IT Lifecycle Management is going through a significant transformation. In 2025, five key forces are driving the shift: AI is streamlining workflows, sustainability is becoming non-negotiable, managing device lifecycles is more complex than ever, cybersecurity threats are evolving fast, and distributed teams are now the norm, not the exception.
To understand how IT teams are navigating these shifts, GroWrk surveyed IT professionals across 11 industries for its State of IT Lifecycle Management 2025 report. The results provide a snapshot of where companies are investing, the challenges they’re facing, and how their strategies are evolving in response to growing operational and environmental pressures.
McKinsey estimates that end-user IT devices like laptops and tablets generate about 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, twice the impact of data centers. That stat alone makes it clear: how we manage IT assets today will shape both business outcomes and environmental ones.
Key takeaways
IT Lifecycle Management (LCM) is the strategic process of planning, procuring, deploying, maintaining, and retiring technology assets across their entire lifespan. This includes everything from laptops and mobile devices to software licenses, cloud tools, and peripherals.
By managing IT assets proactively from acquisition to disposal, organizations can enhance performance, mitigate risk, and ensure that every device or tool supports their business goals.
|
Stage |
What it involves |
|
Planning |
Identify IT needs, define requirements, create budgets, align with business goals. |
|
Procurement |
Acquire hardware, software, and services through structured and compliant processes. |
|
Deployment |
Configure, enroll, and ship devices—often to remote or globally distributed teams. |
|
Management |
Monitor performance, ensure compliance, manage updates, licenses, and asset tracking. |
|
Decommissioning |
Retrieve, wipe, redeploy, recycle, or dispose of assets securely and sustainably. |
Note: 44% of IT teams now rely on third-party providers for device retrieval—a sign of how complex this final stage has become.
Managing the IT lifecycle isn’t just about tracking hardware—it’s about keeping systems secure, costs under control, and teams productive. When done well, Lifecycle Management ensures that every device and software license delivers value from day one to end-of-life.
Below are the core benefits, backed by real-world data from GroWrk’s 2025 survey:
|
Benefit |
Why it matters |
|
Cost optimization |
Lifecycle visibility helps reduce waste and extend the lifespan of assets. – 50% of IT pros cite global procurement as a major challenge. |
|
Improved security |
Tracking and managing assets reduces vulnerabilities and enforces policies. – 74% of companies use encryption; only 35% rate their posture as “strong.” |
|
Operational efficiency |
Centralized systems minimize downtime, manual work, and errors. – 59% of companies are automating tasks with AI to improve efficiency. |
|
Sustainability |
Responsible disposal and vendor selection reduce environmental impact. – 76% say sustainability is a growing corporate priority. |
|
Compliance & risk reduction |
Ensures adherence to security, legal, and data protection standards. – Only 22.3% of e-waste is recycled globally, leaving companies exposed to risk. |
|
Better decision-making |
With clear inventory data, IT teams can forecast needs and plan smarter. – 52% report inventory monitoring as their biggest pain point. |
The way companies manage IT assets is evolving fast. Five major trends are shaping how organizations plan, deploy, and retire devices in 2025—each driven by new technologies, global workforce shifts, and rising expectations around sustainability and security.
No one wants to waste time manually updating spreadsheets or chasing down device status. In 2025, AI is stepping in to automate the repetitive work—from routing support tickets to forecasting inventory needs before things run out.
IT teams are already putting it to use:
But it’s not all seamless. Many teams still feel undertrained, and 61% cite data privacy as a top concern. Some are throwing real budget behind this shift—nearly 1 in 5 companies plan to allocate more than 70% of their IT budget to AI in 2025.
🛠️ Picture this: An AI model flags that a team in Berlin is likely to run out of devices next quarter—before IT even files a request.
So what? AI is no longer a buzzword. It’s the backbone of faster, leaner IT operations.
IT teams are being asked to do more than keep systems running—they’re being asked to keep them green. What used to be a nice-to-have is now on the boardroom agenda, and lifecycle management is at the forefront.
Here’s what companies are doing about it:
Sustainability isn’t just internal; 50% of companies now consider environmental standards when choosing IT vendors. And with e-waste expected to hit 82 million tons by 2030, there’s no room for delay.
♻️ One team we spoke with said switching to redeployment-first policies helped them cut device spend by 18%—and reduce shipping emissions at the same time.
So what? Green IT is no longer a side project. It’s a requirement—and a cost-saver.
If you’re managing a remote team and still using spreadsheets, you’re not alone—but you're probably overwhelmed. Lifecycle Management remains the biggest pain point for IT teams, especially when employees are spread across countries, tools are siloed, and retrievals are messy.
