Rippling

Overview

Rippling offers a unified platform that directly combines its Employer of Record (EOR) services with automated IT equipment provisioning and logistics, enabling companies to manage both the legal and logistical aspects of global hiring within a single workflow. This integration addresses a common operational challenge where HR handles employment contracts and compliance, while IT separately manages hardware procurement and deployment. With Rippling, these functions are connected. The EOR service allows companies to compliantly hire employees in over 80 countries without establishing local legal entities. Rippling, through its network of wholly-owned subsidiaries and partners, acts as the legal employer, managing locally compliant employment agreements, benefits enrollment, and payroll.

Key Features

Simultaneously, Rippling's IT Cloud module facilitates the automated provisioning of IT hardware. When a new international employee is hired through the EOR service, the same onboarding workflow can trigger the ordering and shipping of company-owned devices, such as Mac or Windows laptops. Rippling acts as an authorized reseller for these devices and manages the entire logistics process. This includes 'zero-touch deployment,' where devices are pre-configured with the necessary software, applications, and security settings based on the employee's role, department, and location. The hardware is enrolled in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution like Apple Business Manager or Windows Autopilot, ensuring it is secure and ready for use immediately upon the employee's first sign-in.

Technical Specifications

The platform is designed to handle the complexities of international logistics. Rippling manages the process of shipping devices to employees' homes globally, including the handling of customs and duties. While the company's terms of service indicate that taxes and tariffs are generally exclusive of stated fees and are passed through to the customer, the platform's management of the process simplifies the administrative burden for the client. The integration between HR and IT is foundational; the employee data entered into the HR/EOR system serves as the single source of truth that drives all downstream provisioning actions, from creating user accounts with Single Sign-On (SSO) to assigning and shipping a physical laptop.

How It Works

The service also covers the full device lifecycle, including offboarding. When an employee's tenure ends, the system automates the device retrieval process. Rippling ships a padded box and a prepaid shipping label to the departing employee to facilitate the return. Upon receipt at one of Rippling's secure warehouses, the device undergoes inspection and secure data wiping. Rippling provides 'Certificates of Destruction' compliant with standards like NIST SP 800-88 and ISO to verify that data has been securely erased. Wiped devices can then be stored in the company's 'cloud IT closet' for redeployment or disposed of through a buyback program.

Use Cases

Limitations and Requirements

There are, however, geographic constraints and service dependencies. As of late 2025, direct device ordering through Rippling was primarily limited to the US and Canada. For hires in other countries, companies may need to purchase devices externally, although they can still be managed and secured through Rippling's MDM. Rippling has been expanding its 'Inventory Management' capabilities, with warehousing and retrieval services confirmed for the UK and various European countries, indicating a growing global logistics footprint. To access these integrated features, customers must subscribe to Rippling's modular IT Cloud products, specifically 'Device Management' and 'Inventory Management,' in addition to the EOR service.

Comparison to Alternatives

Summary

In conclusion, Rippling provides a distinct, integrated solution that pairs EOR services with end-to-end IT hardware logistics. This allows businesses to streamline global hiring by managing legal compliance, payroll, and device provisioning and retrieval through a single, automated workflow. While the service offers significant operational efficiencies, businesses should be aware of the regional limitations on direct device purchasing and the modular pricing structure that separates the costs of EOR, IT management, and pass-through fees like customs duties.