Technology Reseller v35

01732 759725 08 NEWS : DISTRIBUTORS Jonathan Wagstaff Exertis is looking forward to a boost in IT spending in 2021 as enterprises re-start IT projects that were abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic. Jonathan Wagstaff, Business Intelligence Manager, Exertis Group, said: “There’s an expectation that enterprise spending will pick up again in 2021 as postponed projects restart. We also expect the acceleration of digital transformation to continue. Here, the channel has a critical role. The largest organisations will likely be further down the road of cloud migration. However, small and medium- sized businesses are still going to need the channel, particularly in countries where cloud adoption is lagging.” Wagstaff added that digital transformation and automation both represent huge opportunities in the next 12 months. He said: “These will be the key drivers alongside the growth of Edge solutions that will support the expected IoT systems, vehicles and devices dependent upon them. Unlike centralised cloud provision, Edge needs the channel to push out rather than pull back in, so to speak.” However, Wagstaff warns that there are still threats to consumer and business demand including the macroeconomic shock of CV19 combined with the UK leaving the Customs Union (whether or not there is a Free Trade Agreement in place). “Even with the good news around vaccines, CV19 disruption will continue into the new year. Gartner has spoken of a CIO reaction around respond, recover, renew. ‘Respond’ was about keeping essential functions operating (e.g. issuing WFH equipment); ‘recover’ is about stabilisation, which is where many businesses are now. What will be interesting is the renewal cycle, during which business models and IT will need to be adjusted to the new reality,” he said. This includes a consolidation of work from home practices and networking/ device/cloud requirements and an examination of digital capabilities following the huge shift online over the last year. “Clearly the rush to supply devices was going to be a largely 2020 phenomenon, but we still expect the channel to benefit from supporting these societal and business changes long into 2021,” Wagstaff said. www.exertis.co.uk Challenges ahead but still much to look forward to in 2021, says Exertis Tech Data recruits resellers for AWS development as it strengthens relationship with Amazon Tech Data has announced a new strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) that will see both parties invest in resources to enable partners to offer an enhanced range of AWS cloud computing services to small and medium-sized businesses across Europe. As part of the multi-year agreement, Tech Data will create dedicated local AWS sales and technical teams alongside a central team of solutions architects and services experts, while expanding its existing AWS offerings with a range of services and multi-vendor solutions that have AWS at their core. Tech Data’s StreamOne platform for cloud subscriptions, renewals and billing will play a central role in enabling companies to bring solutions to market. There will also be AWS-specific enablement paths to help partners to accelerate their AWS cloud practices. In the UK, Tech Data is recruiting a second cohort of resellers for the AWS Path on the Tech Data Cloud Practice Builder. Designed to encourage more resellers to sell and deliver solutions on AWS, the AWS Path provides tailored development plans that enable resellers to start billing for services within just four months. Many of the resellers who enrolled on the first AWS Path in June are now generating AWS business on a regular basis and working towards qualifying as AWS Select tier partners. Matt Child, Managing Director, Advanced Solutions, Tech Data, UK and Ireland, said: “We’ve been extremely pleased with the first phase of the AWS Path and, having proved it works, we are paving the way for the next group of resellers. The methodology is tried and tested and with demand for AWS services still growing, we are preparing to bring more resellers on board.” www.techdata.com Middle East expansion for Midwich Specialist AV distributor Midwich is expanding into the Middle Eastern market with the acquisition of a controlling stake in the NMK Group, a value-added distributor of AV products based in Dubai and operating across the UAE, Qatar and wider Gulf region. NMK Group, comprising NMK Electronics Enterprise, NMK Middle East FZE and Edge Electronics Trading LLC, is a specialist audio and visual distributor with a strong heritage in the professional audio market and high-end specialist brands, such as Shure and Bose. NMK recently added Epson to its technology portfolio and also offers a range of ancillary services, including vendor training, project design, system assembly, servicing and repairs. Stephen Fenby, Midwich Group Managing Director, said: “This not only marks the Group’s entry into one of the fastest growing AV markets in the world, but also means we now have a presence in all major global territories and are able to support customers across all key geographies.” www.midwichgroupplc.com vi rtual . technologyl ive.co.uk Go to Work. Stay Safe. Get Connected! The Convergent Technology Event for IT Resellers & Providers NOV-JAN’21 VIRTUAL Matt Child TURN TO PAGE 24 FOR MORE PREDICTIONS FOR 2021 Nuvias UC launches monthly finance option Nuvias UC, the unified communications business of the Nuvias Group, is helping resellers and end users affected by coronavirus to preserve their capital and boost cash flow by enabling them to spread the cost of hardware, software and services over longer periods. GoMonthly, available in the UK exclusively through HUB, Nuvias UC’s multi-tiered webstore, offers a simple and automated monthly payment solution with instant quotes and minimal sign-up requirements.