Here’s what teams are dealing with:
Even now, 15% of companies still rely on spreadsheets to track IT assets. Half have moved to third-party platforms—but visibility gaps and manual processes still slow things down.
💬 One IT manager told us the biggest loss last year wasn’t hardware—it was time spent chasing it.
So what? If your team can’t see what it owns or where it is, everything else breaks down.
As work gets more flexible and AI gets smarter, your risk surface gets bigger. More endpoints, more tools, more chances for something to slip through. That’s why IT security is no longer just about software—it’s about lifecycle visibility.
Most teams are taking at least basic steps:
But here’s the reality: only 35% of companies rate their security posture as “strong.” And while tools like Intune and Jamf help, the real test is how quickly teams recover from incidents. For most, it takes over 30 minutes—and for 4%, it takes more than 3 hours.
🔐 When one device goes missing during offboarding, it’s not just lost hardware—it’s a potential data breach.
So what? A strong security posture starts with strong IT lifecycle controls—especially when your workforce is global.
IT management used to revolve around an office. Now, there is no “office.” With teams working across time zones, countries, and continents, lifecycle operations have to stretch—and scale.
Where companies stand:
That means IT teams are dealing with international shipping, customs, retrieval coordination, and lost devices—all while supporting employees who might never step foot in an HQ.
🌍 One IT director said their biggest win this year was creating a global retrieval process—because now they know where every device is, and how to get it back.
So what? Distributed work isn’t going away. Your lifecycle systems have to be just as flexible.
The challenges are big, but the path forward is clear. Teams that modernize their device, data, and distributed team management will be the ones who scale smarter and stay ahead. Here’s how to get started:
Still spending hours on manual inventory updates or ticket triage? Let automation handle the basics. AI tools can flag hardware issues, route requests, and forecast inventory—without IT lifting a finger.
9% of companies plan to dedicate 70–89% of their IT budgets to AI in 2025.
🛠️ Example: One mid-sized team automated device enrollment and cut onboarding time in half.
So what? Free up your team to focus on strategy, not spreadsheets.
The biggest risk in ITAM? Not knowing what you have—or where it is. A centralized platform gives teams the visibility to monitor devices across every stage, from procurement to disposal.
Only 24% of organizations use an in-house ITAM platform, while 15% still rely on spreadsheets.
🔍 A global company told us they had over 40 unaccounted-for devices last year—just from offboarding gaps.
So what? If you can’t track it, you can’t secure it or optimize it.
It’s not just about being green—it’s about being responsible with budgets, vendors, and long-term strategy. Set default policies to redeploy, recycle, and partner with green-certified providers.
50% of organizations already factor vendor sustainability into purchasing decisions.
♻️ Teams using device buyback programs are recovering value from assets they used to discard.
So what? Sustainable practices reduce waste, improve ESG performance, and save money.
Offboarding shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. Whether you’re retrieving a device from Tokyo or Toronto, you need a repeatable, compliant process that doesn’t leave hardware—or data—unaccounted for.
44% of companies rely on third-party providers for retrieval; 13% let employees keep the devices.GroWrk Report State of …
🚚 One startup avoided a legal dispute by switching to a global retrieval partner with tracking and proof of return.
So what? A structured retrieval plan prevents asset loss, data exposure, and compliance risk.
GroWrk helps modern IT teams manage the full asset lifecycle—from global provisioning to secure, sustainable disposal—with automation, visibility, and compliance built in. Here's how:
Ready to streamline your entire IT lifecycle? Book a demo and see how GroWrk can simplify your global operations.
IT Asset Management (ITAM) focuses on tracking and optimizing the use of technology resources like laptops, licenses, and cloud tools. IT Lifecycle Management (LCM) is broader—it covers every stage of those assets, from planning and procurement to disposal and recycling.
Remote and hybrid workforces make it harder to track who has what equipment, and where. IT Lifecycle Management ensures that devices are properly deployed, monitored, and retrieved, thereby reducing security risks and inventory gaps across multiple locations.
AI tools can automate repetitive tasks, such as asset tracking, ticket routing, and usage reporting. In 2025, companies are also using AI for predictive maintenance, inventory forecasting, and smarter decision-making based on real-time data.
Sustainable lifecycle strategies help reduce e-waste by extending device usage, redeploying functioning equipment, and ensuring secure recycling or donation. This reduces carbon emissions and aligns IT with ESG goals.
Many organizations use third-party ITAM platforms, mobile device management (MDM) tools, or integrated lifecycle systems. Common solutions include Intune, Jamf, and full-service providers like GroWrk that offer end-to-end global lifecycle support.