Tag: Avnet

Datacentre availability is big deal for channel

Posted on December 5, 2013 by - News

datacentrebatteriesA survey commissioned by Brocade has surveyed 350 global resellers and systems integrators and concludes that datacentre availability is the primary concern of customers.

The survey, carried out with the aid of Avnet, TD Azlan, TechData, Arrow ES, edsLAN, the Immix Group, Mindware and Westcon showed that 60 percent of end users see fabrics as the future of networks. But their unwillingness to invest in datacentre networks is a big hurdle for enterprises.

A third of the channel players surveyed said their customers only invested in networks to support a specific new application or service.  Over one in 10 said they only invested when the network was already failing.

The survey identified five drivers of network investment: virtualisation, faster access to data and applications, greater bandwidth, supporting increasing data volumes and the need to support mobility.

Sixty percent of the channel players think fabric networks will be deployed in datacentres by 2020.

However, a third admitted knowing little about SDN, while 62 percent think budget constraints have a significant impact on companies investing in technology.  And 63 percent consider vendor financing as “vital” or “more important”.

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Avnet hires new man

Posted on December 3, 2013 by - News

van Es, AvnetMajor distie Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA said it has made a hire today.

Jeroen van Es is now country manager for Iberia, that is to say Spain and Portugal.

van Es formerly worked for Ingram Micro but with his Avnet hat on his task is to increase sales in Spain and Portugal.  He has a background of 19 years in the IT industry.

Andrew Binding, VP of Avnet Solutions South said that van Es had a proven track record developing and managing teams. “He’s known for building strong and trusting partnerships with both suppliers and customers,” he said.

Avnet claims HP enterprise domination

Posted on November 5, 2013 by - News

avnettsMajor distributor Avnet Technology Solutions said it has added HP ArcSightLogger as part of its enterprise security product portfolio.

A log management tool, the ArcSight Logger is intended to provide management across search, reports, security, IT operations, application development and compliance.

Avnet claimed it is the only distributor in the UK to provide the entire HP networking portfolio along with HP enterprise security.

Andrew Stuart, HP business unit manager, Avnet Technology Solutions, UK, said: “Rogue employees, partners or criminal rings engaged in fraudulent activities only have to get it right once to create serious damage to an organisation’s network and reputation.  With access to a broader suite of HP enterprise software products, including enterprise event log management, network intrusion and application security, our partners can competitively differentiate themselves and deliver solutions to enhance threat detection and improve security while driving additional networking sales supported by Avnet.”

“Organisations need comprehensive enterprise security and compliance solutions to effectively manage network and application environments,” said Miles Rippon, manager, EMEA distribution, HP.  “With this extended partnership, Avnet can now include HP ArcSight in its portfolio of solutions for channel partners to deliver cost-effective log management capabilities to protect customers’ hybrid IT infrastructure from sophisticated cyber threats.”

Avnet intros extra cloud prog

Posted on October 29, 2013 by - Moving People, News

cloud 1Major distie Avnet introduced its Cloud Enhance programme in the UK.

Its goal is to help its partners and service providers to make money because of the growth of unstructured data.

Avnet is offering a portfolio of inexpensive and secure archiving answers aimed at cutting costs, making IT simpler, and secure too.

Avnet wants to introduce service providers to its business partners to help everybody profit from the cloud.

Sukh Rayat of AvnetAvnet claims archiving as a managed service is a mostly untapped market. Some elements of this include File Tiering as a Service (FTaS), File Serving as a Service (FsaS), Email Archiving as a Service (EaaS), Microsoft Sharepoint Tiering as a Service (MSTaS), and File Sync and Share Service (FsaSS).

It’s also moving into vertical sectors too, according to our old mate Sukh Rayat, senior VP of Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA (pictured).

“Organisations are re-evaluating their IT strategies. They need to deal with everything from increased performance and capacity requirements, rising power and cooling costs to regulatory pressures,” said Rayat.

