For organisations operating in IT reuse and remarketing, network equipment represents both opportunity and friction.
At System Supply Industries (SSI), switches and routers have always formed an important part of the resale mix. But compared to storage media, network devices traditionally demand more time, more expertise, and more manual intervention — making them harder to process consistently and at scale.
Testing, resetting and preparing network equipment for resale often relies on console access, vendor-specific knowledge and engineer judgement. The result? Variable outcomes, higher labour costs, and increased operational risk — particularly when certified data erasure is a requirement rather than a nice-to-have.
SSI set out to change that.
Replacing manual workflows with automated control
Before deploying Novafox Hydra, network device processing at SSI followed a largely manual workflow. Engineers were responsible for accessing devices individually, checking configurations, performing resets, and verifying outcomes — a process that was both time-intensive and heavily dependent on specialist skills.
Hydra was introduced to remove that dependency.
By automating network device testing and data erasure, Hydra transformed how SSI handles switches and routers. Devices are now connected, processed, and validated through a standardised workflow, ensuring every unit is treated consistently and correctly.
Manual steps have been reduced, specialist intervention is no longer the bottleneck, and outcomes are predictable.
As Michael Mackay, Director at SSI, explains:
“Hydra has made a noticeable difference to how we handle networking gear.
It cuts down hands-on time significantly, improves efficiency across the board, and removes a lot of the manual complexity from the process.
Most importantly, we know every device is properly erased before it’s remarketed.”
Measurable operational impact
Since adopting Novafox Hydra, SSI has achieved tangible improvements across its network device operations:
- Reduced processing time per device
- Consistent, repeatable outcomes regardless of device type
- Lower reliance on highly specialised engineering skills
- Increased confidence in certified data erasure prior to resale
Crucially, these gains have been achieved without adding headcount, increasing overhead, or compromising security— enabling SSI to scale throughput while maintaining control.
Built with real-world reuse in mind
For Novafox, SSI is more than a customer — it is a real-world validation environment for Hydra.
Adam Burrett, Director at Novafox, comments:
“Working with SSI is hugely valuable for us. They’re operating at the sharp end of the reuse sector, and their feedback directly influences how Hydra evolves.
It helps us prioritise new device support and refine the platform in ways that deliver genuine value — not just for SSI, but for all Hydra customers.”
That collaboration continues to shape Hydra’s development roadmap, ensuring the platform reflects how network equipment is actually processed in live ITAD and reuse environments — not how vendors assume it should be processed.
The result
For SSI, Novafox Hydra has turned a manual, skill-heavy task into a controlled, repeatable and auditable process — without sacrificing security, compliance or resale value.
For Novafox, it’s a clear demonstration of what happens when automation is designed specifically for network device reuse.
Consistent outcomes. Lower risk. Scalable operations.
Learn more about Novafox Hydra — automated network device processing and data sanitisation… Hydra Webpage
Learn more about Novafox SSI — take a look at their website here.
