Tag: channel partners

Fujitsu can’t afford channel journos

Posted on April 28, 2014 by - News

massageIt was very nice that Fujitsu Imaging Systems invited ChannelEye to attend its channel gig in Dubai on the 22nd May next.

We had to decline. We hadn’t realised FIS was short of a bob or three.

FIS tried to get ChannelEye on a flight that would go from Heathrow to Dubai overnight and a few hours on, us journalists  would have to report on its channel event.

Er, no. That is cruel and unusual punishment for any channel guy, whatever her or his age.

Fujitsu said it could only afford to put us channel hacks up in the hotel – that’s the Jumeirah Towers Hotel flying Etihad for one night.

The lovely PR rep said that the “arrangements were less than ideal”.  It would be “a case of arriving in the morning of the conference itself. However, the conference does not start until a bit later in the day, and given that you arrive quite early in the morning you would have some time to rest at the hotel before kicking off.”

He added that even PFU (Fujitsu) staff will be flying in on the morning of the conference, “from various European locations”.

We declined Fujitsu’s munificent offer. Hitachi is usually a lot kinder than Fujitsu.  Even HP is merciful.

Sato after more channel partners

Posted on May 31, 2013 by - News

SATO PPP logoSato has said it wants to expand its channel opportunities across Europe.

The barcode printing, labelling and EPC/RFID company has announced that it will be expanding and developing its Business Partner network across Europe.

It has launched a campaign called “Year of the Channel” which it says will focus on increasing its support for existing business partners and actively recruiting new VARS, complementing those already participating in its European Partner Programme.

The company boasts it has seen great success since initially introducing its Prestige Partner Programme in 2010 and has brought in more than 100 new VARs in its European programme.

SATO hopes the campaign will build on the achievements so far and continue the search for new complementary partners.

The Prestige Partner Programme comprises three tiers with SATO now focusing on building up the two upper tiers – Premier and Champion. Within this the company continues to look for partners with market specialisation, application specialisation, specific technical skills, value-added qualities within a target market segment.

These include the retail sector, food and quick service restaurants, manufacturing, transportation and logistics as well as healthcare and government.

Vendors enrolled in the programme, SATO promises, will benefit from comprehensive training and technical services packages as well as marketing tools and funds that help generate sales leads.

As part of the effort, SATO has redesigned and relaunched its Business Partner Portal, which provides access to a large variety of valuable marketing resources, moving it on to a new technology platform allowing for a more user friendly interface and more effective communication within the network.

Microsoft doles out gongs to its chums

Posted on May 22, 2013 by - News

msMicrosoft announced the winners of the 2013 Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) Awards.

According to the company the awards recognise the skills and hard work of companies in Microsoft’s global partner network.

It said that this year’s competition had attracted over 3,000 entries, but only 11 UK partners made it on to the list of finalists, of which there were six award winners.

In the UK, partners were awarded the “coveted” Cloud Partner and SMB Cloud Partner awards, with Solidsoft and Tech Quarters respectively winning these titles. Microsoft said the UK wins  demonstrated that the UK channel is leading the way in global cloud adoption. Is it?

Other UK winners included the IM Group, which scooped the Microsoft UK Partner of the Year, while Global Knowledge was named Learning Partner of the Year. Oxford Computer Group, was the Identity and Access Partner of the Year and eBECS, ERP Partner of the Year.

The winning partners will be presented with their awards in Houston at this year’s Worldwide Partner Conference. Furthermore, Microsoft will continue to work closely with the winners as part of its ongoing investment to champion the fantastic work achieved in the UK channel.

Janet Gibbons, Director Partner Strategy and Programmes at Microsoft said she was delighted to see so many UK winners: “I would like to congratulate all of the winning parties. It is great to see the UK partners achieving recognition for their hard work across many different categories.”

Ingram Micro promotes channel love-in

Posted on May 10, 2013 by - Events, News

IMIngram Micro has opened its doors to 350 channel partners from across the globe.

The distie has hosted what it claimed is its first International Solutions Partner Invitational in Hollywood.

The event, which began on 8 May and runs until today saw partners fly in from North America and Latin America, as well as Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

It is sponsored by 15 technology vendors including Signature Sponsors Motorola Solutions and Psion, now part of Motorola Solutions, and Platinum Sponsors Axis Communications, Elo Touch Solutions and Intermec.

Themed “Mix it Up,” the Invitational is claimed to try and inspire the 600-plus vendor and reseller partners in attendance to think about business differently in 2013, and seek out new markets and  service opportunities that will help them grow faster and more profitably.

The event is also claimed to offer channel partners insight around industry best practices and market trends including where the markets are heading and what channel partners need to do to better position their business for success now, and in the future.

Throughout the event, attendees will hear from speakers including Scott Deming, a customer service and emotional brand building expert, Juliann Larimer, vice president of worldwide channels and sales operations for Motorola Solutions and Paul Bay, president, Ingram Micro North America.

It will also feature new Ingram Micro vendors, including TSC Printers and APG Cash Drawer, as well as more than 20 ISVs from across the Americas.

aTech Media launches first UK channel partner programme

Posted on February 11, 2013 by - News

Hands across the wateraTech Media has launched its first channel partner programme.

The UK-based software development company’s free partner programme is said to allow resellers to earn 10 percent of each subscription that comes from them recommending and promoting services offered by aTech Media.

And higher volume partners are also said to benefit from higher percentages.

The partner programme focuses around the company’s Sirportly software, which is aimed at helping SMEs in different sectors manage and control their customer experience.

This in turn is said to ensure full automation and workflow management quickly and acts as an “extremely valuable offering” for IT resellers with a hand in the enterprise market.

The channel partner programme is predominantly focused on the UK sector, but the company also has plans to conquer the US in the future.

As well as the Sirportly product aTech, which was founded in 2005 and seen a “substantial period” of growth, also offers products including email management and code hosting and project management software,  for SME and enterprise companies.

It’s also recently launched its new website, atechmedia.com, which it claims acts “as a central hub” for customers and partners, offering tutorials and information on new products and features.