Apple will allow independent repair businesses to fix its devices

Dive Brief:

On Thursday, Apple announced that it will allow more large and small repair shops to make "the most common" out-of-warranty iPhone repairs using the same authentic parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics as its Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs), according to a company press release. The program, which aims to give consumers more options for repairing their goods, will be introduced in the U.S. and expand to other countries in the future.
The program, which is free for repair businesses to join, requires repair businesses to have an Apple-certified technician who can perform the repairs, per the company's statement. Obtaining certification is free of charge, and qualifying repair businesses can procure Apple parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics at the same cost as AASPs.
During the past year, Apple launched a pilot program with 20 independent repair businesses in North America, Europe and Asia, who are now offering genuine parts for repairs. The company's announcement comes after Apple's recent expansion of its authorized service network into every Best Buy store in the U.S, the company noted in its press release.

Dive Insight:

Apple's decision to allow more repair shops to service its devices comes shortly after the tech company announced its nationwide partnership with Best Buy in June.

Apple's decision to allow more third-party repair shops to fix its products comes after consumers and "right-to-repair" activists have criticized the company's previous policy of encouraging customers to seek repairs only from authorized service providers or its own technicians. The company has previously been opposed to allowing independent repair companies to fix its devices, and it has also admitted to using software to slow down its older devices.

The move comes as advocates and politicians, including presidential hopefuls Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have brought awareness to the need for consumer repair options. Apple's expansion of its repair program appears to be an attempt to both serve consumers while maintaining the integrity of its repair processes, but it also means that Best Buy — and now other businesses as well — have another reason to get consumers through the front door. For Best Buy, service offerings have been a key part of its appeal, and partnering with a large device provider like Apple increases the number of consumers it's able to serve.

"To better meet our customers' needs, we're making it easier for independent providers across the U.S. to tap into the same resources as our Apple Authorized Service Provider network," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said in a company statement. "When a repair is needed, a customer should have confidence the repair is done right. We believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using genuine parts that have been properly engineered and rigorously tested."