Connection Review
Long-standing US B2B IT reseller and CDW alternative with strong public sector practice.
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Live screenshot of www.connection.com
Overview
What is Connection?
Connection is one of the longer-running US B2B IT resellers, with 40+ years in the business and a position as a flexible alternative to CDW. The company has particular strength in public sector, education, and government procurement - markets that have specialized contracting requirements CDW handles but Connection often handles better.
Capabilities
Key features, in detail
What you actually get when you turn Connection on for a distributed team.
Public sector practice
Strong government, education, and nonprofit contracting expertise.
Comprehensive catalog
All major OEMs and peripheral coverage.
Configuration services
Custom imaging, asset tagging, pre-deployment services.
Flexible engagement
More flexible than larger competitors on small/mid-volume orders.
Procurement integrations
Standard enterprise and public-sector procurement tool integrations.
Pricing
How Connection pricing works
Connection pricing is account-based with public sector pricing programs available.
Government / education / nonprofit.
- Everything in B2B
- Public sector pricing programs
- Contract vehicle support
Higher volume.
- Everything in B2B
- Volume discounts
- Configuration services
- Lifecycle services
What you'll actually pay: Public sector contracting can produce specialized pricing through GSA schedules and other government contracting vehicles.
The trade-offs
Pros & cons
What we like
- Established 40+ year US B2B reseller
- Strong public sector / education / government practice
- Flexible for mid-market deployments
- Solid technical services
What to watch out for
- Smaller catalog than CDW or Insight
- Less brand recognition for new buyers
- US-only operation
Ideal Customer Profile
Who is Connection best for?
The teams that get the most ROI from Connection tend to share these characteristics.
Public sector buyers
Government, education, nonprofit buyers benefit from Connection's specialized practice.
Mid-market enterprises
US enterprises 200-2000 ppl wanting alternative to larger competitors.
Flexible-engagement organizations
Companies wanting more responsive accounts than what very large resellers provide.
If not Connection
Top alternatives to consider
Connection sits in a competitive category. These are the platforms most often evaluated alongside it.
CDW
Larger US B2B reseller with broader catalog.
Read review →Insight
Similar enterprise IT solutions provider.
Read review →SHI
Technical-depth alternative.
Review coming soonZones
Smaller B2B IT solutions provider.
Read review →Common questions
Connection FAQ
Similar capability with smaller catalog and stronger public sector focus. For non-public-sector enterprises, CDW often wins on breadth; for government/education, Connection competes very well.
Limited - US-focused. For international procurement, look at Insight or modern IT lifecycle platforms with global reach.
GSA Schedule 70, state contracts, education contracts, and various other public-sector vehicles. Strong practice for navigating government procurement.
More accessible than CDW or SHI for SMB use. The flexibility on smaller orders is real.
Bottom line
Our verdict on Connection
Flexible CDW alternative for mid-market and public sector
Connection has carved out a solid position as a flexible alternative to larger B2B IT resellers, with particular strength in public sector, education, and government procurement. For organizations in those markets or wanting more responsive account management, Connection is genuinely competitive.