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ASPs and MARs
ASPs and MARs – oh my!
What’s behind some of the acronyms you hear in this jargon-intense tech industry?
We crack open the dictionary up here!
What Does It Mean To Be An “Authorized Service Provider” And An “Authorized Refurbisher?”
You may have heard these phrases, but what do they really signify?
Authorized Service Providers
Big PC brands like Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba and HP need to be able to service all the millions of units that they ship each year to various and remote parts of the world. It’s a huge job! In order to better serve customers, they create a network of authorized service providers (ASPs) who are trained to repair their units and are held to rigorous quality standards.
Only authorized service providers can complete repairs that are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. This allows the warranty to be serviceable without having to ship computers long distances, which saves the brands valuable time and resources.
In order to become an ASP, a company needs to be certified by the manufacturer. To be certified, service centers must prove that they can handle the repairs in a professional manner, comparable to their own technicians on staff. This includes:
- Having enough trained and certified technicians on hand – roughly one technician for every 30 repairs in a week
- Maintaining a clean, secure and professional work environment
- Extensive knowledge of new and legacy technology, to enable repairs for a variety of computers
- Maintaining and owning cutting edge equipment (both software and hardware) to properly audit, repair and test the PCs.
Becoming an authorized service provider offers Compugen many side benefits, including:
- Having access to parts that come directly from the manufacturer, for new and legacy machines
- Having a direct line to manufacturers’ technicians, who can help diagnose uncommon problems
- Having access to training programs and information databases for hardware and software
Being an ASP makes us, essentially, a part of the brand family.
Compugen Education
Here at Compugen Education, we’re proud to say that we are an authorized service provider (ASP) for all the major PC brands: Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Toshiba. [Are you ASPs for APPLE and MICROSOFT too?] Because of this valuable designation, we’re able to keep a large inventory of new and legacy parts so we can provide fast and thorough repairs, with profound knowledge of the workings of the unit. We also have a direct line to the manufacturer if we see something we don’t recognize (which is rare – Compugen has seen a lot in 34 years!).
One Step Further: Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR)
But we’re not just authorized service providers, we’re also authorized refurbishers. This is the more stringent test of a repair center, as there are only a handful of authorized refurbishers in the US and Canada. What does it mean?
Microsoft authorized refurbishers (MARs) are certified by Microsoft to refurbish, audit, repair and test computers, and then install licensed Microsoft software on laptops, desktops and servers. In order to become a MAR you need to meet the minimum threshold of 1,000 PCs shipped per month – which means that you need to be a major player in the market. In addition to that, you must show that you have a history of excellence in repair quality, customer service and operational integrity. MARs have access to parts, information, and service lines directly from Microsoft and the individual manufacturers.
Still curious about our authorizations? Give us a call. We’d be happy to discuss this with you. We’re standing by at 1.855.787.3961.