Basically, resellers without the means to deliver managed services will couple with service providers bringing benefits not only to the channel players and the service providers, but to Avnet too.

Avnet to school partners on VMware

Posted on September 24, 2013 by - News

avnettsAvnet and VMWare are collaborating to open an End User Computing practice in Britain, to push channel partners towards the desktop transformation market, utilising VMware’s Horizon suite along with Avnet SolutionsPath.

Avnet insists that as the office environment rushes towards Bring Your Own Device, IT departments are faced with emerging threats to make sure their networks are fit for security as well as cost effective. By investing in the workspace, businesses can reduce headaches in the long run.

The company believes twinning SolutionsPath with VMware technology can manage all parts of a firm’s physical and virtual infrastructure centrally, meaning down the road businesses can implement a system that is not shaken by the consumerisation of IT.

The EUC practice promises to quicken entry into desktop transformation, and Avnet says it will do this by opening up access to its technology and multi vendor network, as well as providing specialist knowledge.

Businesses that sign up to the practice will have the opportunity to learn about delivering VMware gear in a way to fit a customer’s IT environment, as well as gauging the level ofvirtualisation that is required. Users can pick from Avnet’s wide range of VMware partners such as HP, IBM, Cisco, EMC, NetApp, Riverbed, and Nvidia.

Partners will also be encouraged to learn how they should sell VMware Horizon in markets such as healthcare, government and finance.

VMware’s UK&I head of channel, Ed Dolman, said the initiative will be a “powerful value proposition” as the company looks for new partners who are interested in desktop transformation but don’t have the right skills.

“By enrolling in Avnet’s SolutionsPath University, business partners have the ability to receive the training they need to develop knowledge and expertise supported by the generation of sales leads,” Dolman said.

Avnet gains QICM Accreditation

Posted on September 5, 2013 by - News

avnettsAs of today Avnet UK is the first distributor in the UK to boast the Quality in Credit Management Accreditation (QICM) from the Institute of Credit Management, Europe’s largest association for the credit management profession.

The award recognizes outfits that exhibit an outstanding commitment to quality and best practices in all things credit. Since Avnet’s partners range from OEMs, VARs, software vendors and system integrators to consultancy service organisations, good credit management is crucial for Avnet’s corporate strategy. The company applied for QICM accreditation two years ago.

“We are constantly striving for operational excellence. The QICM accreditation recognises the high quality of our credit department and is validation that Avnet’s credit processes are the best in the industry.” said Darren Maynard, Head of Credit at Avnet Technology Solutions UK Credit is a key sales enabler in the IT channel and it is important to Avnet that its business partners have complete confidence in the credit support they receive.”

Gaining QICM accreditation was quite tough, as Avnet had to undergo a two-day assessment of its credit and collections processes and documentation, which was practically an external audit carried out by ICM’s assessors.

N2S uses Avnet’s Unity

Posted on September 3, 2013 by - News

avnettsAvnet EMEA has partnered with IT installation and management company N2S to deploy the former’s Unity Estate Management service.

The point of Unity is to help companies minimise financial risk by recognising the right time for IT assets to be disposed of – then seeking to reuse the equipment instead of completely destroying it. Because it adheres to the latest set of WEEE directives it can dodge regulatory fines.

Apparently, since Unity was deployed, N2S managed to detect 2,500 disks and other IT bits over 1,000 sites that weren’t in use, but were also not listed on customer inventory, amounting to a potentially massive waste of energy.

N2S will be giving customers the choice of building a Unity Estate Management framework for themselves, or have N2S manage it on their behalf as a managed service provider.

Avnet EMEA veep Christian Magirus said CEOs are starting to wonder if they’re disposing of IT assets in the correct way. “They’re starting to look at putting in place tigheter controls to promote industry best practice and minimise financial risk,” Magirus said.

