turning point—and an opportunity to lead through innovation. Founded in 2014, e-Recycle recently opened France’s first fully automated and robotized phone processing workshop. With a team of just 14 people—including three technicians—the company processes 70,000 smartphones annually. Their two diagnostic robots complete tests in just 2.5 minutes per device, enabling industrial-grade consistency and reducing the need for seasonal labor.
Precision and consistency over subjectivity
Traditional device processing has long relied on human senses, such as assessing speaker quality by ear. e-Recycle aims to eliminate this subjectivity by using machine-based analysis of frequency responses. The company claims this approach has reduced its defect rate to 3.5 %, compared to a reported 6–7 % sector average. However, SecondaryMarket.news notes that even e-Recycle’s own figures suggest relatively high return rates, which could raise concerns among industry watchers.
At present, automation at e-Recycle is limited to the diagnostic phase, specifically for Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S models. The company is working on automating visual grading, though this remains a significant challenge. Within the sector, it is widely acknowledged that aesthetic grading is far harder to automate than diagnostics. Nevertheless, consistent and accurate grading is often viewed as the single most important factor for improving both customer satisfaction and profit margins in the refurbished phone market.
Data and humans working together
e-Recycle’s founders come from the web industry and apply data-driven thinking to refurbishing. Their advanced machines collect large amounts of technical data, which are used to constantly improve processes. While machines take over repetitive tasks, experts supervise and refine workflows, creating a synergy between human expertise and robotic precision. E-Recycle is using FutureDial automated devices as a basis for their set up.
Automation supports jobs, not replaces them
Despite common fears, e-Recycle’s approach to automation has doubled its workforce from 7 to 14. CEO Arnaud Guillaume believes automation is only a job threat when applied too late. By integrating it early, e-Recycle creates skilled roles while maintaining high repair rates, reducing production costs, and remaining competitive in a market often undercut by low-cost international refurbishers.
Via: lesNumeriques.com
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