Tech Data Unlocks True Self-service Partner Portal

Objective

As a global e-commerce leader, Tech Data provides logistics and value-added services to a massive network of resellers. The objective was to replace a legacy system with a modern, self-service portal that offered a frictionless experience for partners to check inventory, view credit lines, and manage their business interactions through a single set of credentials.

Challenge

Tech Data’s systems had evolved into silos, forcing users to manage multiple usernames and passwords. This fragmentation led to a major governance issue: partner companies had no central way to ensure an employee's access was revoked across all Tech Data systems upon termination. Furthermore, the existing infrastructure lacked the scalability to handle complex business relationships or the open standards required to integrate easily with third-party vendors and integrators.

Solution

Tech Data utilized PingFederate as its global authentication gateway to handle SSO and password management across all offerings. To manage complex data relationships—such as a single user acting as both a reseller and a vendor across different contexts—the company implemented PingDirectory. This combination allowed Tech Data to store relationship metadata and enforce granular authorizations. The solution was vetted through a rapid two-week proof-of-concept that proved it could handle nightmare scenarios involving multiple account numbers and complex user profiles.

Results

The Ping Identity Platform has transformed Tech Data’s portal into a highly scalable, easy-to-administer global solution. Customers now enjoy seamless access to third-party services via SSO, while Tech Data benefits from a unified directory that supports advanced preference and profile management. By adopting open standards, Tech Data has future-proofed its ability to federate with any partner, ensuring it remains an enabler for global IT distribution rather than a source of technical debt.