When it comes to building out your company’s IT infrastructure, one term that you’ll come across often is “white label”, or “white label services” – usually used in conjunction with common business IT services like SaaS and chatbots.
We use white-label services all the time – practically any time you visit a website, for example, you’re probably seeing some sort of white-label IT service. It makes sense – white label services allow for companies of all different sizes and industries to leverage proven technology for use in their businesses for an affordable price.
Whether you’re hiring your own internal IT team or hiring out your company’s IT needs to an experienced MSP, in 2024, you absolutely need to know about white-label services to be able to make informed decisions for your business.
With that in mind, let’s dig into white-label services for IT and see what all the fuss is about.
What Does “White Label” Mean?
“White label” in the broadest sense refers to a “loaned” product or service. In other words, a white-label product or service is one that is produced by one company and rebranded by another company as its own.
White-label products and services are extremely commonplace across industries around the world. Here’s some of the most common areas where you’ll see white labeling.
- Supermarket and Retail Chains: Target’s “Market Pantry” is a prime example where the retail giant offers various food staples like cheese and bread that are manufactured by other brands but sold under the Market Pantry label.
- E-Commerce Platforms: E-Commerce white-label solutions are ubiquitous. Shopify stands out as an e-commerce platform provider that allows businesses to set up their own branded online stores without needing to build the technology from scratch.
- Software Industry: The Software industry is awash in white-label services. For example, Hootsuite, a well-known social media management tool, offers a white-label version of its platform. This enables other companies to offer Hootsuite’s services under their own brand.
- Financial Products: In the banking sector, many credit cards issued by large retailers are actually white-labeled products from financial institutions. For example, the Walmart Credit Card is issued by Capital One, but branded with Walmart’s name.
- Graphic Design and Branding Services: Canva, a popular graphic design tool, offers white-label solutions for creating branded content, such as logos and marketing materials, that startups and other businesses can use.
- Customer Support and CRM Solutions: Salesforce famously provides CRM solutions that other companies can white label and offer as their own customer relationship management systems. You’ve probably come across this at some point.
- Manufacturing: Manufacturing is another extremely common arena for white-label production. Foxconn, for example, manufactures various electronic components and products for Apple, which are then sold under the Apple brand.
- Reputation Management: Vendasta offers white-label reputation management tools that marketing agencies can rebrand and use to provide services to their clients, helping them monitor and manage their online reputation.
When it comes to products, the original product is typically generic and produced in large quantities, allowing the purchasing company to customize it, often by adding their logo or brand name. For services, it’s usually a dashboard that is generic, with customers adding their own branding or logo on the external side of the software.
Common Types of White Label IT Services
When it comes to IT, there’s a few areas where white labels are practically the kings of the castle. You see a lot of it in project management but also commonly in SaaS.
- Social Media Management: Businesses can offer comprehensive social media management services, including monitoring, posting, and engaging with audiences, under their own brand.
- Email and SMS Messaging: Companies like Klaviyo and Postscript allow companies to use their proprietary software to reach hordes of customers.
- Mobile Applications: From taxi services to payment apps, white labeling provides a cost-effective way to launch functional and branded mobile applications.
- SEO and SEM Software: Agencies can enhance their online visibility and service offerings in search engine optimization and marketing through white-label SEO and SEM tools.
- ERP Software: White-label ERP software solutions offer customizable dashboards and functionalities, allowing businesses to utilize advanced software features without the complexities of custom software development.
Benefits of White Label IT Services
The first thing you’ll probably want to know about white-label IT services is how they will benefit your business. Generally, white-label services benefit businesses by offering expert products or services at a price that would be impossible otherwise.
Here’s a full list of the benefits of white-label services in IT in specific:
- Quick Market Entry: Leveraging white-label IT services enables businesses to quickly launch new products and services in a world of increasing complexity. Using white-label services allows businesses to drastically reduce the time-to-market compared to developing solutions in-house.
- Cost-Effectiveness: White-label products and services allow companies to avoid the high costs and risks associated with creating new products from the ground up, from staffing to equipment investment.
