The World's Most Accurate
Smartphone Diagnostic Robot
—at retail—
Press Release
Assurant Partners with BuyBack Booth to Bring New Innovation to Retail Device Trade-in Programs
Leveraging BuyBack Booth’s kiosk technology enables Assurant to extend its portfolio of industry-leading trade-in technology to include a low-cost, best-in-class self-service solution designed specifically for carriers and retailers
September 07, 2022
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Assurant (NYSE:AIZ), a leading global business services company that supports, protects and connects major consumer purchases, today announced its new strategic partnership and investment in “Robot-as-a-Service” company A La Carte Media Inc. dba as BuyBack Booth (“BuyBack Booth”). This exclusive partnership is aimed at driving innovation, an expanded and improved customer experience, and better economics for retail mobile device trade-in programs offered by wireless carriers and retailers.
BuyBack Booth provides an innovative, scalable hardware solution that leverages AI diagnostic technology to quickly and accurately assess a mobile device's condition and trade-in value. Designed with security in mind, the kiosks include locked vaults and high-definition cameras to prevent shrinkage. This strategic partnership further expands Assurant’s leading device trade-in technology portfolio and adds BuyBack Booth’s state-of-the-art kiosks as a customer option when powering omnichannel trade-in programs for wireless carriers and retailers.
“As the global leader in mobile device trade-in and upgrade, Assurant continuously invests in technology and capabilities to deliver a better experience for consumers and drive toward a higher level of sustainability for our planet. A kiosk-based solution is another example of innovation that Assurant is bringing to the omnichannel retail experience for our carrier and retail partners globally. As consumers continue to drive trade-in volumes with upgrades to 5G devices, we look forward to deploying this solution to further improve the already industry-leading customer experience we provide for carriers, retailers and their customers,” said Biju Nair, president of Global Connected Living & Head of International at Assurant.
Assurant and BuyBack Booth have designed an industry-leading, compact, low-cost, self-service, retail solution for trade-in programs and in-store diagnostics. These kiosks can readily be incorporated into an existing trade-in ecosystem, including online journeys and point-of-sale platforms, providing a seamless omnichannel experience. Consumers can start their trade-in online, with a rep or at the kiosk and, no matter how they started, they now have the option to use the kiosk to complete the process, providing the consumer with maximum flexibility while freeing up sales staff to focus on selling new services and devices.
“With more than 30 years of kiosk experience and 7 years applying this knowledge in the mobile device space, we’re confident that we have the right fundamentals and technology needed to deliver breakthrough solutions through our partnership with Assurant. I look forward to partnering with Assurant to bring our innovative solutions to wireless carriers and retailers around the world,” said Tony Mastronardi, CEO of BuyBack Booth.
About Assurant
Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) is a leading global business services company that supports, protects, and connects major consumer purchases. A Fortune 500 company with a presence in 21 countries, Assurant supports the advancement of the connected world by partnering with the world’s leading brands to develop innovative solutions and to deliver an enhanced customer experience through mobile device solutions, extended service contracts, vehicle protection services, renters insurance, lender-placed insurance products and other specialty products.
Learn more at assurant.com or on Twitter @AssurantNews.
About BuyBack Booth
BuyBack Booth has developed the first-ever automated kiosk used specifically to offer accurate, reliable, and objective diagnostic results. BuyBack Booth is a RaaS (Robot as a Service) provider to the smartphone ecosystem. Their App-to-Booth technology easily integrates with any existing trade-in program, producing accurate diagnostics and condition validations right where the customer needs it the most.
Press contact
Andy Mus
Director, External Communications
andy.mus@assurant.com
770.763.1694
BuyBack Booth is granted new patent for their leading technology to diagnose used smartphones
Montreal, [August 23, 2022] – A La Carte Media Inc. (DBA and hereinafter “BuyBack Booth”) is announcing yet another patent supporting its Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform bringing cost-effective, automated, and accurate phone diagnostic solutions to all retailers in the mobile device industry. The USPTO issued the company patent No.11,341,471 titled; “LOW-COST COMPUTERIZED KIOSKS FOR REMOTE COLLECTION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR VALUE”.
With almost 20 years of experience in the automated kiosk industry, and with now over 6 years in deep development on bringing its platform to the smartphone diagnostics industry, BuyBack Booth’s newest patent signals the company’s readiness to offer its full line of products to both sides of the industry; wireless retailers that focus on selling new phones as well as repair stores that service those phones.
“The experience in our company was honed from a history of developing cost-effective technologies for industries that are looking for more efficiency and a higher return on their investments,” said Dominique Dion, CTO of BuyBack Booth. “The sales numbers in the trade-in and repair side of the mobile industry are experiencing steady and rapid growth. The technology behind this new patent is perfect to bring this industry what it needs, today.”
