TABLE OF CONTENTS
Edited & Reviewed
Many businesses solve their procurement problems with value-added resellers (VARs) like SHI, only to run into issues when it's time to manage the purchased hardware.
And those issues are unforgiving. Devices that go off the radar once they're delivered to Prague. Laptops sitting uncollected in Buenos Aires. SaaS subscriptions that keep billing after employees leave. And expense data that finance cannot trust.
While SHI promotes several ITAM services, asset management is not its core offering. And those services do not always combine to form a single unified lifecycle solution.
If you are managing hardware across 10, 20, or 30+ countries, the right lifecycle platform ensures every device:
- Reaches employees on time and ready to use,
- Remains visible and in good condition throughout their lifecycles,
- Exits your inventory with company data fully wiped and certified,
- Creates actionable spend insights for finance, and
- Leaves an easy-to-trace audit trail for your compliance department.
This article will help you find SHI alternatives to address SHI's shortfalls. I'll compare services with diverse strengths in IT asset management, ranging from device lifecycle powerhouses like Workwize to Device-as-a-Service solutions like Kyndryl.
TL;DR: SHI International Competitors and Alternatives at a Glance
SHI International is a $16B+ IT procurement platform with over 35 years of experience. It has a robust IT catalog, is a Microsoft licensing expert, and has deep OEM relationships. But despite its ITAM offerings, it may not be the best for post-procurement workflows.
If you need to close the gaps that appear after ordering devices, these alternatives can help.
|
Platform |
Lifecycle coverage |
Global reach |
Deployment model |
Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SHI International |
Full, but offered separately from its procurement service |
Offers zero-touch deployment |
Deep Microsoft licensing and enterprise software expertise |
|
|
Workwize |
Full: procure, deploy, track, maintain, retrieve, and decommission |
100+ countries |
Zero-touch, MDM pre-configured |
One of the best automated hardware lifecycle management platforms for global teams |
|
CDW |
Offers lifecycle management through partners |
Zero-touch deployment through vendors |
Broad North American catalog and account depth |
|
|
Insight Enterprises |
Full hardware and software lifecycle management |
25 countries and claims global reach |
Zero-touch deployment |
Closest direct SHI competitor, with deeper public detail on ITAM offerings |
|
TD SYNNEX |
Limited lifecycle offerings to resellers |
Distributor selling to resellers, VARs, and MSPs |
Distributes lifecycle services at scale to partners |
|
|
Ingram Micro |
Focused on extending tech lifespan and decommissioning hardware |
Associates in 57 countries, serving 90% of the global population |
Not focused on deployment |
Circular economy and device refurbishment focus |
|
WWT |
Software lifecycle management for assets purchased through WWT |
Custom enterprise contracts |
Large-scale infrastructure and supply chain programs |
|
|
Kyndryl |
Full device lifecycle management, but does not mention ITAD |
Zero and lite touch device provisioning |
Offers Device as a Service to organizations |
|
|
Softchoice |
Full, from procurement to disposal |
MDM-powered zero-touch deployment |
Offers Device as a Service alongside IT asset management |
|
|
Connection |
Yes, full hardware and software lifecycle management |
125 countries for its GlobalServe procurement platform |
Zero-touch deployment |
Accessible mid-market alternative to CDW and SHI |
|
GroWrk |
Hardware lifecycle management, from procurement through ITAD |
150+ countries |
Zero-touch deployment |
Flexible procurement and ITAM pricing for small businesses |
The real cost of sticking with SHI and traditional IT resellers
The hardware asset management gaps that arise when you rely on a procurement-focused service like SHI can cost your business in time, security incidents, lost devices, reduced productivity, lost revenue, and compliance fines.
SHI remains one of the strongest options for procurement. However, its hardware lifecycle management service struggles to efficiently handle everything that happens after the box ships, at least based on what user reviews like the one below:
One G2 reviewer wrote: "Sometimes it takes up to six weeks to receive equipment, while we could get it the next day from Amazon, and it tends to be more expensive. We also had trouble with imaging from SHI, so we just handle it ourselves for efficiency."
