Category: News

PCC goes virtual

Posted on April 10, 2020 by - News

The Partner Community Council today announced that its EMEA Conference 2020 will take place online. This free event is aimed at enabling Avaya partners across the UK and Europe to continue help partners learn about the new tools, processes and portfolio to drive new business. This event will be delivered on Avaya’s Spaces collaboration tools in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The conference, originally scheduled to take place face-to-face in Manchester, will run from April 20 to 22. The virtual event will be available via Avaya Spaces, a cloud-based meeting and team collaboration platform that enables employees to connect remotely. Spaces contains an extensive set of features, including voice and video conferencing for up to 500 participants both in office and on-the-go.

DataSolutions launches UK channel recruitment drive

Posted on April 9, 2020 by - News

Dublin-based VAD DataSolutions has launched a UK channel recruitment drive.

The outfit reported 57 percent growth in revenues from distributing brands such as Nutanix, Citrix, Check Point, RSA and HPE Aruba. Since entering the UK, DataSolutions has reported four years of consecutive growth in the UK.

Managing director Michael O’Hara said that training and support are crucial in helping the IT channel make the cultural shift from reselling products to offering a service.

Tiny percentage get coronavirus business interruption loans

Posted on April 9, 2020 by - News

Hopes that smaller companies might benefit from government coronavirus cash have been dashed with the news that only a small percentage are getting cash.

Just one percent of inquiries from SMBs into the government’s coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS) has resulted in approved loans, according to data compiled by UK Finance and obtained by City AM.

Just over 2,000 loans have been dished out to UK SMBs, indicating that 0.65 per cent of enquiries to the scheme has resulted in loans so far, with 52,710 phone enquires and 256,483 online enquiries made as of Monday 6 April, according to the financial services body, which compiles information from banks every day about their lending through the scheme.

So far £291.9 million has been handed out, City AM reported.

Microsoft relaxes partner programmes

Posted on April 9, 2020 by - News

Software king of the world, Microsoft, has relaxed its partner programmes to provide more support to channel businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Writing in the company bog, Vole said it would offer companies several improvements, including upgraded incentives, additional go-to-market resources, as well as skills competency extensions for products such as Azure.

Microsoft said the changes should provide increased flexibility to channel firms, regardless of whether they plan to accelerate or slow down business during the coronavirus disruption.

One Distribution finds home on the RangeForce

Posted on April 8, 2020 by - News

Technology distributor One Distribution and RangeForce, have announced a partnership to broaden availability of the RangeForce platform in the UK and Ireland.

With legacy classroom security training fading and on-demand courses topping the list of cybersecurity implementation challenges, customers are craving real-world experiential and economical training for their cybersecurity and IT professionals.

K3 puts Microsoft Dynamics reseller arm into administration

Posted on April 8, 2020 by - News

K3 is to put its loss-making Microsoft Dynamics reseller,  K3 Business Technologies into administration.

K3 said the reseller wing, which sells Microsoft ERP and CRM wares, turned over £21 million in its fiscal ’19, accounts for which have been postponed as mentioned above. In that year it generated an operating loss of £3 million.

The parent firm added: “Given the current uncertainties created by the coronavirus crisis, this UK subsidiary is expected to generate further significant negative earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortisation and cash outflows in the year to 30 November”.

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Consumer gear booming says GlobalData

Posted on April 8, 2020 by - News

Consumers that are self isolating will boost the UK electricals market in H1 2020, with spend forecast to rise 3.4 percent versus last year, as shoppers buy laptops, TVs and kitchen appliances to make the prolonged period at home more comfortable, according to a new GlobalData report

Zoe Mills, Analyst at GlobalData, said: “The stockpiling of food has not only aided the food and grocery market but has benefited the electrical sector as consumers purchase new appliances to store additional goods. White goods such as outdoor freezers have seen phenomenal growth as consumers need more space to store perishable foods. AO.com has reported freezer sales increasing by around 200 per cent in recent weeks.”

