Welcome to another insightful edition of our Q&A series, where we delve into the experiences and perspectives of the brilliant minds driving our success. In this installment, we have the pleasure of introducing you to Oliver Fries, Head of Engineering.

Join us as we explore his views on what makes CentralNic Reseller a standout in the domain industry, the latest trends shaping the market, and the exciting projects that showcase our commitment to innovation and excellence. 

Discover the unique challenges faced by domain resellers today and how CentralNic Reseller is empowering its partners to thrive in a competitive landscape.

CentralNic Reseller stands out in the domain reselling market for several reasons, with one of the most significant differentiators being its extensive global reach and focus on local markets. CentralNic Reseller provides both all-inclusive services for customers as well as a tailored solution to customer needs.

The comprehensive Product Portfolio built on advanced technical infrastructure that goes along with outstanding support makes it unique. 

One trend in the domain industry that is particularly intriguing, aside from the rise of new Top-Level Domains (TLDs), is the ongoing consolidation within the industry. This consolidation involves larger companies acquiring smaller registrars and domain service providers. This trend is reshaping the landscape of the domain industry quite significantly. Whilst this can result in enhanced services and innovation and a global reach with local expertise, it also poses challenges, such as reduced competition and potential monopolization of the market, which could lead to less favourable conditions for consumers in terms of pricing and choice. We will see how this evolves. 

One interesting fact about the domain reselling industry that many people may not know is the “Expiry Auction” concept. This refers to a process where domain names that are about to expire or have recently expired are put up for auction before they are released back into the general pool of available domains for registration by anyone. This auction allows interested buyers to bid on the domain names, often before they officially become available for new registration again. 

On the tech side, I would like to highlight the successful move of our data centre from St. Ingbert to Frankfurt at the end of 2023, as well as the launch of a new JSON/REST API for our customers through which we are provisioning fraud detection services as well as our new Payment Orchestration. 

On the Product side, it’s worth mentioning that we upgraded the Expiry Auction service, which was upgraded, and an impressive number of 50 TLDs are now supported, as well as our partnership with WHMCS to help better automate APIs at both ends to deliver a seamless experience for you. 

The biggest challenge for domain resellers today is the intense competition in the market, both from other resellers and large, established domain registrars. This competition makes it difficult for resellers to differentiate themselves, attract customers, and maintain profitability.

The proliferation of domain name options and the increasing complexity of managing domain portfolios and related services add to this challenge. CentralNic Reseller offers value-added services, maintains competitive pricing, and ensures a high level of customer service to stand out. 

CentralNic Reseller enables its partners to focus on growth and customer service rather than getting bogged down by the operational complexities of the domain reselling business. Our comprehensive support system empowers resellers to compete effectively in a crowded and competitive market. 

To succeed in the domain reselling industry, which is highly competitive and rapidly evolving, certain key traits or skills are essential. One is about market knowledge and trends analysis. Understanding the domain market, including current trends and future predictions, is crucial.

On the other hand, state-of-the-art technology combined with outstanding customer service and relationship building is also essential. This involves excellent communication skills, a deep understanding of customers’ needs, and the ability to tailor services to meet those needs. 

I prefer Domain Incite and Domain Name Wire as they are well-regarded for sharing insights, trends, and news in the domain industry. These resources are valuable for anyone looking to stay updated on the latest developments, investment opportunities, and strategies within the domain space. 

I don’t have that one favourite domain name. However, I like domain names that are short and memorable as well as descriptive. 

If CentralNic Reseller were to have a mascot, it could be a wise, friendly, and technologically savvy owl named “Cenri.” Choosing an owl as a mascot would symbolize some of the critical skills. Having wisdom and knowledge along a global reach paired with our night vision ability allows us to see all the opportunities in the Domain Industry. 

This enlightening Q&A has highlighted the unique aspects that set CentralNic Reseller apart in the dynamic domain industry. Oliver Fries has shared valuable insights into our global reach, tailored solutions, and innovative infrastructure. We hope this conversation has provided a glimpse into the expertise and passion driving our success. Stay tuned for more insights from the CentralNic Reseller team!