N2S’ Andrew Gomarsall, director, said previously it “wasn’t uncommon” for N2S to clean customer sites but turn out more equipment than expected.

“With redundant equipment lying around, the potential for security breaches and fines is high, not to mention the impact on the environment,” Gomarsall said.

 

 

Avnet wins EU Cisco contract

Posted on August 5, 2013 by - News

avnettsMassive global distie Avnet has won the first EMEA contract from Cisco to supply Cisco UCS servers running SAP HANA, which will let resellers approach SAP customers all over Europe.

UCS lets customers run data analytics and warehousing in real time, quick, as well as providing the base for running other SAP enterprise applications on SAP HANA. The idea is that by using Cisco UCS for SAP HANA, customers will get simplified management, scalability, operational automation, and a range of quality storage options, helping them exercise greater control of critical enterprise applications.

Avnet EMEA veep Miriam Murphy said in a statement that in-memory computing should be expanding rapidly in Europe, as companies look for products that will help them make data driven business decisions quickly and on the fly.

“We can install the SAP in-memory computing platform and ship the rack mounted servers in as little as three days from receiving an order on most models,” Murphy said, “placing our partners in pole position to address new SAP customers”

Cisco’s director of partner operations for EMEA said the company had been working with SAP on HANA since 2010, and chose Avnet for the first European distributor considering its experience with Cisco and capabilities to built to order, plus the company’s logistic strengths.

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Avnet picks up huge IBM training contract

Posted on July 12, 2013 by - News

ibm-officeMonstrous distie Avnet has been picked by IBM as a Global Training Provider, opening up training to its partners around the world.

Avnet’s starting its training operations worldwide as of today, beginning with Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Ireland, and the USA, before planning to open its centres in the Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America regions.

The company will be offering over 2,500 IBM training courses, which will be available directly to IBM employees, resellers, and other customers around the world, through its network of IBM Training Partners.

Global prez at Avnet Technology Solutions, Phil Gallagher, boasted the enormous contract will really boost the recent launch of Avnet Services. ”

Veep for IBM Training Bob McDonald said in a statement that Avnet is the company for the job, noting its worldwide reach.

Avnet gives Magirus man top job

Posted on June 17, 2013 by - News

60116 (1)Avnet has appointed one of its top Magirus refugees,  Andrew Binding, as its new European South Region VP.

In the days before Avnet bought Magirus, Binding was that outfit’s COO. Ironically he was the brains behind getting rid of the Magirus’s European IBM and HP unit to Avnet in 2007 a trend which continued, until Avnet swallowed the company whole last year.

At the time that move was hailed as a stroke of genius because it allowed Magirus to focus better on its European operations.   Binding was identified as a forward thinker.  As it turned out, the sell off just meant that Avnet could buy the outfit piecemeal. .

Binding has 25 years of international management experience in the IT and multimedia sectors.
He will take responsibility for Avnet operations in France, Benelux, Italy and Iberia.

Previously, Bindingwas at Creative Labs Europe and Alta Vista, and most recently has led Avnet’s EMC, Cisco and VCE relationships within Avnet’s Enterprise Business Group in EMEA.

Graeme Watt, president, Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA commented said that the appointment will accelerate his outfit’s progress on profitable growth and continuous improvement within the South EMEA region.

 

Avnet exits MEA market

Posted on June 4, 2013 by - News

avnettsAvnet has confirmed that it’s pulling its operations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

The distie has said that it made the decision after a review of the business concluded that it was  “unlikely to make the necessary returns needed to meet [its] strategic goals in the short- or mid-term.”

In a statement the company said the that the “difficult” decision would not impact the computer components and integrated solutions business which continue to support key partners in the region.

However it pointed out that it had to make the moves and take the action to realign resources from underperforming businesses to areas that can deliver strong performance for Avnet, its suppliers and partners.

Avnet also claimed its immediate priorities were to ensure that it provided the necessary support to its employees throughout this process and to fully assist its supplier and business partners as we manage our exit from this market.

