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Why IT Teams Look for CANCOM Alternatives
IT teams primarily seek CANCOM alternatives due to the company's geographic limitations, a lack of certain IT hardware lifecycle management services, and gaps in service delivery. Let's discuss those reasons.
1. Limited Geographic Reach
As mentioned, CANCOM is present only in the DACH region and in 4 other European countries (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Belgium). It relies on partner networks beyond those countries. LookingPoint's acquisition of CANCOM U.S. in 2022 means the platform no longer runs its own U.S operation.
That means companies expanding beyond Europe may have to engage other service providers, which may lead to fragmented visibility, inconsistent service delivery, and costlier IT logistics and shipping
2. Automation Requires Significant Configuration
Platforms like Workwize offer automated workflows during the lifecycle of each device. HRIS systems automatically trigger device procurement, which in turn triggers zero-touch deployment using the company's MDM and identity management systems.
CANCOM provides an automation service through its ControlSeries platform, but it is available as a standalone offering. Being a ServiceNow partner also means that lifecycle events can be configured to automatically begin following HR actions. However, IT teams and HR managers may find it too complicated to handle.
3. Physical Storage Needs
While CANCOM operates physical locations in Austria and Germany, it services other countries using partner networks. IT managers who require first-party warehousing in specific regions will look to competitors, such as Workwize, which run physical warehouses in major markets.
4. Reliable Spend Data
When you use one provider to manage devices in Europe and another for everywhere else, your spending data becomes fragmented. Discrepancies will also creep into shipping, fulfillment, repairs, and decommissioning costs.
These gaps will add your finance team to the 67% of respondents in Precisely's 2025 Outlook report who do not trust their decision-making data.
Using one partner to handle everything consolidates the numbers and helps your finance team track costs with confidence.
For example, Workwize's dashboard provides detailed, customizable metrics that show organization and department-level spend history. It also shows each asset's current and original value to help you keep track of depreciation.
Top CANCOM Alternatives for Distributed Teams
CANCOM alternatives range from IT managed services consultants and cloud solutions experts to hardware lifecycle management providers. Your ideal partner provides the service you need across all your locations.
Workwize 
Image credit: Workwize
Workwize allows organizations to equip team members and manage devices across 100+ countries from a single platform. You can procure, deploy, track, maintain, return, and initiate certified asset disposal from one dashboard. These actions can also be automated.
The tool's native integration with HRIS systems ensures certain HR events, such as onboarding, can trigger workflows like procurement and retrieval.
The procurement process is end-to-end, which means the platform handles vendor sourcing and management, device configuration, and shipping and logistics.
Device configurations follow a zero-touch deployment process, ensuring devices reach every employee ready to use without IT input.
The platform provides all the spend data your finance department needs to evaluate budget and fiscal compliance, forecast future spend, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Its asset-tracking feature delivers the visibility IT managers need to properly manage company inventory and ensure devices are secure and in optimal condition.
Workwize's certified, automated IT asset disposal offering keeps your company compliant and environmentally responsible. It provides data destruction certificates in accordance with international standards, helps you arrange recycling and value recovery, and can also facilitate donations.
Key Features
- Zero-touch deployment using integrated MDM, SSO, and identity management systems to ensure employees can start working once they receive their devices.
- Automated IT hardware lifecycle management. Onboarding and offboarding actions in HRIS platforms trigger procurement and retrieval workflows.
- 100+ native integrations with HRIS, communication, payroll, finance, and MDM platforms.
- Detailed spend reports at the organization and department levels.
- HRIS-triggered employee offboarding. Automatic user deprovisioning, prepaid returns for asset retrieval, and certified erasure.
- Certified and sustainable IT asset disposal.
Ideal For
Globally distributed teams with 150+ remote workers seeking a device lifecycle management partner.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: G2
Limitations
Workwize does not provide software-based services but can serve as a hardware management partner alongside a Software Asset Management platform like SoftwareOne.
