Purchasing for employees outside of the U.S.

Locally sourced equipment, where you need it

Global Hardware Purchasing (Beta)

Equip your global team through the Electric Hardware store!

Electric's local sourcing approach leverages our vendor network in 140+ countries to procure and deliver hardware directly within each employee's country.

Benefits of local sourcing

Eliminate import delays: No customs clearance wait times for individual device shipments
Reduce costs: Avoid import duties, VAT complications, and international shipping premiums
Quick delivery: Devices are typically delivered within 3 to 10 business days after you accept the quote.
Maintain consistency: Similar device models and configurations available globally
Streamline procurement: One platform for all hardware purchases
Simplify billing: One vendor relationship and invoice from Electric, eliminating AP complexity

Simply select your employee and shop from locally-available inventory—we'll take care of procurement, delivery, and compliance.

To ensure smooth delivery, please notify the employee that they may be contacted by our local partner through email, phone, text or messaging apps. Quick responses help prevent delays.

Getting Started

If you are interested in enabling the free-to-use international purchasing program in your site, contact your Customer Success Manager or email support@electric.ai.

Some things to note:

Purchasing is limited to laptops only
Not all device configurations may be available in every region
Delivery timeframes vary by country and vendor
Some regions may have limited catalog options
Participants will be asked for feedback to help us improve the experience

What to expect

Here is a high-level overview of the international ordering process:

Access Electric to submit a request for an employee
Within two business days, Electric will provide a quote with final pricing and delivery timelines via email
Review and approve quote details to proceed with your order
A logistics rep from the local vendor fulfilling the order will contact your employee, typically via text or WhatsApp, to confirm delivery details
Electric will provide order status updates as your order progresses through to delivery

Countries supported

As mentioned, our vendor network covers 140+ countries worldwide. When create a quote request, you can choose your employee to see a catalog of options available in their country.

We are working with our vendors to build out catalogs in more locations. If you do not see a country in the available list yet, you can email support@electric.ai to initiate a request. Please provide the following so that we can efficiently process your request:

Employee name (recipient)
Employee address
Employee email (work and personal, if available)
Employee phone number
Employee National ID (# only, please do not attach images or documents)
Device preferences
- Manufacturer(s)
- Specifications
- Extended warranty preference

Providing a National ID for hardware purchases

Why We Require National ID Numbers for purchases

When placing orders for IT hardware on behalf of employees, you'll be asked to provide the national identification number for each recipient. This requirement exists to ensure compliance with local tax and regulatory requirements in countries where your employees may be located.

To avoid order delays, please reach ID requirements for the specific country your are ordering for before placing your order.

We handle all national ID information in accordance with local data protection regulations and international privacy standards. Access is restricted to authorized personnel only, and data is used solely for order fulfillment purposes.

Examples by Country

Below are just a few examples of common ID requirements.

Brazil – CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas)

The CPF is an 11-digit taxpayer identification number required for virtually all purchases in Brazil.

Mexico – RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes)

Mexico requires the RFC (13-character tax ID) for business purchases. This identifier is essential for proper invoicing and tax compliance when assigning IT equipment to employees.

India – PAN (Permanent Account Number)

The PAN is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier required for high-value transactions. IT equipment purchases above certain thresholds must be linked to the recipient's PAN for tax purposes.

Spain – NIE/DNI

Spain uses the DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) for Spanish citizens and NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) for foreign residents. These identification numbers are required for customs clearance and for purchases above certain value thresholds, particularly for imported equipment.

Portugal – NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal)

The NIF is Portugal's 9-digit tax identification number. It's required for business invoicing and for customs processing of IT equipment, ensuring proper tax treatment and regulatory compliance.

Argentina – CUIT/CUIL

Argentina requires either a CUIT (for tax entities) or CUIL (for individuals) for business purchases. This 11-digit number is essential for customs clearance and tax compliance.

FAQ

What if an employee doesn't have the required national ID?

If an employee does not have the required national ID, you can use their passport number or work visa number instead. We'll reach out if there are any issues with the alternative documentation.

How are IDs used?

In locations where ID’s are required, the local vendor will provide the ID on the Bill of Sale or Sell-to whom documents in compliance with local tax laws.

What if I do not have an employee’s ID # or don’t feel comfortable sharing it?

If you cannot, or prefer not to, supply the ID # please input “000” into the form. If the local vendor requires the ID to process the order we will follow up with you directly.

Will I receive a tracking link for my order?

Most orders will not have a tracking link. This is because our local vendors typically deliver the equipment themselves or use a local courier service. In these cases, Electric will provide delivery updates to you as available.

If a tracking link is available, Electric will provide it to you so that you can monitor deliveries if desired.

Support

Questions about global purchasing? Our Support team and Customer Success Managers can help with:

Country-specific availability
Device configuration options by region
Delivery estimates and logistics
Troubleshooting international orders

Contact support@electric.ai or reach out to your CSM directly for more information.