Article
6 min read
7 Best Platforms for Automating Global Laptop and Equipment Distribution
IT & device management

Author
Dr Kristine Lennie
Last Update
November 12, 2026

The short answer
For companies looking to provision laptops and accessories for remote employees globally, Deel IT combines equipment delivery across 130+ countries with configuration, security, app access, IT support, and device recovery. Alternatives include Firstbase, GroWrk, Workwize, Allwhere, traditional IT resellers, and MSPs.
Getting a laptop and accessories to a remote hire on time sounds simple. In reality, it requires coordinating procurement, customs, device configuration, application access, and delivery across countries where you may have no local presence — all against a fixed start date.
Most companies still patch this together with regional vendors, spreadsheets, and disconnected IT tools. In this guide, we compare the best platforms for automating global laptop and equipment distribution for remote teams, so you can choose the option that best fits your needs.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is subject to change or update. Deel does not make any representations as to the completeness or accuracy of the information on this page.
How Deel handles global laptop and equipment distribution
Deel IT connects HR data with device procurement, configuration, application access, and delivery in one platform. Unlike in-house processes or point solutions that rely on manual coordination and separate vendors, Deel IT uses HRIS-triggered workflows to help get new hires' equipment and access ready on time, with less manual work.
At-a-glance comparison: equipment provisioning platforms for remote teams
| Platform | Device lifecycle | Application & identity management | IT support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deel IT | ✅ Full lifecycle | ✅ MDM + IAM + app provisioning | ✅ Global, 24/7 |
| Firstbase | ✅ Procurement & logistics | ❌ No (MDM integrations only) | ⚠️ Device support only |
| GroWrk | ✅ Procurement & logistics | ❌ No | ⚠️ Add-on |
| Workwize | ✅ Procurement & logistics | ⚠️ MDM integrations | ⚠️ Limited |
| Allwhere | ✅ Procurement & logistics | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited |
| Traditional resellers | ⚠️ Hardware only | ❌ No | ❌ None |
| Managed service providers | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ No | ⚠️ Varies |
1. Deel IT
Deel IT brings together global device procurement, pre-configuration, application access management, and 24/7 IT support in a single platform. While many tools stop at shipping hardware, Deel IT automates what happens before and after the device arrives. Deel IT connects your HR data directly to IT workflows: when a new hire is added to your HRIS, device orders trigger automatically; when someone leaves, application access is revoked, and device recovery begins.
Key capabilities:
Procure and ship equipment to 130+ countries with a 99.5%+ on-time delivery rate, with devices arriving fully configured and ready to use from day one
Access and identity management linked to HR data, with built-in single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Device lifecycle management covering every stage from procurement to recovery, with automated MDM enrollment at onboarding
Built-in endpoint protection powered by CrowdStrike, eliminating the need for a separate security tool
24/7 global IT support available to employees across every time zone
A unified dashboard for tracking your assets’ status, location, and lifecycle in real time
Automated offboarding that instantly revokes access and locks or wipes devices when employees leave
Native integrations with HRIS tools like BambooHR, Workday, and HiBob, plus identity providers like Okta, Google Workspace, and Azure AD
Best for: Companies of any size looking to streamline their entire IT lifecycle: from device procurement, shipment, and security, to IT support, and equipment recovery.
Limitations: Businesses operating in a single country may not need the full scope that Deel IT’s platform offers.
Onboarding a new starter used to take three hours to get set up from a laptop perspective. Now, it takes half an hour or less.
—Noah Warwick,
Chief of Staff, Learnerbly
Read also how to avoid laptop shipping delays for remote teams.
2. Firstbase
Firstbase handles device procurement, shipping, and retrieval with HRIS integrations and asset tracking available. Ordering workflows are automated, and the dashboard is accessible for operations teams.
Key capabilities:
Device procurement and global logistics
HRIS integrations and automated ordering workflows
Asset tracking and lifecycle visibility
Hardware support and device retrieval
Best for: Remote-first companies needing a hardware-focused procurement and logistics platform.
