VARCommerce vs ChannelOnline
ChannelOnline and VARCommerce are the two platforms most often compared by resellers who want quoting and a storefront from one vendor. ChannelOnline is now a product line inside Syndigo, a product-content company; VARCommerce is an independent company whose only product is this platform, designed, built and supported in the USA by the same team since 2012.
ChannelOnline, part of Syndigo (via 1WorldSync), is a sales automation platform for VARs and MSPs with quoting, self-service eCommerce, sales orders, procurement and PO tracking, with access to Tech Data, Synnex and Ingram Micro and integrations to QuickBooks, Autotask, Salesforce and ConnectWise. VARCommerce covers the same ground and adds inventory and shipping, government contract management, more distributor electronic-ordering connections, and in-house support from the company that builds it.
What you get with VARCommerce that you do not get with ChannelOnline
- The transaction is finished. Receiving, inventory, shipping labels and the invoice from what shipped, on the same record as the quote.
- Government contracts built in. SEWP, CIO-CS, GSA and state contracts enforced on quotes and agency stores, with SEWP export files from the system.
- More electronic ordering. Ingram Micro, TD SYNNEX, D&H, Arrow and HP Direct, with ship notices and status back on the order.
- Our whole attention. The reseller platform is the company’s only product, built and supported in the USA since 2012 by the people who answer the phone.
Side by side
| Area | VARCommerce | ChannelOnline |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Independent quoting and ERP platform for IT VARs and government resellers; the company's only product | Sales automation platform for VARs and MSPs; now a product line inside Syndigo, a product-content company |
| Quoting and sales orders | Live distributor pricing, bundles, contract price lists, distributor quote import; quote becomes PO, order, invoice | "Total control of your entire sales cycle — quotes, e-commerce, sales orders and more"; PO submission and tracking |
| Distributors | Ingram Micro, TD SYNNEX, D&H: price/availability, electronic PO, ship notices; BlueStar price/availability; Arrow and HP Direct electronic PO | Named: Tech Data, Synnex, Ingram Micro; "direct access to the best IT and CE product distributors" |
| Storefronts | Public and customer-specific stores, agency stores at contract pricing, cXML PunchOut | Customer self-service e-commerce storefronts |
| After the order | Receiving, inventory, serials, FedEx/UPS labels, invoice from what shipped, QuickBooks Desktop/Online and Dynamics SL export | Sales orders, procurement, PO tracking, invoicing listed; inventory and shipping not listed |
| Government | SEWP, CIO-CS, GSA, state contracts: price lists validated on quotes, agency stores, TAA flags, SEWP export and technical-refresh files | Not mentioned on its page |
| Integrations | QuickBooks, Dynamics SL, Autotask, ConnectWise PSA, Salesforce, Avalara, DocuSign, PunchOut, FedEx, UPS, card gateways | "QuickBooks, Autotask, Salesforce and ConnectWise" plus "detailed XML integration" |
| Support | In-house, Dublin, Ohio, from the team that builds the platform; built and supported in the USA since 2012 | "US based friendly support team" via web form, email and toll-free number |
| Pricing | Subscription by users and modules, quote-based; 30-day trial | "Annual contract with quarterly billing"; prices not published |
Competitor information is taken from ChannelOnline's own public pages (syndigo.com/channelonline). Products change; if something here is out of date, email support@varcommerce.com and we will correct it. ChannelOnline is a trademark of its owner; VARCommerce is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.
Choose ChannelOnline if…
- You are already a Syndigo content customer and want quoting and a storefront from the same vendor as your product content.
Choose VARCommerce if…
- You want the transaction finished in the same system: receiving, inventory, shipping labels and the invoice from what shipped.
- You sell on SEWP, CIO-CS, GSA or state contracts.
- You want electronic ordering to more distributors and direct HP ordering.
- You want the vendor's whole attention on the reseller platform, and support from the people who build it.
Moving from ChannelOnline
Customers, price lists and open quotes are imported during onboarding; distributor accounts stay the same. Resellers who moved from ChannelOnline years ago still run their whole business on VARCommerce today; ask us to introduce you to one.
The bottom line
Resellers who moved from ChannelOnline years ago still run their whole business on VARCommerce today. The difference they describe is not one feature. It is that the platform keeps improving around what resellers ask for, and the people asking can reach the people building.
ChannelOnline vs VARCommerce: common questions
Is ChannelOnline still an independent product?
ChannelOnline is now part of Syndigo, following 1WorldSync. It continues as a sales automation platform for VARs and MSPs within Syndigo's portfolio.
Is VARCommerce a ChannelOnline alternative?
Yes. Both provide quoting, storefronts, sales orders and procurement for IT resellers. VARCommerce adds inventory and shipping, government contract management, more electronic-ordering connections and in-house support.
Which distributors does each connect to?
ChannelOnline names Tech Data, Synnex and Ingram Micro. VARCommerce connects Ingram Micro, TD SYNNEX and D&H for pricing and electronic orders, BlueStar for pricing, and Arrow and HP Direct for electronic orders.