OEMs vs Third Party Providers: What’s the Difference?

Any business, large or small, has a data center and internal network. These networks require maintenance. Most companies hire service providers responsible for channel alliances, but in fact, there is another way…and it’s cheaper. Enter Reliant Technology.

Our guest today, Mike Steiner, Director of Technical Services with Reliant Technology, broke down this complex system with over 16 years of experience in manufacturing.

OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) have typically been the point of contact for provider partnerships. On today’s podcast we focused on the key differences between Reliant Technology, a third party provider, and OEMs, learning about client stories and case studies that explain why OEMs are not the only way.

Using a “hybrid maintenance strategy,” Steiner explained what sets Reliant Technology apart. He carefully explained the inverse relationship between OEMs and a third party approach.

“The more market share the brand has…the more parts there are on the open market,” he said, explaining how the price goes down as demand rises.

“Because we are a third party provider we have all the skill sets that you would expect for the data center work that we do,” Steiner said, explaining why Reliant Technology is fully capable of the task at hand. Additionally, Reliant Technology is a smaller organization, allowing for more flexibility and a personal feel and approach.

Steiner divulged where he sees the future of third party providers going, elaborating on why he believes there will be more adoption over time, and why people will be more open to building solutions out of used gear.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Software & Electronics Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @TechMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

filmmaking
Lights, Camera, Authenticity: Why Trusting Your Voice Is the Most Radical Move in Film Today
February 3, 2026

The entertainment industry is at a crossroads, where questions of access, authorship, and technological disruption are reshaping who gets to tell stories—and how those stories get made. From the rise of AI-assisted tools to ongoing conversations about representation and gatekeeping, filmmaking today is as much about identity and equity as it is about craft….

Read More
AI in energy
May the Agentforce Be With You: AI in Energy Services
February 3, 2026

Generative AI has moved past being a shiny demo and into the messy reality of enterprise operations—where data lives in different systems, customers expect instant answers, and security teams (rightfully) say “prove it.” In energy services specifically, even small efficiency gains matter: many retail energy providers operate on thin margins, and operational blind spots—billing confusion,…

Read More
Energy billing
Nightmare on Revenue Street: Energy Billing Edition
February 3, 2026

Energy billing is one of those things most people only think about when something goes wrong—an unusually high charge, a missing bill, a surprise shutoff notice, or a rate plan that suddenly doesn’t make sense. With smart meters, more complex pricing options, and different rules in regulated vs. deregulated markets, even a small breakdown…

Read More
career coaching
Work-Based Learning & Career Coaching with Strada Education: Closing the Gap Between Education and Opportunity
February 2, 2026

As higher education faces mounting pressure to demonstrate clear career outcomes, institutions are rethinking how learning connects to work and the role of career coaching in that process. Employers continue to report skills gaps, students are questioning the return on investment of a degree, and states are demanding stronger alignment between postsecondary education and…

Read More