CDW Corporation operates as a value-added reseller and IT integrator, bridging the gap between technology manufacturers and end-users. The company serves over 250,000 customers across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, organizing its operations into three primary segments: Corporate, Public (which includes government, education, and healthcare institutions), and Small Business.
CDW's business model centers on providing a single source for IT procurement, deployment, and lifecycle management. The company generates the majority of its revenue—typically over 70%—from the sale of hardware products, including endpoints, networking equipment, servers, and data storage. Software licenses and software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings account for approximately 18% of revenue, while professional and managed services make up the remainder. Although services and software represent a smaller portion of total sales, they provide higher-margin, recurring revenue streams that support CDW's profitability.
The company maintains a vendor-agnostic approach, holding partnerships with over 1,000 technology brands such as Cisco, Apple, Microsoft, and HP. This allows CDW to offer customized, multi-vendor solutions rather than relying on a single manufacturer's products. Its sales strategy utilizes a consultative model, employing thousands of account managers and solution architects who help clients design and implement complex IT environments. By bundling hardware procurement with cloud migrations, cybersecurity solutions, and ongoing managed services, CDW captures large enterprise contracts and increases customer retention.