“Our market research and market tests have shown us that there is a need for a platform of smaller diagnostic systems to facilitate this kind of task for store clerks,” added Tony Mastronardi, founder, and CEO of BuyBack Booth. “Whether we’re looking at used phone trade-ins, phone repair outlets, or for several other uses, it all starts with using a fast, consistent, and objective device assessment technology. That’s our specialty. With our product line, we can free up store reps’ time so they can focus on their clients.”
About BuyBack Booth
BuyBack Booth is the provider of the world’s smallest and most cost-efficient automated kiosks used to help diagnose and assess mobile devices inside retail stores. Using the latest in Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence, BuyBack Booth’s kiosks can be used to streamline and improve various segments of the wireless industry, including trade-in, selling device insurance, organize repair store operations, secure inventory, testing for warranty repair eligibility, and more. For more information, visit BuyBack Booth’s website at www.buybackbooth.com
BuyBack Booth media contact:
Julie Crossman
Marketing Director
julie@buybackbooth.com
514 788-1222 ext 24
buybackbooth.com
BuyBack Booth announces $5.2M funding, looks to commercialize its smartphone diagnostic robot
Montreal, July 14, 2020 – BuyBack Booth, a “Robot-as-a-Service” company that can accurately diagnose a phone’s condition, is announcing the completion of a $5.2 million funding round in Seed capital. The round was backed by Brightspark Capital, and includes financing from the Québec government through Investissement Québec.
Based in Montreal, the company was founded by the serial entrepreneur behind TouchTunes (a digital kiosk business that got acquired in 2015 for US$350M). BuyBack Booth’s technology supports retailers in their trade-in programs, producing an accurate diagnostic of a used smartphone’s condition. In less than 3 minutes, the booth and smartphone app can accurately test 40+ unique functions to determine the internal health of a device, and evaluate its external state to ensure consistency in customer trade-ins.
The $35 billion smartphone diagnostics industry has seen expert technology being applied in manufacturer’s factories and specialized repair warehouses as part of the Quality Assurance process. However, the technology has yet to reach wireless carrier’s retail stores – where it’s needed the most. BuyBack Booth easily integrates with retailers as part of the store’s existing trade-in offering, warranty claim verification, “anytime insurance” feature, and more.
“There are two outstanding reasons we invested in BuyBack Booth”, said Sophie Forest, Managing Partner of Brightspark Capital. “First, the leadership team has a track record of success in the deployment of internationally networked kiosks. Second, we have seen how their technology fills a big need in the growing smartphone diagnostics industry”.
“We have had Beta units in the field for over a year and have achieved the reliability and product maturity that makes us ready to deploy our solution to a broader range of retail locations”, said Tony Mastronardi, CEO of BuyBack Booth. “With the completion of this seed round, we are excited to add the support of solid financial backing as we commercialize this innovative service.”
“At Investissement Québec, we’re proud to support businesses that work hard to find innovative, sustainable ways to meet market needs in a fast-changing market like BuyBack Booth’s,” said Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO of Investissement Québec. “By playing an active role in this financing round, we’re helping the company continue its development, and we’re certain that this success story is far from over.”
About BuyBack Booth
BuyBack Booth has developed the first-ever automated kiosk used specifically to offer accurate, reliable, and objective diagnostic results. BuyBack Booth is a RaaS (Robot as a Service) provider to the smartphone ecosystem. Their App-to-Booth technology easily integrates with any existing trade-in program, producing accurate diagnostics and condition validations right where the customer needs it the most.
About Brightspark
Brightspark is one of Canada’s top-performing venture capital firms, actively investing in exceptional entrepreneurs since 1999. They provide growth capital and expertise to disruptive, market-transforming Canadian tech companies in seed to growth stages. Since its inception, Brightspark has invested across traditional VC Funds, and more recently under an investment model open to individual and non-institutional investors. www.brightspark.com
About Investissement Québec
Investissement Québec’s mission is to play an active role in Québec’s economic development by spurring business innovation, entrepreneurship, and business acquisitions, as well as growth in investment and exports. Operating in all the province’s administrative regions, the Corporation supports the creation and growth of businesses of all sizes with investments and customized financial solutions. It also assists businesses by providing consulting services and other support measures, including technological assistance available from Investissement Québec – CRIQ. In addition, through Investissement Québec International, the Corporation also prospects for talent and foreign investment and assists businesses with export activities.
BuyBack Booth media contact:
Julie Crossman
Marketing Director
julie@buybackbooth.com
514 788-1222 ext 24
buybackbooth.com
Investissement Quebec media contact:
Isabelle Fontaine
Senior Director
Media and Government Affairs
Investissement Québec
Tel.: 514 876-9359