Category: News

Sharp’s Complete I.T. gets blue diamond partner status with Datto

Posted on February 17, 2021 by - News

Complete I.T. has achieved  Blue Diamond partner status with Datto, the leading global provider of cloud-based software and technology solutions purpose-built for delivery by managed service providers (MSPs). Datto Blue Diamond status represents the top five per cent of the company’s partners, worldwide.

Complete I.T. has exceeded high standards of performance to qualify for Blue Diamond status within Datto’s Global Partner Programme. Blue Diamond status includes many exclusive programmes and benefits designed to support further enablement and business growth.

Complete I.T., one of the UK’s IT support providers, understands the need for SMEs to have robust and reliable cloud-based data protection and business continuity which is why it partnered with Datto back in 2014. With over 700 clients supported from its network of seven offices throughout the UK, Complete I.T. is said to be dedicated to understanding its clients’ technology needs and building future-proof IT roadmaps to ensure clients meet business goals.

Pandemic boosting outsourcing

Posted on February 17, 2021 by - News

TDM Group research shows that the outsourcing industry could be a beneficiary of the pandemic.

New research has revealed almost a third of organisations in the UK and Ireland, furloughed IT staff during the pandemic. According to Tarek Meliti, Director of TDM Group, these findings are not surprising. With business survival remaining the priority, organisations are needing to become more flexible in the wake of the crisis. Outsourcing operations like IT, can actually increase business agility and resilience.

Meliti said: “Despite there being light at the end of the tunnel as vaccine distribution ramps up, many organisations across the country remain cautious about their future. Survival remains the priority and with government restrictions in place for some time yet, business leaders are needing to become much more reactive to sudden changes, brought on by the pandemic.

Orange Cyberdefense UK gets Varonis gong

Posted on February 17, 2021 by - News

Security outfit Varonis Systems, a company specialising in data security and analytics, has announced the winners of its Partners in Excellence awards.

Varonis’ channel leadership selected the winners based on the achievements of the partners.

Varonis’ channel partners play a key role in the company’s success. In the fourth quarter of 2020, Varonis saw North America and EMEA year on year growth of 35 percent and 33 percent, respectively

Wipro connects with Telefónica Germany / O2

Posted on February 16, 2021 by - News

Outsourcing king Wipro announced a five-year strategic partnership with Telefónica Germany / O2

As a part of this contract, Wipro will work with Telefónica Germany / O2 and its wider ecosystem to transform its Business Support Systems and associated Quality Assurance to enable better customer experience and growth in the B2B market segment. This Radical IT Transformation (RAITT) programme brings Wipro and Telefónica Germany / O2 together to allow for risk-mitigated self-funded transformation that will benefit both outfits.

The RAITT programme aims to ensure that Telefónica Germany / O2 is well-positioned to modernise and launch a range of new offerings including 5G products and services.  As 5G networks and new IoT connectivity solutions start to roll out, this refresh provides not only an essential foundation for the new services but also enables new ways of work at a significantly lower cost of ownership to Telefónica Germany / O2. Wipro will also invest in developing a state-of-the-art digital Business Support platform that will fuel Telefónica Germany’s growth and provide the company with an outcome-based, committed plan.

Synaxon takes on Northamber

Posted on February 16, 2021 by - News

Synaxon UK, the channel services group, has announced that the full portfolio of products stocked by leading distributor Northamber, has been added to its EGIS stock availability and pricing platform.

Northamber is the latest in a string of additions to the growing list of distributors and suppliers that Synaxon UK works with to provide resellers and retailers with the most comprehensive choice of products, along with full stock availability and pricing information, available in the channel.

Other recent signings include network components specialist distributor, Approved Technology, independent provider of printer and copier supplies and consumables, Go2 Distribution, and the leading office products and stationery and brand, ACCO.

HP rolls out new partner programme

Posted on February 16, 2021 by - News

Maker of expensive printer ink, HP, is set to roll out its new Amplify Impact partner programme in the UK.

Amplify Impact is an extension of its Amplify partner programme, which launched last year and is a voluntary addition to the existing partner programme.

The company describes it as an industry first partner assessment, resource and training programme that is aiming at driving meaningful change globally. In a statement it said that it was a step forward in its goal to become the most sustainable and just technology company by the year 2030.

Amplify Impact is open to all Amplify partners and is made up of two tracks: Catalyst and Changemaker.

Tags:

UK’s Claranet goes nuts over Brazil

Posted on February 16, 2021 by - News

UK-based MSP Claranet says it plans to invest $100 million expanding its Brazilian operations.

Claranet Brazil CEO Edivaldo Rocha said the idea is to become “the leading cloud services provider in Brazil” by making Brazil’s operation one of the largest hybrid cloud and cybersecurity players in the market, focusing on services with high growth potential and aligned with the digitalisation challenges of medium-sized companies.

Claranet Brazil has grown 37 percent year on year for the past five years and has a team of more than 200 staff in-country, but plans to more than double that to 500 by the end of this year.

