Your phone is broken. The screen is unresponsive, the battery dead, or the bluetooth connection spotty.
So far, the solution in a situation like that has been obvious. Get a new phone.
However, many people have now started looking for alternatives.
In 2022, the IT repair industry has been seeing a serious upswing. More and more people now want to repair – not replace – their faulty electronic devices.
Here are the reasons why.
1 – They want to help the environment
First off, the trend towards being environmentally conscious is stronger than ever.
In the last few years, the effects of the climate crisis have become painfully clear – floods and droughts, hail storms and wildfires. As a result, many people are opting for sustainable solutions.
Repairing electronic devices is a green alternative to getting new ones. It cuts back on energy expenses, pollution, and the use of natural resources.
2 – Their budget is tighter
Between the aftershocks of the pandemic, Brexit, and rising inflation, many people are facing economic worries. They can no longer afford to simply buy new electronic devices at will.
In most cases, repairing faulty phones, tablets, and computers is far cheaper than buying new ones.
For instance, replacing a broken battery in a MacBook only costs as little as $199 according to Apple’s official pricing. That is about an eighth of the cost of a new machine.
3 – It’s actually possible
If you’ve tried to have one of your devices repaired in the past, you know that it was tough going. Unavailable spare parts. No official repair service. A lack of DIY instructions.
Fortunately, all of this is changing. In part, this is due to international legislation – also based on sustainability concerns. However, right-to-repair initiatives by consumers also played a massive part.
In 2022, tech companies are increasingly making instructions, spare parts, and repair services available. Apple, for example, even announced a DIY repair program.
Furthermore, massive amounts of information on how to repair devices are now available online. Websites such as YouTube and forums like Reddit offer in-depth guides to fixing almost anything that’s wrong with your phone, computer, or tablet.
4 – The PC cycle has slowed
A final factor in the significant growth of the IT repair industry is the slowing PC cycle.
In the past, the time between a new piece of hardware appearing on the market and the time it was phased out was as short as three years. And with it went software capability and updates. That meant that you had little choice but to replace it sooner rather than later.
This has changed. According to Brian Krzanich, the CEO of Intel, this interval now extended to almost six years.
The bottom line
In 2022, people are more and more likely to repair their faulty devices rather than replace them. Considering the economic outlook and long-term sustainability trends, this is unlikely to change.
Already, industry specialists can see a significant response in their customer numbers. Tekeurope, a UK-based provider of IT repairs, recently noted: “We have seen an increased demand for repairs amongst our customers due to the lack of availability of new products post COVID-19, the cost savings offered and the desire to lessen their environmental impact.”