The European market IT market is growing faster than the US according to findings from the Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC).
There was a sales surge in the first quarter that helped Europe to have a strong start to the year.
Countries that had been in decline last year turning it around with Spain up 13 percent, Portugal 19 percent, France four percent, Belgium 12 percent, Germany seven percent, Norway 16 percent and the UK with 12 percent growth to the end of March.
UK distribution had high levels of new business even if there was the ongoing impact on customer plans from Brexit.
Tim Curran, CEO at GTDC, told the assorted throngs at its European summit that the year had started well across Europe, up by three percent in January, but had been six percent by the end of March.
He added that the role of distribution had changed and its position as a closer strategic asset for the vendor community was paying off.
“We come from an industry based on inventory, cost and fixed assets, but the amazing integration between distribution and the vendors has produced an industry with lower inventory, but much higher fulfilment rates. That makes it more efficient and profitable,” he said.
GTDC revealed at the summit that the top three services now being offered by distribution were: demand generation, education, and training along with solutions development.
“Vendors and solution providers are not yet fully utilising the range of services on offer from distribution, however,” he added.
“Distribution can also help solution providers with skills shortages, particularly in the technology solutions around the cloud. Vendors often say they need help to enable their partners to take advantage of the innovative ways of working,” Curran said.