Consider the time an SHI-reliant IT team dedicates to supporting a new hire. Manually configuring and shipping the device to the employee alone consumes considerable work hours and resources.
Many years down the line, when the employee is set to leave, IT must also find another local vendor to attempt to retrieve the device.
Multiply that by 200, and the IT team, understaffed to operate at that scale, will fail to account for some devices. They will also forget to wipe some computers and leave some user accounts active long after employees leave.
On top of that, the lack of automated tracking and real-time spending data leaves finance teams working with numbers they can't trust. That means creating new budgets and financial forecasts becomes guesswork.
Why IT Managers Look for SHI International Alternatives
Image credit: SHI
- IT managers seek SHI International alternatives primarily because of
- Limited geographic coverage,
- The absence of a fully automated IT asset lifecycle management platform, and
- A procurement model that creates manual overhead for distributed teams.
Let's break those reasons down:
1. SHI International Does Not Cover Many Key Markets
SHI operates in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, France, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Ireland, Singapore, and South Korea, according to its official locations page. The company also claims to support customers in more than 30 countries.
However, that coverage is well short of what IT asset lifecycle management platforms such as Workwize offer (100+ countries). Here's a user who agrees with the platform's international limitations.
IT managers outside these markets will have to look elsewhere for their purchase needs.
2. Hardware Lifecycle Management Is Not a Core Product
IT procurement and software licensing are SHI's primary business offerings. While it dabbles in other IT services, including IT asset management, it does not offer them everywhere, just like its procurement service.
Public user reviews on G2 show that most reviewers are procurement customers and are unaware of its lifecycle offering.
3. The Account-Manager Model Adds Latency for Routine Orders
SHI customers deal directly with account reps or Account Executives, as they are formally called. For companies doing high-volume, repeatable hardware deployments, routing each order through an account manager adds unnecessary steps.
On top of that, customers have complained about disruptions caused by SHI switching these reps.
4. Buying Directly From OEMs Only Moves the Device Management Bottleneck
Some teams bypass resellers entirely to purchase directly from manufacturers such as Dell, HP, or Lenovo. That's because the price difference is negligible or sometimes nonexistent.
However, this does not solve the hardware lifecycle problem. IT teams will still need to handle the expensive, error-prone maintenance, retrieval, and disposition operations in-house.
Top SHI International Alternatives for Global IT Teams
The following are the top SHI International alternatives you should consider if you're managing a distributed team. The comparison, drawn from official product offerings and user sentiment, focuses on each alternative's global coverage and depth of hardware lifecycle management.
1. Workwize
Workwize is a global IT asset management platform built for remote-first teams with a focus on automation. It handles procurement, zero-touch deployment, asset tracking, retrieval, and ITAD across 100+ countries.
While SHI requires you to initiate procurement manually, Workwize automatically sources and deploys equipment to new hires as soon as HR starts onboarding them. And its built-in zero-touch deployment feature, which pre-enrolls your MDM profiles, ensures devices are ready to use from day one.
The platform relies on regional warehouses and a robust network of suppliers to ship devices within 5 to 7 business days in most markets. That simplified IT logistics model also saves customers $50,000+ in shipping costs.
Workwize's real-time device status and tracking information ensure that IT managers, through their dashboards, will have full visibility into their company's fleet. Finance teams can also rely on the platform's detailed and accurate spend data.
When HR initiates offboarding for any employee, the platform's automation layer, through HRIS integrations, triggers deprovisioning, device retrieval, returns, and certified device wipe workflows.
IT managers can also initiate Workwize's IT asset disposition processes to comply with refurbishing, recycling, or destroying data-bearing hardware.
Other competitors that offer a similar lifecycle approach differ in execution, with Workwize providing better integrations, local support, and automation.
