Authorised Supply Chain

Guarantee genuine products, reduce risks, and ensure compliance through Probrand’s Procurement Platform.

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What is the Authorised Supply Chain?

An authorised supply chain is a vendor-approved route for delivering IT products, ensuring authenticity, support, and compliance. By sourcing through authorised channels, organisations reduce the risk of counterfeit or unsupported hardware and software, gain access to manufacturer warranties, and maintain compliance with licensing and security requirements. This guarantees that all products are genuine, reliable, and fully supported throughout their lifecycle.

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Why the Authorised Supply Chain Matters

Sourcing IT products through an authorised supply chain is critical to securing genuine products, reducing risks, and avoiding hidden costs.

The Probrand Procurement Platform guarantees purchases only from vendor-approved distributors, giving you confidence in every transaction and ensuring operational efficiency.

The 4 Tiers of the Authorised Supply Chain

Vendors

Vendors manufacture IT products and appoint authorised distributors to handle delivery to end users.

Most vendors are not geared up for direct delivery, so they rely on distributors’ warehousing and logistics expertise.

Vendors collaborate with Value-Added Resellers (VARs) to provide tailored solutions, customer support, and product training.

Distributors

Distributors manage large warehouses and act as the link between vendors and VARs.

They provide services like technical support, inventory management, and logistics to ensure seamless delivery.

Historically, distributors handled bulk stock deals to streamline supply chain processes.

Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

VARs add value by tailoring solutions to meet end-user requirements.

They are trained, certified, and accredited by vendors to deliver the right solutions at the best prices.

True VARs work collaboratively across the supply chain to ensure end users get genuine, suitable products.

End Users (Customers)

End users receive products and services tailored to their needs via VARs.

Customers benefit from a transparent, vendor-approved supply chain, avoiding risks like hidden costs and poor build quality.

What is an Unauthorised Supply Chain?

An unauthorised supply chain arises when non-vendor-approved suppliers, like brokers or sub-distributors, are inserted into the process.

Authorised

Unauthorised

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Risks of Unauthorised Supply Chains

Sometimes the price really is too good to be true…

Counterfeit Products

Fake, low-quality goods can cause failures, safety risks, and system downtime.

Grey Market Goods

Products not intended for the UK market may have incompatible power supplies and lack essential updates.

Lack of Warranty and Support

Vendors refuse to support or replace products purchased outside authorised channels.

Hidden Costs

Additional tiers mean increased margins, downtime for replacements, and potential damage or failure.

Security Risks

Counterfeit or grey market devices can expose businesses to spyware, fraud, and cyber vulnerabilities.

How the Probrand Procurement Platform Guarantees an Authorised Supply Chain

Our platform ensures all purchases come directly through trusted, vendor-approved distributors:

Strict Supplier Criteria

Only authorised vendors and distributors can feed stock and pricing into the platform.

Vendor Partnerships

Probrand collaborates closely with vendors and distributors to maintain a trusted and transparent supply chain.

Technology Investment

Millions invested in platform technology enable strict monitoring to block unauthorised suppliers.

Partnerships

That Drive Value

Our deep relationships with leading vendors ensure we meet stringent authorised supply chain standards. Through rigorous training and technical competency assessments, we achieve partnership statuses that:

Validate our role as a trusted partner in their route to market.

Enhance customer experiences with superior support and engagement.

Unlock better pricing and exclusive commercial benefits for our customers.

These partnerships reinforce Probrand’s legitimacy and dedication to delivering exceptional value through the authorised IT supply chain.

95% of UK authorised distributors feed stock and price into the Probrand Procurement Platform, covering 1,600 vendors and over 300,000 live products.

Key Benefits of an Authorised Supply Chain

Genuine,

Reliable Products

Ensure products meet vendor-approved quality standards, eliminating counterfeit risks and hidden costs.

Cost Savings

and Transparency

Avoid inflated prices from unauthorised suppliers and gain access to vendor-supported pricing and special bids.

Reduced

Risk

Minimise downtime, security vulnerabilities, and operational disruption by sourcing through trusted channels.

Full Warranty

and Support

Guaranteed access to vendor-backed warranties, updates, and reliable after-sales service.

Regulatory

Compliance

Ensure alignment with UK Public Procurement Regulations and other industry standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

An authorised supply chain is a vendor-approved route for delivering IT products, ensuring authenticity, support, and compliance. By sourcing through authorised channels, organisations reduce the risk of counterfeit or unsupported hardware and software, gain access to manufacturer warranties, and maintain compliance with licensing and security requirements. This guarantees that all products are genuine, reliable, and fully supported throughout their lifecycle.
Grey market goods can cause failures, compatibility issues, and security vulnerabilities while voiding warranties and support. Because they’re not sourced through authorised channels, these products often lack proper quality assurance, vendor backing, and compliance certification. Choosing genuine, authorised products ensures you receive full manufacturer support, reliable performance, and protection against hidden risks that could disrupt your business operations.
Probrand’s platform strictly vets vendors and distributors, ensuring only authorised suppliers feed stock and pricing. This guarantees that every product purchased through our marketplace is genuine, fully supported, and compliant with manufacturer standards. By working exclusively with trusted, accredited partners, we provide peace of mind that your IT investments are secure, reliable, and backed by proper warranties.
Risks include counterfeit products, increased downtime, hidden costs, and potential safety hazards. Without the assurance of an authorised supply chain, businesses also lose access to manufacturer warranties, technical support, and compliance guarantees. This can leave organisations exposed to security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, and costly replacements.
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Guarantee genuine products, reduce risks, and ensure compliance through Probrand’s Procurement Platform.

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