technology
reseller.co.uk
BULLETIN : DISTRIBUTORS
9
Tech Data is calling on any resellers that
have not yet engaged on the Microsoft
CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) programme,
in particular those who currently earn
fees for Microsoft Cloud Solutions through
the Partner of Record scheme, to switch
their customers to CSP before June, when
all fees relating to Partner of Record
through the Advisor programme will be
withdrawn by Microsoft.
The distributor is making this
recommendation following its best months
yet for Microsoft CSP net new sales, in
November and December 2016, when its
total number of registered end user seats
grew to more than 110,000, all of which
will be generating recurring revenues for
Microsoft CSP partners.
Dwayne Earl, Software Business Unit
Manager at Tech Data, said: “It’s vital for
resellers to act. Under the Advisor scheme,
although the partner would earn a fee from
Microsoft, not only has this fee eroded over
time, it will disappear completely at the end
of June. The preference now is for all sales
to go via partners, but they need to do that
through CSP, so those resellers who did act
as Advisors need to make their move and
switch their customers across now.”
Tech Data says resellers that do move
end users from direct billing through
Microsoft to CSP will see benefits such as
annuity-based revenue, more profit and the
ability to blend in their own services with
the sale.
Tech Data has a full CSP programme in
place, with sales, technical and marketing
workshops running on a regular basis.
It has already helped more than 300
partners get onto CSP and has a team of
10 staff dedicated to the scheme.
Epson turns to Exertis
Epson (UK) has appointed Exertis
as a distributor of its consumer
projector range. Exertis is already
a long established Epson printer
distributor.
Ian Aitken, Exertis AV general manager, said: “This appointment is testimony to the
success our AV team has had in building and growing our AV business right across the
market with our retail, IT and AV channel partners. It means we now have an Epson solution
to suit a wide range of needs and budgets, whether it’s home cinema or gaming, education
or business presentation. Our sales specialists, all CST-accredited, are trained, primed
and ready right now to help all our customers with their Epson requirements as we look to
extend their success in traditional markets.”
Epson’s consumer range features a wide choice of models up to Full HD resolution, with
versatile connectivity, brightness up to 3,200 lumens and wireless capabilities. The EB range
is most suitable for multi-purpose use in the home or office, while the EH range is optimised
for 1080p home cinema, entertainment and gaming.
Midwich Group is distributing the full
range of Samsung E-board Interactive
products after signing an exclusive UK
and EIRE distribution deal with Samsung
Interactive.
This includes Samsung displays of 32
inches and above; Samsung’s education
portfolio; and new Interactive products for
corporate and retail environments being
launched during 2017.
Commenting on the
agreement, Richard Bovingdon,
Midwich Head of Interactive
Sales, said: “As well as being the
number one digital signage brand
globally, Samsung has a UK and
EIRE market share of 43% for
large format commercial displays.
This, coupled with its reputation
for manufacturing high-quality
displays and investment in R&D, provides
Midwich with the confidence to deliver the
most appropriate touch display solution
across several verticals.”
To helps its resellers target the
education, retail, transport and digital
signage markets, Midwich plans to recruit
dedicated Samsung Interactive Support.
Exclusive Networks expands
sales team
Exclusive Networks, a value-added
distributor for cybersecurity, networking
and infrastructure technologies, has
made two senior sales appointments as
it gears up for growth in 2017.
Richard Carpenter, who has
held a number of senior roles
within distribution, has been
appointed Sales Director, and Lee
Widdowson, highly experienced
in distribution sales and account
management, has joined the
Chesterfield office as Divisional
Sales Manager.
Graham Jones, Managing
Director, said: “Our successful strategy of
working in partnership with our vendors
and partners has fueled our growth to
date and these appointments signal
our intent to continue this as we aim to
break the £200M mark in 2017. As we
look to become sole distributor with more
vendors, we require new people who bring
new ideas and methods. With Richard
and Lee’s experience and the Exclusive
Networks environment, we have a winning
combination.”
Midwich the place to go for Samsung Interactive displays
Time to switch to Microsoft CSP says Tech Data
Richard Carpenter,
Sales Director,
Exclusive Netwroks
Teresa Johnston,
Smart Home
Business
Development
Manager,
Tech Data
Salary sacrifice scheme for
smart home products
Tech Data and employee
benefits specialist Grass
Roots have worked on a new
programme that enables
employers to offer their
workforce a salary sacrifice
scheme for smart home
products, with interest-free
credit and no formal credit
checks. The Grass Roots
Techscheme
lets employees
spread the cost of purchasing
smart home solutions over
a number of months, with payments
deducted directly from their salary.
The scheme can be used for purchases
of any value and is fully aligned with
existing HMRC rules.
Teresa Johnston, Smart Home Business
Development Manager at Tech Data, said:
“Grass Roots’ Techscheme is a great idea
and makes it incredibly easy for people to
get the latest technology into their homes
for a discounted price. As well as offering
significant savings for employees, it can
help to excite and encourage them to sell
smart home solutions. By generating that
real enthusiasm for products amongst their
teams, both retailers and resellers should
see a positive impact on their sales.”