“Our decision to exit this region will have no impact on the independently operating Avnet Electronics Marketing business in the region, specifically South Africa and Israel,” the statement said.

Avnet and Macronix sign pan European deal

Posted on May 28, 2013 by - News

avnettsAvnet Memec has signed a pan-European agreement with Macronix.

The distie has agreed to help Macronix bring NOR, NAND and ROM technology to its customers across Europe at the earliest stage of their design.

According to Avnet, adding Macronix’ Flash memory products its portfolio will add depth to its line-card and service offering, while the semiconductor company said that the support by its new pal would help it reach those customers early in their design cycle.

Macronix Flash memory devices are available now from Avnet Memec and to help customers select the correct device for their application datasheets and support documentation is available from Macronix.com.

Avnet gets supply gong

Posted on May 14, 2013 by - News

avnettsAvnet seems to be proud as punch that it has been named as one of the 2013 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100.

The distie boasts that it has landed a place of the list, which recognises the organisation’s leadership in assisting the supply chain function, for its expertise in the field.

More than 200 projects were submitted for the 2013 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100. Avnet said its winning project addressed the service field replacement unit needs of a global customer.

The project was managed by Wade McDaniel, vice president of solutions development at Avnet, and his team.

Gerry Fay, chief global logistics and operations officer at Avnet said Wade and his team developed a solution that provided important supply chain visibility for customers.

He added this let them quickly receive replacement components in the field in “a just-in-time manner, helping them accomplish their global supply chain challenge”.

Companies listed on the 2013 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 are supply chain service providers that are helping their customers and clients achieve supply chain excellence.

Avnet extends marketing initiative

Posted on May 9, 2013 by - News

avnettsAvnet has extended its Socialondemand service in the UK.

According to the distie, since the marketing initiative launched in April 2012, seven supplier partners and over 150 business partners have joined up.

It said in the last nine months 353 media posts have been reposted by business partners achieving click-through rates of up to 50 percent, with more than 86,000 downloads and retweets.

Initially introduced with Microsoft, Avnet socialondemand is a social media service which syndicates and disseminates targeted social media content from Avnet supplier partners to the social media connections of its business partners.

Avnet claims it’s able to input, categorise and target social media content and then control and track what, when and where it is published, for example, via business partners’ Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.

Linda Patterson, marketing director, at the company said Avnet and supplier developed content went further and allowed partners to decide how and when to target customers, while tracking exactly when, where and by whom the content is being read.

She pointed out business partners often had stretched resources particularly in terms of their use of social media and yet they appreciate its value.

Avnet intros Avnet Services

Posted on May 1, 2013 by - News

avnettsAvnet has announced Avnet Services which rolls existing Avnet operations into a single team with a single strategy, focusing on software, life cycle and education services – because it feels IT services are underrepresented in the channel.

It will continue to work with VARs, ISVs, SIs and OEMs at both point of sale and delivery, while partners are promised benefits such as extended reach and scale as well as variable cost models and extended capabilities.

Avnet Technology Solutions president Phil Gallagher boasted in a statement that IT services is expected to reach $674.9 billion but the channel is not taking advantage. He enthused that Avnet will be well positioned to take advantage of the opportunity by building a single services business with common processes and tools, that will let it deliver multiple lines of services from different business units to channel partners.

Avnet Services will primarily look at software services, such as infrastructure and application management, lifecycle services, like integration and end of life options, and education services, for example, vendor training.

Previously senior veep of Avnet Integrated, Bill Wentworth will head the team as senior veep of Avnet Services. Regional services teams will report to Wentworth, while the EMEA team will be led by Christian Magirus.

“This alignment will enhance project success and return on investment for customer deployments throughout the IT lifecycle, creating more stickiness for our partners and suppliers,” Wentworth said. “It will also extend our partners’ reach and resources with reliable service delivery offerings for their non-core service needs.”