Bechtle
Image credit: Bechtle
Bechtle is CANCOM's most direct competitor for the same DACH Mittelstand buyer. The company offers a diverse range of IT solutions, including data centers, networking, security, data analytics, and IT asset management.
It also acts as an IT consulting and financing partner.
Bechtle claims to handle the entire hardware lifecycle management, from procurement through disposal, providing zero-touch deployment for major operating systems. Like CANCOM, it also offers a Device-as-a-Service program for companies that want to lease equipment for specific periods.
The platform is a worthy alternative to CANCOM for companies supporting employees in more European countries, as it operates across 14 jurisdictions. It depends on a partner network to serve customers beyond Europe.
But that coverage does not include first-party warehouses offered by companies like Workwize, which cover over 100 countries.
Key Features
- The My Bechtle platform provides access to Bechtle's portfolio of hardware, software, and other IT products. Customers can view quotes and save assets to purchase later.
- IT asset management, including hardware and software management.
- Full device lifecycle management, from procurement to ITAD
- About 120 IT System Houses in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
Ideal For
Companies that need hardware and software lifecycle management in more European countries.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: Trustpilot
Limitations
Reliance on partner networks for lifecycle management beyond Europe may be unsustainable for most organizations.
Computacenter
Image credit: Computacenter
Computacenter is one of the best CANCOM managed services alternatives if you're looking for better global coverage, as well as hardware and software offerings.
The company provides procurement, IT asset management, managed cloud, and consultation services.
Its IT asset management covers software and hardware, and its device lifecycle offering goes from procurement through ITAD.
However, its global coverage, which it claims stands at 70 countries, does not cover every part of the lifecycle. For example, it claims to sell to customers in only 8 countries and provides support to only another 8 countries.
Top Features
- Provides standalone sourcing and deployment options.
- IT strategy, advisory, and support services.
- IT asset lifecycle management for hardware and software
Ideal For
Companies in the EMEA region that may need one-off procurement services.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: Gartner
Limitations
While Computacenter claims to cover over 70 countries, its services are not evenly distributed across those locations the way services from other CANCOM competitors like Workwize are.
DATAGROUP
Image credit: DATAGROUP
DATAGROUP provides IT solutions through its CORBOX portfolio to companies based in Germany. It is a direct CANCOM alternative since it has certain asset management offerings under its workspace services and also provides managed cloud, cybersecurity, networking, and SAP services.
It features a Procurement Platform that allows companies to view validated suppliers and place orders for IT equipment. Its IMAC/R/D (install, move, add, change, remove, dispose) offering is its main asset management practice, which helps organizations manage the lifecycle of their devices.
However, these services are focused on organizations that do not plan on hiring outside Germany. And while DATAGROUP mentions an automation service, it does not specify whether it automates IT asset lifecycle management.
Key Features
- IMAC/R/D (install, move, add, change, remove, dispose) coverage.
- Prominent SAP solutions provider.
- Modular suite with CORBOX for individualized services.
Ideal For
Organizations whose main, and only, operations are in Germany.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
DATAGROUP lacks verifiable online third-party reviews. You can request references directly from existing buyers.
Limitations
Does not indicate whether it offers native integrations with popular HRIS, payroll, and communication systems. It is also limited to Germany, which puts companies hiring globally at a disadvantage.
Adesso
Image credit: Adesso
Adesso is a worthy CANCOM alternative if your company has a presence in Europe, India, and major Middle Eastern markets, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, it makes more sense as a replacement if you want to use its core managed services, which are mostly application and consultation-focused.
The provider does not explicitly mention hardware management offerings, such as procurement, zero-touch deployment, repairs, returns, or disposal.
It also won't be the right choice if your employees are domiciled across North America, Africa, Australia, APAC (excluding India), and LATAM.
Key Features
- Industry-specific solutions for banking, insurance, healthcare, and the public sector.