Exclusive Networks rolls out support hub

Posted on April 7, 2020 by - News

Exclusive Networks has rolled out a support hub to give resellers increased assistance during the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Exclusive Networks senior vice-president of marketing and communications Barrie Desmond said that with lockdown in the UK entering its third week, the consequences of the virus are starting to be felt and vendors have begun to adapt their channel programmes to provide more flexibility to partners.

He said that distributors can  play a role, and Exclusive Networks is launching a hub based around five key pillars: business continuity and sustainability, support, protection, productivity and people .

Red Hat gets new CEO

Posted on April 7, 2020 by - News

Red Hat announced that it has named Paul Cormier as president and chief executive officer of Red Hat, effective now. Cormier, who previously served as Red Hat’s president of Products and Technologies, succeeds Jim Whitehurst, who is now president of IBM.

Cormier is credited with pioneering the subscription model that transformed Red Hat from an open source “disruptor” to an enterprise technology company, moving Red Hat Linux from a freely downloadable operating system to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the industry’s leading enterprise Linux platform that today powers more than 90 percent  of Fortune 500 organisations.

Cormier has driven more than 25 acquisitions at Red Hat, moving the company beyond its Linux roots and helped create a modern IT stack based on open source.  

Crossword Cybersecurity partners with Satisnet

Posted on April 7, 2020 by - News

Cyber risk company Crossword Cybersecurity announced that it will be collaborating with security reseller and managed security services provider Satisnet providing third party assurance technology to its clients, as part of the expansion of Crossword’s partner programme.

Satisnet will help its customers take control of third party risks through Crossword’s Rizikon Assurance third party risk management platform.  This will help them automate supplier onboarding and gain full visibility of third party risk exposure, so it can be proactively managed. 

Kaspersky signs distribution deal with Infinigate

Posted on April 6, 2020 by - News

Russian security outfit Kaspersky has announced a new partnership with distributor Infinigate, as part of a cunning plan to increase the value-added services it offers to service providers, resellers and users.

Kaspersky said it wants to offer customers a “complete journey” rather than simply flogging cybersecurity solutions.

The deal means Infinigate can offer a complete cybersecurity portfolio to its partners that encompasses an extensive range of technologies and services, with the distributor’s emphasis on providing value-added services making it an ideal fit, the vendor said.

Channel stocks hammered by homework demands

Posted on April 6, 2020 by - News

The channel is racing to find stock due to a sudden spike in home working products.

While these sales levels look good on the balance sheet they are not so good for channel inventory levels.

Context, which gets its numbers directly from distributors across Western Europe, has set up a Covid-19 weekly report tracking the performance of some key product lines.

Extreme Networks modifies reseller channel

Posted on April 6, 2020 by - News

Extreme Networks has made changes to its channel programme to support its reseller community in navigating coronavirus challenges.

The updates are designed to offer maximum flexibility for partners to maintain their status, earn rebates and retain their certifications. The programme has further expanded its virtual training offering, including free remote cloud technical certification training, and provides  financial deferment options so that resellers can focus first and foremost on the needs of their customers.

The changes include:

HP spruces up channel programme to find coronavirus

Posted on April 3, 2020 by - News

Maker of expensive printer ink, HP, has made changes to its programme to provide relief to partners impacted by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

The vendor said it is implementing a predictable, flat-rate incentive programme, relaxing its compensation models and extending its deadlines for submission of proof of performance and reporting.

The big idea is to “arm” partners and help them overcome the operational and financial challenges caused by the outbreak.

SonicWall hires BAE bloke as EMEA channel boss

Posted on April 3, 2020 by - News

Security outfit SonicWall has appointed Spencer Starkey as the new EMEA Head of Distribution and Inside Channel Account Manager. Starkey will be responsible for educating distributors, partners and resellers on the value of SonicWall’s threat intelligence, security services and Capture Cloud platform for customers.

SonicWall VP, EMEA Sales Terry Greer-King said that the company was growing and Starkey will help accelerate channel sales and streamline partner efficiencies across the region. He has years of experience, and in-depth knowledge and expertise in sales and channel strategy which will help build and strengthen our long-term partner relationships.