IT Reseller: What They Do and How They Support Digital Operations

Today’s businesses constantly cycle through technology products like desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. A big part of maximizing ROI and boosting profit margins is reselling usable IT assets to a secondary market. 

And while this can be done in-house, it often makes more sense to use professional services via an IT reseller. 

What is an IT Reseller?

An IT reseller is a service partner that specializes in buying decommissioned IT assets from one company and reselling them to another. 

When assets like computers, mobile devices, peripherals, and accessories age and are no longer usable by the business that initially procured them, an IT reseller works as a middleman. 

They purchase the technology from clients that can no longer use it and find a new customer who can integrate it into their IT infrastructure. 

From the seller’s perspective, partnering with a reseller business often makes sense because they don’t have to deal with the logistical complexities, such as inventory management, data wiping, shipping, and so on. 

Instead, they’re free to focus on core business activities and boost IT asset revenue on technology products with very little effort on their end. 

And from the buyer’s perspective, purchasing through a reseller program can be beneficial, largely because of the potential savings. 

To quantify, “Businesses can save anywhere from 30% to 70% compared to buying new equipment. This allows organizations to stretch their budgets further, allocate more resources to innovation, and improve their bottom line.”

Besides just acting as a bridge between a buyer and seller, many resellers serve additional roles, including:

• Overseeing data sanitization to ensure high levels of data center security and minimize cyber threats
• Managing device configuration to streamline onboarding for the buyer
• Offering expert advice to the buyer and customer
• Providing technical support and customer support along the way

Not to mention, partnering with a leading provider can offer a seller a lot of visibility in the secondary market to accelerate the reselling process and quickly find a new end user. 

Note that some resellers partner with major distributors like Ingram Micro and SHI International, which gives them access to robust IT inventories from top brands like Apple and Dell Technologies. 

Some even partner with software vendors, in which case a software reseller may also offer products like software solutions and artificial intelligence platforms. 

Types of IT Resellers and Their Specializations

Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Instead of just reselling IT assets and being done with it, a value added reseller brings additional value to the table with their tailored solutions. 

For example, it’s common for a VAR to offer device configuration, installation, data migration, and ongoing support and maintenance to a new customer. 

A reseller partner may also assist with managing software product licenses and integration with existing technology solutions and cloud computing platforms. 

In this way, value added service can be a big help for streamlining IT procurement services and optimizing the overall asset management lifecycle during digital transformation. 

That’s why VARs tend to be a popular solution for companies that want to procure tech at a reasonable price, while receiving add-ons to build an efficient IT infrastructure, complete with cloud hosting and comprehensive support. 

Direct Resellers and Distributors

The main difference between direct resellers and distributors, when compared to VARs, is that they mainly provide IT asset fulfillment, and that’s it. 

When customers go this route, they typically receive IT assets but not installation, configuration, cloud integration, support, guidance, and other services. In other words, it’s more bare bones. 

Note that most direct resellers and distributors operate at scale and are used to delivering large quantities of resold IT assets. As a result, customers can often find affordable prices, making it a good choice for larger businesses and enterprises. 

For companies that simply need reliable IT fulfillment from a reputable distributor at scale, without any extras, and have the necessary in-house expertise, direct resellers and distributors often make sense. 

Benefits of Working with an IT Reseller

As a business owner, you probably know that IT asset retirement/disposal is an integral part of the asset lifecycle. And for many devices, the average usable lifespan is quite short, with three to five years for laptops being a prime example. 

Partnering with a reseller can be a smart move for two main reasons. 

As we mentioned earlier, it eliminates much of the logistics like inventory management, shipping, tracking, and more, which can be sources of headaches for many business owners. 

Not only can this reduce your stress, but it also frees up time that can be spent on more pressing areas of business. 

The other key benefit is that a channel partner can help you reach a wide audience that you may not be able to reach on your own. 

Because solutions providers tend to have large networks, they have a built-in customer base that clients can tap into without having to handle marketing in-house.

That way, you can quickly resell devices and earn profits that can be reinvested into your IT network. 

When to Use an IT Reseller vs Direct Purchasing

Using a reseller is usually the better option when: 

• You’re heavily focused on price point and looking to stretch your IT budget as far as possible, even if it means buying used devices that may have been refurbished.
• You lack the in-house expertise for buying and implementing IT devices, and would prefer having guidance during implementation and the overall IT lifecycle.
• You’d prefer an expert to handle tasks like device configuration, installation, and data migration.
• Your business operates in a highly regulated industry, such as finance or healthcare, where you need advice on navigating compliance issues.
• You’re looking to consolidate tech purchases to one reseller rather than dealing with multiple vendors.

On the other hand, direct purchasing is typically best when:

• Price point isn’t as much of a concern, and you don’t mind paying a bit more for brand-new IT equipment.
• You don’t want to purchase IT assets that have been previously used.
• You have significant in-house expertise in buying IT equipment and feel comfortable with the process, including vendor negotiation and product scaling.
• You’re fine with taking care of device configuration, installation, and data migration, as well as long-term network monitoring and maintenance.
• You’re not looking for a managed service provider to take on a consultative role and would prefer to do it yourself.

How to Choose the Right IT Reseller for Your Business

If you’re ready to make the move to partnering with a reseller, you’ll first want to look for someone with the following:

• Great credentials
• A positive track record of client and customer satisfaction
• Experience working in your specific industry
• Strong support 

It’s also important that they have a transparent, well-defined process when retrieving equipment from you. At allwhere, for example, we use a simple four-step system that works like this.

1. We give you a quick quote on the devices you’re looking to sell
2. We send everything you need to ship your devices
3. You’re able to effortlessly track devices as they’re resold
4. You earn a credit that can then be used to reinvest in future technology 

We take care of all the IT logistics and distribution for an extremely hands-off experience. And we have a strong commitment to security, where we use a highly secure chain of custody to ensure all sensitive data is properly destroyed before your old devices change hands. 

That way, you can resell with total peace of mind. 

Learn more about allwhere’s IT asset management services and get started today.

Closing Thoughts

IT resellers play an important role in the IT asset ecosystem for both sellers and buyers.  

Whether you’re looking to sell decommissioned assets that are no longer usable in your operations or purchase assets to integrate into your business, there’s a good chance that a reseller can be beneficial to your IT asset management lifecycle. 

It’s just a matter of understanding your needs and finding a reputable reseller that’s suited for your industry.