The automated workflows, standardized equipment portfolios, local warehouses and suppliers, and an intuitive self-service portal have helped companies such as HighLevel and DuckDuckGo recover thousands of work hours and save millions in IT hardware management costs.
See how Workwize works to find out how it can simplify your global hardware management operations.
Top Features:
- Automated end-to-end hardware lifecycle management across 100+ countries.
- Multi-regional warehouses and a robust local supplier network ensure 5- to 7-business-day delivery.
- Zero-touch deployment with MDM-preconfigured devices guarantees ready-to-use devices upon delivery to employees.
- More than 100 native integrations with HRIS, communication, payroll, identity management, and device management platforms for easy setup and implementation
- HRIS integration facilitates HR-triggered onboarding, offboarding, retrieval, and redistribution workflows, depending on the HR action.
- Detailed expense reports showing custom range spend history, monthly spend, expenses per role, and device depreciation.
- Real-time asset tracking by employee, location, status, and lifecycle stage.
- AI-ready automation through Workwize MCP lets IT teams use tools like Claude, Zapier, Make, and Slack to trigger Workwize actions, such as ordering a MacBook for a new hire or checking delivery status.
- Certified ITAD with wipe, reuse, recycling, and audit documentation.
- SOC 2 Type II attestation and ISO 27001 certification.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: Trustpilot
Best For:
IT managers at mid-to-enterprise companies (200–5,000 FTEs) with distributed or remote-first teams across multiple countries who need one platform to handle everything from end-to-end procurement to certified disposal.
Limitations:
Workwize focuses on hardware lifecycle management, not enterprise software licensing or Microsoft volume agreements. Teams that need both typically run Workwize alongside a dedicated licensing partner.
2. CDW
CDW covers hardware procurement, software licensing, configuration services, and some managed services. The platform also provides IT asset management services by collaborating with other vendors, such as Flexera, Ivanti, and ServiceNow.
However, it runs ITAD as a separate service, whereas platforms like Workwize integrate it into the lifecycle management service.
As one of North America's largest providers, with annual revenue exceeding $22B, CDW's product catalog and depth of account management make it a common go-to for US and Canadian IT teams.
Top Features:
- Broad hardware and software procurement catalog.
- Configuration and client device provisioning services.
- ITAM support through lifecycle services and partner tools, not one unified platform.
- ITAD with reuse, resell, recycle, and certified data destruction
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: Trustpilot
Best For:
Mid-market to enterprise IT teams in the US and Canada with complex procurement needs and a preference for account-managed supplier relationships.
Limitations:
CDW cannot serve as a single vendor and must rely on additional regional suppliers and partners, especially for its ITAM offerings. Using a different service can complicate things.
3. Insight Enterprises
Image credit: Insight Enterprise
Insight Enterprises is one of SHI's closest direct competitors. It specializes in software licensing, hardware procurement, and cloud services, but also provides ITAM services, including user endpoint management (UEM).
However, many users on Trustpilot knock Insight Enterprise for many failings, from poor customer service and response rates to delayed deliveries, even for software licenses.
In terms of global reach, Insight officially lists offices in 25 countries, more than SHI's 10. But it is still short of SHI's broader claimed reach of 30+ markets through regional partners.
Top Features:
- Hardware procurement, software licensing, and cloud services.
- Managed endpoint services with DEX and automated device fixes.
- ITAM and UEM services, but coverage depends on region.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Best For:
Enterprise IT teams looking for software licensing and hardware procurement options within Insight's geographical coverage.
Limitations:
Public feedback on Trustpilot is poor, with many customers complaining about frustrating delays and unresponsive customer service.
4. TD SYNNEX
Image credit: TD SYNNEX
TD SYNNEX operates as a channel distributor. It supplies hardware and software to resellers, VARs, and managed service providers rather than selling directly to end customers. Its IT asset management solutions are also geared toward large enterprises that provide IT asset management to customers.