Insight reports challenging year

Posted on February 16, 2021 by - News

US reseller Insight reported flat year on year sales in Q4 for the three months ending 31 December 2020 at $2.29 billion in what its CEO called its most challenging year.

In EMEA, net sales were also flat year on year at $403 million while EMEA earnings fell by nine percent to $9.3 million.

Insight CEO Kenneth Lamneck said 2020 was “one of the most challenging we faced as a company”.

“In the fourth quarter, the demand environment continued to be challenged and we focused on answering our client’s most pressing IT needs while helping many plan for the investment required to support the business as the economy recovers.”

Microsoft improves channel programme

Posted on February 15, 2021 by - News

Microsoft campusSoftware king of the Word,  Microsoft, has spruced up its channel programme to encourage more co-selling across its ecosystem.

Microsoft’s improvements are aimed at getting more activity across the ecosystem with co-selling into SMEs and working more closely with ISVs as well as providing more online tools for the channel.

Firstly, there is a central partner centre that will unify all the vendor’s channel capabilities on a global basis on a single platform. It will give partners the opportunity to get access to co-sell, cloud solution provider programme details and other certification and incentives.

Nick Parker, corporate vice-president, global partner solutions at Microsoft, penned a blog post to usher in the changes and commented: “Partners influence more than 95 percent of Microsoft’s commercial revenue, either directly or in partnership with Microsoft.”

“Microsoft continued to see growth in the second quarter of FY21, especially across the Microsoft Commercial cloud. This trajectory is expected to continue as Microsoft partners build devices, applications and cloud-to-edge solutions,” he said.

Microsoft’s channel could boost UK economy

Posted on February 12, 2021 by - News

Microsoft campusA report has shown how Microsoft’s channel can play a key role in helping the UK economy recover from the pandemic and make a bob or two on the side.

Goldsmith’s, University of London has come up with a study which is based on an earlier creating a blueprint for UK competitiveness. That report was released in October and found a £48 billion opportunity for UK firms to improve their competitiveness by introducing some small changes.

Arrow Ace shoots for the cloud

Posted on February 12, 2021 by - News

Arrow Electronics has announced the launch of its new Arrow Cloud Enablement Programme (ACE) in the UK.

The programme offers three levels of entry with benefits that scale as the member moves through the levels. Adopter-level members will receive sales enablement, technical, marketing and planning support, plus training in core competencies and cloud assessments. Adventurer and Ambassador-level members gain additional benefits, including bespoke marketing support and a dedicated account management structure.

Innserve rolls out Panasonic Toughbooks

Posted on February 12, 2021 by - News

Beer and soft drink dispense systems specialist Innserve has rolled out Panasonic Toughbook  L1 Android tablets to its 400 technicians across the UK.

Apparently, the rollout of the lightweight rugged Android devices has improved productivity and reduced the cost and complexity of mobile computing for Innserve, which services 75,000 licensed premises across Great Britain.

Whistl hires FedEx’s Jon Stockton as part of shakeup

Posted on February 11, 2021 by - News

UK delivery management company Whistl has hired Jon Stockton as Director Fulfilment and Contact Centres (South) to lead the Northampton, Rushden and Farnborough sites.

Stockton joins the company from FedEx, most recently holding the post of Vice President Ground Operations UK.  He has been with the company 26 years, joining TNT Express at the start of his management career. His experience includes building and leading high performing teams in the logistics, fulfilment and depot operations areas.

Softcat named Trend Micro’s only UK Platinum partner

Posted on February 11, 2021 by - News

Trend Micro has announced that long-time Gold partner Softcat will be elevated to the Platinum tier of its partner programme, where it will be able to access a range of additional commercial and technical benefits. Softcat will be the first Trend Micro Platinum partner for the UK and Ireland.

Softcat has been one of Trend Micro’s largest partners for a number of years, helping organisations to mitigate cyber risk and build a secure foundation for growth via a range of innovative technology solutions and services. Over the last 14 months, the commitment from Softcat and growth has resulted in Platinum status.

Tech Data UK gets closer to Cisco

Posted on February 11, 2021 by - News

Tech Data has achieved Cisco Customer Experience Specialisation status in the UK

Tech Data’s Cisco director UK and Ireland Tony Nevill said: “The achievement of Cisco Customer Experience Specialisation further underlines Tech Data’s credentials as a trusted advisor and partner of choice for Cisco resellers in the UK. We see customer experience as a competitive differentiator and critical to our success. This accreditation highlights the depth of our services capability and skills, and our total commitment to meeting the needs of Cisco partners in the UK.”

A number of technical accreditations must be achieved to attain the Customer Experience Specialisation. Tech Data was required to demonstrate its capability to support the lifecycle of the entire solution on Cisco technologies and to help reseller partners achieve positive business outcomes for their end-user customers.

Tech Data provides pre-shipment configuration and testing on Cisco UCS data centre and networking systems at its UK configuration centre – the only UK location to hold a Cisco Level 6 Accreditation.