In this special edition of Sector Pulse Research from Compliance Standards, we deliver field-tested insights normally reserved for clients of our syndicated service. Based on 37+ interviews with CEOs, CISOs, procurement heads, and ESG leaders, this episode explores key trends reshaping ITAD, sustainability, and enterprise IT strategy in 2025.We cover:. Why 2025 marks a structural reset, not just a rebound. The rise of ITAD as a frontline control for cybersecurity, ESG, and compliance. Why healthcare is leading the refresh wave—and what it means for your business. Refurbished market growth vs. AI PC hype: what's really gaining traction?. Hyperscalers and the shift to internalized circular IT—plus where ITAD firms still fit in. AI, automation, and differentiation inside the top ITAD facilities. Strategic risks on the horizon: tariffs, ESG fatigue, and cost-cutting blind spots. How to position your ITAD firm to win—not just survive—the 2026 divide. Whether you're in ITAD, ESG, compliance, or enterprise tech planning, this briefing delivers the clarity and foresight you need.Learn more about our Pulse Service at Compliance Standards: https://ComplianceStandards.com
What really happens after a startup gets a meeting with a pro sports team? In this episode of The Sports Tech Playbook, David Daoud of Compliance Standards invites Julien Blin of Upside Global to take us behind the scenes of the startup vetting process inside elite sports organizations. From the first pitch to live pilot programs, we break down how teams assess value, manage risk, and make buying decisions.Discover who holds the real influence—general managers, performance directors, medical teams, data analysts, or the players themselves—and what separates startups that get multi-year deals from those that never make it past the first demo. Whether you're a founder, investor, or exec, this episode delivers the play-by-play on how to turn a meeting into a long-term partnership.#SportsTech #StartupPitch #ProSportsInnovation #AthletePerformance #SportsScience #WearableTech #TeamDecisionMaking #JulienBlin #DavidDaoud #ComplianceStandards #TechInSports #TheSportsTechPlaybook
I recently moderated a session at REMA 2025 in San Diego with Samsung Electronics' sustainability leaders, Daniel Araujo and Jenni Chun. It was a great conversation about what one of the world’s biggest technology companies is doing to make sustainability real—not just in statements, but in action.
How is Hitachi Digital Services embedding sustainability into its core strategy? In this briefing, I break down how HDS is approaching ESG—not as a side initiative, but as part of its digital infrastructure work. From energy efficiency to emissions tracking and EV optimization, the company’s efforts show real engineering depth. But gaps remain—especially in measurable ESG targets. This is a grounded look at where HDS stands today and where it could go next.#Sustainability #DigitalTransformation #ESG #Hitachi #ITInfrastructure #HitachiDS #EnergyEfficiency #CircularEconomy #SmartGrid #EnterpriseIT #ClimateTech #GreenTech #CorporateSustainability #ITAD #DataGovernance #ResponsibleBusiness #TechStrategy #DigitalInnovation
In this inaugural episode, we delve into the escalating trade tensions and their impact on the sports technology industry. With recent tariff implementations affecting imports from key manufacturing hubs like China and Vietnam, the ripple effects are being felt across the supply chain. But what about the very niche markets like sports tech? Julien Blin offers his expert analysis on how these developments.
Today I am going out of my comfort zone. I had a conversation with my friend, #SportsTech Analyst Julien Blin and decided to hit the 'record' button. Sports tech is fascinating because it is a sector dominated by a plethora of niche players and tons of startups. Here's the talk from someone who advises teams and leagues on technologies from #wearables and #AR/VR to tracking and sport medicine.
At Compliance Standards we have been observing the rise of a different group of security professionals within large companies who have been working to impose new standards for their organization’s IT asset disposition and recycling practices. Large organizations are now giving more responsibility or oversight on ITAD to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and to Risk & Compliance teams, essentially elevating the ITAD risk to above and beyond the traditional immediate stakeholders of IT and procurement. This trend is good news for enterprises because it is a recognition that ITAD security is crucial. It is both good and bad news for ITAD companies. On the one hand elevating ITAD security is an opportunity to broaden the ITAD stakeholders in the enterprise and could help strengthen ITAD as a critical function. It is bad, because compliance will cost money. In this podcast, David Daoud of Compliance Standards speaks to Security Management expert and Head of Compliance at Compliance Standards, Louis Van Der Westhuizen, on topics related to these new standards, in articular ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
In this episode, host David Daoud leads a compelling discussion with three influential CEOs—John Shegerian, Bob Houghton, and Neil Peters-Michaud—on the current state and future of the IT asset disposition (ITAD) industry. The conversation delves into the industry's evolution, highlighting its critical role in the circular economy, sustainability efforts, and the adoption of emerging technologies like AI and automation. From managing secure asset retirements to navigating the complexities of IT asset management (ITAM), the guests share their expertise on how ITAD can support enterprises in achieving net-zero goals and maximizing the lifecycle of technology investments. The podcast also explores key challenges in the industry, including cost optimization, the impact of staff turnover, and risks posed by market consolidation. The CEOs emphasize the importance of collaboration, domain knowledge, and technical innovation while sharing personal anecdotes about their journeys into ITAD. With actionable insights and forward-looking perspectives, this episode provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of ITAD’s strategic importance and its potential for growth in the rapidly changing tech landscape.