Limitations: Firstbase primarily focuses on hardware logistics. Organizations still need separate tools to manage application access, identity provisioning, and broader IT operations. MDM tools can be integrated, but they are not replaced by the platform. As a result, companies may need additional vendors to manage the full IT lifecycle.
3. GroWrk
GroWrk handles device procurement, deployment, tracking, retrieval, and redeployment through a network of certified resellers across a number of global markets. IT support is available as a paid add-on, not a native included capability.
Key capabilities:
Global device procurement and logistics
Asset tracking and lifecycle management
Device retrieval and redeployment
HRIS integrations
Optional IT support
Best for: Companies with significant hiring across Latin America and other global markets.
Limitations: GroWrk centers on device procurement and distribution rather than broader IT operations. Application access management, MDM configuration, and security policy enforcement are not included natively, requiring additional tools to manage devices and access controls. IT support is offered as a separate paid service.
4. Workwize
Workwize automates hardware procurement, tracking, and retrieval through a self-service portal across a number of markets, with HRIS and MDM integrations available.
Key capabilities:
Automated hardware procurement workflows
Device tracking, retrieval, and lifecycle management
HRIS and MDM integrations
Self-service IT operations portal
Best for: Scaling companies in Europe and select markets needing hardware lifecycle automation.
Limitations: Workwize primarily focuses on device lifecycle logistics rather than broader IT management. Application access provisioning and built-in employee IT support are not native capabilities. Coverage and service consistency are strongest in Europe, with more limited availability in other regions.
5. Allwhere
Allwhere covers device procurement, retrieval, storage, and redeployment with a pay-as-you-go pricing model and no monthly subscription fee. HRIS integrations with tools, including BambooHR and Workday, are available.
Key capabilities:
Device procurement and global shipping
Retrieval, storage, and redeployment
Asset tracking and lifecycle visibility
HRIS integrations
Pay-as-you-go pricing model
Best for: Small to mid-sized teams in North America and Europe with variable hiring patterns.
Limitations: Coverage is limited to a smaller set of countries compared to some global platforms, which may necessitate additional vendors for teams hiring in regions like APAC or Africa. The platform focuses primarily on hardware logistics, so application access management, MDM configuration, security policy enforcement, and employee IT support are not included natively.
6. Traditional IT resellers
Traditional IT resellers focus on hardware sourcing and regional shipping. For organizations with centralized operations and in-house IT resources, they can provide a straightforward way to purchase devices through established supplier networks.
Key capabilities:
Hardware procurement and regional distribution
Volume purchasing through vendor supplier networks
Standardized device catalogs for equipment selection
Basic order tracking
Best for: Companies operating primarily in a single region with an established internal IT team managing deployment and support.
Limitations: Coverage is typically limited to specific regions or countries. Resellers do not provide onboarding automation, application access management, HRIS integrations, or employee IT support. Organizations expanding internationally often need to coordinate multiple resellers across regions, increasing operational complexity as teams scale.
7. Managed service providers (MSPs)
Managed service providers deliver IT support and helpdesk services, and in some cases, assist with hardware procurement depending on the provider. They can help smaller organizations manage IT operations, but are typically designed for service delivery rather than automated device lifecycle management.
Key capabilities:
IT support and helpdesk services
Remote monitoring and ticket management
Hardware sourcing (varies by provider)
On-site and remote troubleshooting
Best for: Companies that want to outsource day-to-day IT support without building a full internal IT team.
Limitations: MSPs focus on service delivery rather than platform automation. Device lifecycle workflows, HRIS-triggered provisioning, application access management, and global device logistics are generally not included. Coverage and service quality vary widely between providers, and companies operating across multiple regions may need to coordinate several MSPs.