- Software development and IT architecture consulting.
- Microsoft, Salesforce, and SAP managed services.
- Security and compliance expertise.
Ideal For
Adesso covers companies in Europe, the Middle East, and India seeking SAP, Salesforce, and Microsoft managed services. It's also a strong choice for IT management consulting, design, and security, as long as your firm does not operate outside the mentioned areas.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: G2
Limitations
Adesso does not offer hands-on hardware lifecycle management like other competitors, such as Workwize and Bechtle. It also cannot cater to organizations outside Europe, the Middle East, and India.
Hemmersbach
Image credit: Hemmersbach
Hemmersbach delivers device lifecycle management and field services to IT manufacturers and vendors across more than 190 countries. That's more than every other company's global coverage on this list.
However, its indirect-only service model means it does not deal with end-user businesses. Instead, it is CANCOM's alternative for vendors that need field delivery and lifecycle capabilities to fulfill their own customer commitments.
Top Features
- Service delivery across 190+ countries, including remote locations
- End-to-end device lifecycle coverage for IT manufacturers and vendors
- 24/7 multilingual service desk
Ideal For
IT manufacturers, OEMs, and vendors who need a field services partner to fulfill device lifecycle commitments to their own end customers.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: Trustpilot
Limitations
Hemmersbach's positioning as an indirect-only provider does not make it ideal for companies seeking a hardware lifecycle management partner such as Workwize or CANCOM.
SoftwareOne
Image credit: SoftwareOne
SoftwareOne's core strength lies in software licensing, cloud cost management, and IT asset governance. It also provides a robust software and cloud asset marketplace where companies can match verified vendors and track their purchases.
It provides these services in more than 60 countries.
While SoftwareOne does not offer hardware asset management services, it can complement global device lifecycle management providers like Workwize.
Key Features
- A centralized marketplace platform connecting clients to over 7,500 software vendors.
- Cloud infrastructure, SAP, application security, DevOps, and business consultation services.
- IT portfolio management covering sourcing and demand, as well as SaaS management.
Ideal For
Companies that need to pair their hardware lifecycle management service with a SAM partner to handle complex, multi-vendor software estates across multiple regions.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: Gartner
Limitations
SoftwareOne does not offer hardware lifecycle management, but it can be paired with an ITAM provider such as Workwize.
CHG-MERIDIAN
Image credit: CHG-MERIDIAN
CHG-MERIDIAN offers hardware lifecycle management through its technology2use models across over 30 countries. These are financing plans that allow organizations to lease tech equipment under CHG-MERIDIAN's management.
The platform manages the IT asset lifecycle of these devices and ensures they are repaired, swapped, and recovered when needed. It also runs the operation on a non-captive basis, which means it works independently of banks and other financial institutions.
However, IT teams looking to procure and manage their own devices are better off with providers like Workwize that offer automated software platforms for asset lifecycle management.
Key Features
- Sale and leaseback arrangement, allowing companies to sell their existing IT assets and then get them back on a lease basis.
- DaaS through the Devicenow service package.
- Deferred payments allow companies to get equipment now and start their payments in the future.
- Vendor-neutral financing across all major OEM brands on a single agreement
- tesma, a proprietary asset management platform providing real-time transparency across both commercial and technical aspects of the entire technology lifecycle
- Circular economy model with end-of-lease devices collected, securely wiped, and refurbished
Ideal For
Enterprises looking to shift IT hardware from a capital expenditure model to a flexible, usage-based arrangement. Also relevant for organizations with strict circular economy requirements.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Source: Trustpilot
Limitations
Does not offer asset management services for customer-owned devices, and its geographic coverage is less than that of competitors like Workwize.