- Enhanced Brand Exposure: White-label solutions provide businesses with an opportunity to expand their product lines and increase brand visibility and customer reach.
- Resource Efficiency: White-label IT services are probably most useful in freeing up resources to be deployed elsewhere. Companies can concentrate on their primary competencies and business objectives while offering a broader range of services or products with white-label services.
- Reduced Risk: By utilizing tried and tested white-label solutions, businesses minimize the risks associated with product development failures or underperformance. You know you’re buying something that (largely) works for your competition.
- Building Customer Loyalty: White-label services allow customization to meet specific customer needs, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Good for any business, but especially small ones with specific customers.
Choosing the Right White Label IT Service
Whether you’re looking for a sales dashboard or a chatbot to help you guide your customers through the sales process, choosing a white-label service for your IT needs is actually pretty easy.
99% of business applications requiring white-label services are serviced by reliable companies that you can find with a simple Google search. From there, it’s really a matter of chatting with their salespeople and seeing how much it’ll cost.
Choosing the right white-label service really depends on your business – its size, its employees, its needs, its budget, its future, and so on. However, here’s a general structure you can follow.
- Identify Your IT Needs: As always, the first step to making the right decision with your IT is to assess the specific requirements of whatever specific white-label service you need.
- Analyze Service Offerings: Evaluate the services offered by the white-label provider to ensure they align with your business objectives and customer needs.
- Branding Integration: Ensure the white label software allows for deep branding customization, including logos, colors, and other brand elements.
- Communication and Support: Opt for white-label solutions that offer seamless communication channels and robust customer support to maintain high service standards.
- Pricing and Contracts: Make sure your contract is competitive in terms of pricing and duration! Many white-label services are priced per month and are fairly priced – don’t get taken for a ride!
- Confidentiality and Legal Agreements: Check for confidentiality clauses and non-disclosure agreements to protect your business interests and maintain a competitive edge.
The good thing about picking a white-label service is that it’s usually not that big of a decision – unlike, say, investing in a new server or hiring a new IT manager.
There’s a ton of competition amongst white-label IT service providers, which means they have to stay competitive when it comes to pricing and contracts. Many providers will charge by month or by use, which is great for scaling your business.
The Most Popular White Label IT Services
- CRM Software:
- ActiveCampaign – A rebranded CRM interface offering sales and marketing automation features.
- SalesPype – Offers robust CRM features ideal for the finance industry.
- Soffront – Known for its end-to-end automation capabilities and customizable CRM menu.
- GoHighLevel – An all-in-one CRM platform designed for marketing agencies with comprehensive features.
- e-Commerce Platforms:
- Shopify – Allows businesses to set up branded online stores.
- BigCommerce – Provides a backbone for e-commerce operations that can be customized and offered to clients.
- Cybersecurity Solutions:
- Cloud Services:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Offers a variety of cloud services that can be white-labeled.
- Microsoft Azure – Provides storage, computing power, and other cloud-based services for white labeling.
- Digital Marketing Tools:
- IT Support and Helpdesk Services:
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs):
- NordVPN – Offers VPN services for white labeling.
- ExpressVPN – Provides white-label VPN services focusing on internet security and privacy.
- Analytics and Business Intelligence Tools:
- Tableau – A tool for data analysis and business intelligence available for white labeling.
- Google Analytics – Can be white-labeled to offer sophisticated data analysis solutions.
- Payment Processing Systems:
- Mobile App Development Platforms:
- Xamarin – Allows businesses to develop and customize mobile applications.
- Appy Pie – A platform for developing and customizing mobile apps for client branding.
Who Needs and Provides White Label IT Services?
White-label IT services are essential for businesses aiming to quickly scale in a way that won’t hamstring them with giant overhead or personnel costs. If you need a piece of software that is critical to your business, chances are there’s a white-label IT service out there that can help you get moving ASAP.
As always, do your diligence, but don’t worry too much – white-label IT services are generally low-commitment and low-cost, so you can try it out for a little while and see if it affects your business’s bottom line.