Top Features:
- Distributor-scale product access for resellers, VARs, and MSPs.
- Lifecycle services for design, install, ITAD, maintenance, and warranty support, but not to end consumers.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: Trustpilot
Best For:
IT resellers and channel partners seeking broad product access, distribution infrastructure, and lifecycle services to bundle into their offerings.
Limitations:
TD SYNNEX is not an end-customer platform. Enterprise IT teams engage through a reseller layer, which adds a step to procurement and limits direct workflow visibility.
5. Ingram Micro
Image credit: Ingram Micro
Ingram Micro, through its Lifecycle division, provides IT asset retrieval and disposition services, including reverse logistics, returns management, value recovery, and sustainable decommissioning.
Top Features:
- Reverse logistics, returns management, and device recovery through 134 global logistics centers
- Value recovery through reuse, refurbishment, and resale.
- Secure chain of custody and compliant data wiping.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: G2
Best For:
Large enterprises and global operators who need high-volume end-of-life device recovery at scale, particularly where sustainability and circular economy reporting matter.
Limitations:
Ingram Micro is a distributor, not a direct IT lifecycle platform. Workflow automation, self-service employee portals, and real-time asset tracking are not part of its core offering.
6. World Wide Technology (WWT)
Image credit: World Wide Technology
World Wide Technology specializes in large enterprise infrastructure programs, supply chain management, and complex procurement at scale. It helps organizations source hardware and software, configure and integrate technology, and manage complex IT environments across networking, cloud, cybersecurity, data centers, AI, and collaboration tools.
Top Features:
- Large-scale enterprise procurement and supply chain programs.
- ITAM consulting built around data, automation, and lifecycle value.
- Lifecycle dashboard for WWT-purchased contracts and subscriptions.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: G2
Best For:
Large enterprises running complex, long-cycle infrastructure programs that need supply chain visibility and procurement at scale, primarily in the US.
Limitations:
WWT is built for large, account-managed enterprise engagements. Other providers, such as Workwize, are better optimized for distributed and growing teams needing fast, repeatable hardware deployment across many countries.
7. Kyndryl
Image credit: Kyndryl
Some organizations want to outsource their endpoint management entirely or use leased devices. If you're one of those businesses, Kyndryl is a better option than many other SHI alternatives on this list.
Through its Digital Workplace services, the platform helps companies source, configure, and deploy employee devices using automated onboarding workflows. It also manages endpoints across various device types, from Windows and macOS computers to iOS and Android mobile devices.
Additionally, you can use Kyndryl's Device as a Service (DaaS) offering if you intend to lease rather than fully own specific hardware.
The platform deploys its AI-powered Digital Experience Management offering to monitor the health of every device, leased or procured, under its care, so it can trigger remediations before users notice issues.
However, Kyndryl does not mention whether it offers ITAD or automates its asset management.
Top features:
- Device as a Service for leased endpoint fleets.
- Digital workplace services for device provisioning and support.
- AI-driven DEX for proactive issue detection and immediate remediation.
- Broad endpoint support, but ITAD details are not clear.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: G2
Best For:
Large enterprises in need of Device as a Service alongside other IT solutions, such as cloud management and AI deployment.
Limitations:
It's unclear whether Kyndryl offers ITAD or automation capabilities. The Device as a Service option may also not be the right fit for many businesses.
8. Softchoice
Image credit: Softchoice
Softchoice, now part of WWT following its 2025 acquisition, is an option for US and Canadian businesses. The company helps organizations buy, manage, and optimize software, cloud, and workplace technology.
That means it's a strong asset management option, especially for companies that need software license and cloud management alongside hardware asset management.
That said, you may have to look elsewhere if you need to manage team members outside North America or want to retire assets.
Customer reviews on G2, which are few, indicate a favorable experience with the platform, with only one reviewer complaining about the software.
Top Features:
- Device as a Service alongside IT asset management.
- Software, cloud, and Microsoft licensing services.