What to look for when choosing a platform
Not all platforms are transparent about where their coverage or automation actually ends. The questions below help cut through surface-level feature claims and identify what a platform can genuinely deliver for your team.
| Question | Why it matters | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Does it cover hardware and application access? | Ensures devices and system access are provisioned together without manual handoffs | ☐ |
| Is 24/7 IT support included as standard? | Allows employees in any time zone to get help when they need it | ☐ |
| Does it connect to your HRIS natively? | Enables onboarding and offboarding to trigger automatically | ☐ |
| Does it own its logistics infrastructure? | Improves delivery reliability and accountability | ☐ |
| What does offboarding look like end-to-end? | Ensures access is revoked and devices are recovered consistently | ☐ |
| What is the real delivery reliability in your hiring markets? | Confirms the platform can consistently deliver where you hire | ☐ |
Device provisioning and IT management resources
Building a reliable global equipment distribution process starts with clear policies and consistent workflows. These free resources can help:
Equipment Provisioning Policy Template: Standardize equipment requests, distribution, tracking, and returns across your global team.
Free IT Policy Template: Establish consistent device security and usage policies.
IT Strategy Toolkit: 2026 Guide: Plan and scale IT operations as your workforce grows.
How Deel IT replaces fragmented equipment distribution with one global system
The core problem with most equipment distribution approaches isn’t any single platform; it’s how many are involved. When hardware procurement, application access, IT support, and device recovery live in separate systems, every employee transition becomes a coordination task. Steps get missed, devices go unrecovered, and access can remain active longer than it should.
Deel IT eliminates that sprawl by running the full IT lifecycle from a single system: connecting hardware, application access, security, support, and recovery directly to your HR data so each step happens automatically.
Here is what that looks like in practice:
One platform for hardware, application access, security, support, and device recovery across 130+ countries
HRIS-triggered automation that initiates device orders, app provisioning, and offboarding workflows without manual input
Owned warehouse infrastructure in key regions — not a third-party network — for consistent, reliable delivery
24/7 IT support included as standard, so employees get help in any time zone without a separate helpdesk contract
Full asset visibility across every device, employee, and region in real time — no spreadsheets, no blind spots
Book a demo to see how Deel IT replaces fragmented vendor workflows with one global IT system.
FAQ
What is the best equipment provisioning service for companies with remote employees?
Deel IT combines laptop and accessory provisioning across 130+ countries with device configuration, MDM enrollment, application access, 24/7 IT support, and recovery. Companies primarily looking for hardware procurement and logistics can also consider Firstbase and GroWrk.
What is the best platform for delivering laptops and accessories globally?
Deel IT supports equipment delivery across 130+ countries, with a 99.5%+ on-time delivery rate. Devices can arrive preconfigured and ready for employees to use from day one.
What should a global equipment provisioning service include?
Look for hardware procurement, international logistics, device configuration, MDM enrollment, application access management, HRIS integrations, and IT support. The right mix depends on whether you need equipment delivery alone or broader IT lifecycle management.
How do companies deliver laptops to employees in different countries?
Companies typically use equipment provisioning providers with warehouses, fulfillment partners, or reseller networks across multiple regions. These services can handle local procurement, customs, shipping, tracking, and delivery directly to an employee’s location.
What happens to equipment when a remote employee leaves?
Full-lifecycle services can automate offboarding by revoking application access and triggering device recovery when an employee leaves. The returned equipment can then be stored, redeployed, recycled, or otherwise retired according to company policy.
Which laptops are most commonly used by companies in the United States?
Apple, Dell, Lenovo, and HP are widely used by US businesses. MacBooks are common among software, design, and startup teams, while Dell Latitude, Lenovo ThinkPad, and HP EliteBook devices are established choices in enterprise environments.
What is the largest laptop manufacturer in the world?
Lenovo is currently the largest PC manufacturer by global shipments, followed by other major vendors including HP and Dell. Rankings for laptops specifically can vary depending on the market-research source and measurement period.
Which laptop brands are easiest for IT teams to manage and service?
Enterprise ranges such as Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, and HP EliteBook are designed with business IT environments in mind, offering features such as enterprise warranty options, standardized configurations, and access to replacement parts and support.

About the author
Dr Kristine Lennie holds a PhD in Mathematical Biology and loves learning, research and content creation. She had written academic, creative and industry-related content and enjoys exploring new topics and ideas. She is passionate about helping create a truly global workforce, where employers and employees are not limited by borders to achieve success.