Many big US companies are making a 180 degree turn and moving away from their ESG commitments. They are essentially retreating from their Environmental, Social and Governance goals as a result of political pressure and due to economic and cultural shifts taking place in the US. But one state appears to be bucking the trend. California emerges as the outlier, maintaining its focus on its ESG targets. While the US is retreating, European and Asian nations have taken a divergent path, keeping their ESG pledges alive. Today, we’ll explore the forces driving these divergent paths, dive into the perspectives of corporations and investors, and examine what the future might hold for ESG as a cornerstone of corporate strategy.
In this exclusive session featuring Bob O'Donnell, President and Chief Analyst at TECHnalysis, we delve into the ongoing trends in the PC and tech sectors and perform predictions for 2025. In this insightful discussion, Bob unpacks trends shaping the future of technology, with a focus on implications for enterprise IT management and IT asset disposition (ITAD) providers.
Discover key developments in hardware innovation, software adoption, and market dynamics that are transforming the industry. Gain actionable insights into how ITAD providers can align with enterprise strategies to optimize lifecycle management, ESG goals, and cost-efficiency.
"Recycling Woes: Walmart’s $7.5M Environmental Setback" – In this episode of Trending Paths, host David Daoud dives into Walmart’s recent $7.5 million settlement over hazardous waste violations and explores the broader issues retailers face with recycling and environmental compliance. Despite past penalties, Walmart and other major retailers like Home Depot and Dollar General continue to struggle with sustainable waste management practices. Join us as we uncover why large retailers face recurring challenges in recycling, waste disposal, and IT asset disposition (ITAD) programs, and how regulatory penalties may not be enough to drive real change. What can companies do to ensure consistency in their environmental programs across all locations? And what role does public accountability play? Get insights on the complexities of environmental compliance, recycling programs, and the future of corporate responsibility. Keywords: #RecyclingWoes, #WalmartCompliance, #HazardousWaste, #WalmartRecycling, #ITAssetDisposition, #ITAD, #CorporateSustainability, #RetailChallenges, #WalmartSettlement, #DavidDaoud, #TrendingPaths
In this episode of the Trending Paths podcast, host David Daoud, principal analyst at Compliance Standards, explores the pressing realities of climate change and the limits of traditional carbon offsets. Join us as we discuss the catastrophic events of 2023-2024, the true costs of carbon credits, and why carbon insetting might be the direct, impactful approach the world needs now. Learn how companies can reshape their environmental responsibilities to create a more sustainable future. #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CarbonCredits #CarbonInsetting #TrendingPaths #DavidDaoud #EnvironmentalResponsibility #ESG, #compliance #compliancestandards #environment #ITAD #recycling
Ingram Micro (IM) filled for an IPO on the last day of September. Becoming a public company would give us better visibility on how the firm and the sector are performing, even if its ITAD unit is small in comparison to its core business. The IPO filing by Platinum Equity would pave the way for the return of Ingram Micro to the public market after it left it in 2016. In 2021, Platinum Equity acquired it from previous owner, HNA Group, for $7.4 billion. In this podcast, David Daoud of Compliance Standards LLC shares his views on the significance of Ingram returning to the public sphere.
The recent news stories of Iron Mountain acquiring the Irish firm Wisetek have created a head-scratching moment. I say “news stories” because I have not seen any formal communication from the company’s press service or from Wisetek itself. In this episode, David Daoud of Compliance Standards shares his views on IM's acquisitions.
@Apple is making good progress in its #sustainability pledge. Unlike many other tech companies who are stuck in theory and promises, @Apple is making inroads. Recently, the company announced that it is improving the repairability of some of its devices, by making available genuine Apple parts for select #iPhone models. The initiative will be rolled out after summer 2024. Now for those of you who may not be aware, making electronic devices easily repairable has been the subject of a lot of debate and the practice is increasingly being regulated, with lawmakers in many states requiring OEMs or manufacturers to facilitate repairability. Manufacturers have been very hesitant to do so for at least two reasons.
I am pleased to speak to Lauren Roman about the #battery sector involved in the #ElectricVehicle (#EV) business. From usage to #recycling, Lauren is our top expert on this. Listen up.
In this podcast, titled "Deep Dive Into the Education Sector's ITAD Practices," David Daoud of Compliance Standards interviews Garry VonMyhr, CEO of @TechDefenders on what is happening in the recycling of IT equipment in K12 education institutions and in other segments. Tech Defenders is based in Michigan but has a nationwide reach in helping schools dispose of their retired assets.
The future #ITAD factory is already here. There is no doubt that in a very short period of time we will see facilities that are entirely managed by a new generation of robots whose brain will be powered by Artificial Intelligence. And this is not the domain of science fiction or even an event that will happen in three years. It is happening now. Consider what NVIDIA is offering right now. Two technologies that are going to revolutionize the way industrial facilities will run are already being tested and deployed by a dozen companies. NVIDIA has two sets of technologies that are working together to reinvent the factory. They are called Digital Twin and Omniverse 3D. Find out more how this will impact factories and plants.
In this episode, David Daoud of Compliance Standards hosts Fulton Connor, CEO of Southern California-based Tempus. Tempus is an IT Asset Disposition company that handles corporate IT assets when to end their first lifecycle. The discussion is unscripted and touches on key aspects of the ITAD sector, from customer behavior to the future with AI and ESG.
Since September 2023, #Google began to roll out what it called a “helpful content update” that is likely to have significant impact on companies’ marketing efforts and strategies. The #ITAD sector may be affected by this move, because unless marketing executives in these companies take notice of what matters and adjust accordingly, their ability to reach an outside audience, market their brand, market their products, educate their customers and grow, will be highly compromised. In this podcast, David Daoud of #compliancestandards describes the implications of the new Google algorithm and offers solutions to comply and thrive.