- North America-focused lifecycle support, not global hardware management.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: G2
Best For:
US and Canadian IT teams seeking a single service to handle complex Microsoft licensing, cloud computing, software asset management, and IT asset management needs.
Limitations:
Softchoice's coverage is limited to North America. It cannot handle hardware lifecycle management for globally distributed teams. It also lacks an ITAD offering.
9. Connection (PC Connection)
Image credit: Connection
Connection (also known as PC Connection) is a mid-market IT solutions provider offering procurement, lifecycle management, cloud, and digital workplace services across 125 countries.
Its GlobalServe platform, part of its Supply Chain and Lifecycle service category, is a direct alternative to SHI's procurement offering.
Customers can use the OneSource interface to procure (through the GlobalServe supplier network), manage, redistribute, and decommission their IT assets.
Image credit: Connection(PC Connection)
Other offerings under the Supply Chain and Lifecycle category include the Managed Device Lifecycle service, its device-focused solution, and the Lifecycle Services, which cover broader offerings, such as RIF tagging, staging, asset construction, and advanced exchange, among others.
Connection is also another option for businesses that need DaaS options alongside IT asset management. Like Kyndryl, it has a Digital Workspace segment that covers DaaS, end-user services, Windows endpoint deployment and management, and device management, among others.
Other solutions it offers include multicloud services, cybersecurity, and AI services.
Top Features:
- GlobalServe procurement support for multinational buying, promising access to 350+ suppliers in 125 countries and 8,500 engineers in 70 countries.
- OneSource portal for purchasing, deployment, service, and disposal workflows.
- Device as a Service with a 3-5 year hardware refresh cycle
- Managed multicloud services
- Managed Device Lifecycle from supply chain through end-of-life options.
- RFID tagging, staging, imaging, provisioning, and monthly reporting.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: Trustpilot
Best For:
Organizations that want to consolidate IT buying, device preparation, asset tracking, cloud management, and digital workplace and infrastructure support under a single provider, instead of coordinating multiple vendors.
Limitations:
While Connection offers global IT procurement through its GlobalServe platform, it's light on details regarding global ITAM, especially ITAD.
10. GroWrk
Image credit: GroWrk
GroWrk's built-in marketplace, though not as robust as SHI's offering, and pay-as-you-go price option make it ideal for small companies. It also claims to provide IT asset management services across 150+ countries.
However, its automation and security certifications, especially for ITAD, may not match those of competitors like Workwize.
Workwize also provides better official integrations and a more stable API than GroWrk.
Top Features
- ITAM platform for procurement, deployment, retrieval, and storage.
- Coverage across 150+ countries.
- Pay-as-you-go ITAM options for smaller distributed teams.
- 40+ integrations, still fewer than Workwize's 100+.
Customer Reviews and Ratings:
Source: G2
Best For:
Small and growing companies that need a flexible way to procure, deploy, manage, and decommission employee devices across multiple countries.
Limitations:
Larger companies that need deep procurement catalogs and fast delivery across multiple regions may find GroWrk's offerings, especially its marketplace, insufficient. Advanced automation across the device lifecycle, highly mature ITAD, and certified security workflows are also not its strongest suits.
Where SHI Stops and Workwize Starts
While SHI is a famous VAR, it also provides IT asset management services. These include zero-touch deployment, asset recovery, device management, and IT asset disposition.
However, most of these are separate from its procurement services. They also do not always tie into one bundled ITAM workflow like Workwize's offering.
Additionally, SHI does not provide as many warehouses as Workwize. Integration with HRIS, MDM, identity management, and communication platforms is another area where Workwize does better.