Where CANCOM Stops and Workwize Starts
|
What distributed teams need |
Where CANCOM leaves gaps |
What Workwize handles instead |
|
Hardware delivery in 100+ countries |
CANCOM operates directly in DACH plus Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. |
Provides services in 100+ countries and ships from warehouses across multiple regions. Offers a 5-7 business day SLA globally. |
|
Zero-touch MDM deployment |
Workplace-as-a-Service is available, but pre-enrolled MDM zero-touch as a standard out-of-the-box platform feature for remote employees globally is not CANCOM's core model. |
Devices arrive pre-enrolled in MDM. Employees are productive on day one since devices arrive ready to use. No staging required. |
|
HRIS-triggered onboarding |
Lacks native HRIS integration that allows HR onboarding to trigger lifecycle management workflows, such as procurement or deployment (if the device is already available). |
Integrates with major HRIS tools. Hardware order triggers when a new onboarding action occurs. |
|
Automated device retrieval |
CANCOM does not specifically mention a built-in automated retrieval workflow. |
Retrieval workflows, including certified wipe, logistics, and user deprovisioning, automatically run once HR initiates an offboarding action. |
|
GDPR-compliant ITAD audit trail |
ITAD is available as part of its client management IMAC/R/D service, but it does not mention an audit trail. |
Certified wipe and ITAD are automatically documented in-platform. Audit trail built in for compliance. |
|
Predictable per-device pricing |
CANCOM pricing is entirely bespoke. Finance cannot forecast device cost per employee without a scoping conversation. |
Predictable per-seat pricing for the platform and purchase fees are shown upfront. |
How to Evaluate CANCOM Alternatives: A Checklist for IT Teams
The following will show you what to evaluate when deciding between CANCOM competitors.
|
Requirement |
Why it matters |
Does Workwize cover it? |
|---|---|---|
|
Hardware lifecycle management in 100+ countries |
No partner-network variability for international hires |
Yes. Local warehouses globally |
|
Zero-touch MDM deployment |
Ensures employees can start working immediately after they receive their devices |
Yes. Preenrolls devices using company MDM, SSO, and identity management systems to ensure devices arrive ready to use. |
|
Real-time per-device tracking |
Single source of truth for the full fleet |
Yes. The platform features a dashboard with real-time device status updates |
|
Automated employee offboarding |
Retrieve devices without manual coordination |
Yes. HRIS-triggered offboarding workflows, such as automatic retrievals and logistics processes |
|
GDPR-compliant ITAD with audit trail |
Compliance requirement for DACH and European teams |
Yes. Certified wipe and documented ITAD |
|
HRIS integration |
Allows onboarding and offboarding actions to trigger the right hardware lifecycle management events, from procurement to disposal |
Yes. Offers native integrations with major HRIS tools |
|
No import taxes or export costs |
Predictable landed cost in every market |
Yes. Local warehouse fulfillment |
|
Transparent per-device pricing |
Finance can forecast device costs without a scoping call |
Yes. The platform provides prices for each device and detailed spend reports, including asset depreciation. |
Why Workwize is the Best CANCOM Alternative for Distributed Teams
Every alternative on this list does something well. Hemmersbach's indirect-only services are ideal for some vendors and SoftwareOne's offerings are among the best in the software market. But for hardware lifecycle management across multiple continents, none of those CANCOM alternatives closes the gaps as effectively as Workwize.
Those gaps usually come down to geographic coverage and holistic device management solutions. A DACH-based provider with strong cloud services cannot ship a pre-configured MacBook to a new hire in Tokyo in 5 days. Workwize can.
That's because Workwize's integrations with HRIS tools allow HR actions to automatically trigger procurement and zero-touch deployment. Local warehouses and suppliers also ensure devices reach employees fast.
When HR logs a worker's departure, those systems also automatically initiate offboarding procedures, such as deprovisioning, secure wipe, and prepaid returns.
Additionally, using Workwize enables finance to access centralized spend reports for budget forecasting and future planning.
Request a demo today to see how Workwize fulfills device lifecycle management across 100+ countries, from procurement through ITAD.
Establish a single source of truth for every IT asset across the globe.
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