Here's a snapshot:
|
After the device ships |
Where SHI stops |
What Workwize handles instead |
|---|---|---|
|
Device setup |
It provisions devices over the air through SHI's account-managed configuration platform. Does not mention whether the service is automated. |
HRIS events automatically trigger procurement and zero-touch deployment using the company's MDM platforms. Devices arrive pre-enrolled and ready to use on day one |
|
Asset tracking |
SHI One, SHI's in-house portal, consolidates inventory, tickets, and lifecycle data. Visibility is thin on assets purchased outside SHI's network. |
A real-time dashboard tracks every device by serial number, employee, or department. It also covers new orders and pre-existing customer-owned inventory imported into the platform. |
|
Global coverage |
30 plus countries through regional offices and partner-mediated logistics. Local warehousing options are limited outside SHI's primary regions. |
Multi-region warehouses ensure access to local stock and 5-to-7-business-day delivery. ITAM services are available across 100+ countries. |
|
Offboarding |
IT manually kicks off the offboarding through SHI's platform |
Offboarding events in HRIS systems automatically trigger Workwize's HR workflows |
|
ITAD and compliance |
SHI offers certified erasure, drive shredding, Certificate of Destruction, and serialized audit reports. But most of it happens through partners. |
Compliant ITAD with documented data destruction. The full audit trail stays on the platform. |
|
Cost transparency and pricing |
Services on customer-owned devices are scoped per project. Hardware, configuration, freight, and storage have separate bills. |
Predictable per-seat platform pricing, with device and service prices and fees shown upfront. |
How to Evaluate SHI International Alternatives for Hardware Management: A Checklist for IT Teams
The process involves examining global coverage, deployment model, and updates. Automated offboarding and onboarding, integrations, and compliance are also important.
This table shows why each factor matters and whether Workwize covers it.
|
Requirement |
Why it matters |
Does Workwize cover it? |
|---|---|---|
|
Hardware procurement across 100+ countries |
Avoid managing 4+ regional VARs |
Yes: ships from local warehouses globally |
|
Zero-touch deployment with MDM |
Devices reach employees and are ready to use on day one without IT intervention |
Yes: the platform's zero-touch deployment ensures devices are fully configured on arrival |
|
Real-time asset tracking |
Single source of truth for every device |
Yes: live dashboard across all markets |
|
Automated employee offboarding and retrieval |
Retrieve devices without manual follow-ups |
Yes: automated deprovisioning, retrieval, and tracked return |
|
Compliant ITAD |
Ensure data destruction is documented for audit readiness |
Yes: certified wipe and disposal initiated from the platform |
|
HRIS and MDM integrations |
HR events, such as onboarding and offboarding, can trigger actions like zero-touch deployment, asset retrieval, and certified wipe |
Yes: integrates with major HRIS and MDM tools |
|
Self-service employee portal |
Employees pick gear without raising IT tickets |
Yes: provides an employee portal for device selection and monitoring |
|
No import taxes or export costs |
Predictable landed cost with no surprises |
Yes: local warehouse fulfillment in multiple regions |
|
Flat, predictable pricing |
Finance teams can forecast device spend without reconciling freight and RMA surcharges |
Yes: all-in pricing with no hidden logistics fees |
Why Workwize is the best SHI International alternative for global IT teams
SHI's mature procurement infrastructure may look like the answer to your procurement bottlenecks now. But they can expose your asset-management gaps in ways you won't expect.
From security incidents tied to incomplete offboarding to lost devices and ticket backlogs, those gaps can drain resources fast.
While SHI provides IT asset management services, they are only available in limited markets and are not part of your regular purchase arrangements.
With Workwize, your team gets a full hardware lifecycle management solution on a single platform. We will procure, configure, and send the devices to your globally distributed employees, ready to use on the first day.
Repairs, returns, retrieval, and decommissioning also run on autopilot and across 100+ countries.
And throughout that lifecycle, your IT manager gains real-time visibility into each device's status. Your finance team will see detailed spending insights that make future forecasts more accurate. Your compliance officer can also retrieve audit-ready documentation that keeps you on the right side of the law.
Reach out for a demo today to see how our platform fixes your hardware lifecycle gaps, from procurement to certified IT asset disposal.
