01732 759725 08 DISTRIBUTOR NEWS Arrow embraces AI with Copilot for Microsoft 365 availability and new AI Companion Arrow Electronics is expanding its AI capabilities with the introduction of an AI Companion for its cloud delivery and management platform ArrowSphere Cloud, which now also offers Copilot for Microsoft 365 to partners in EMEA. ArrowSphere Assistant is an AI-powered cloud business companion for channel partners who manage their cloud business through ArrowSphere Cloud. Powered by Microsoft Azure AI, it generates reports and makes recommendations to help partners grow their cloud business, improve their financial performance, find efficiencies and develop new and untapped business opportunities. Paired with the ArrowSphere Cloud security dashboard, ArrowSphere Assistant can also provide actionable security intelligence on security postures in minutes, including remediation recommendations. Eric Gourmelen, Vice President and CTO of ArrowSphere at Arrow, said: “ArrowSphere Assistant capitalises on the power of generative AI technology, combined with the robust business data in ArrowSphere Cloud, to provide unprecedented quality of answers to channel partner inquiries.” To help partners make the most of the addition of Copilot for Microsoft 365 to ArrowSphere Cloud, Arrow is delivering a dedicated programme of enablement supported by over 300 Copilot-certified specialists in EMEA that can support channel partners with Copilot implementations. Each one is fully licenced for Copilot for Microsoft 365. .... Arrow, IBM Cloud and Anycloud collaboration Arrow Electronics has expanded its managed services offering with the launch of Arrow Cloud Object Storage for Backup, a new solution with unlimited capacity, available exclusively to Arrow channel partners via ArrowSphere Cloud. The product of a collaboration between Arrow, IBM Cloud and Anycloud, an international vendor of cloud SaaS offerings, the scalable native object storage solution features data storage in IBM data centres; advanced encryption and data protection; an easy-to-use management portal; and a fixed price per TB model whereby customers only pay for their storage consumption, with no setup fees or variables. Lars Kristensen, IBM Cloud Leader Northern and Eastern Europe, said: “Building upon years of successful collaboration with Anycloud and Arrow, we are excited to take the next step, signifying our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions. Together, we will introduce a pioneering market solution for the EMEA region, with plans for global expansion.” .... Westcon-Comstor launches data insights tool Westcon-Comstor has added a new data insights tool to its PartnerCentral digital marketplace platform, giving partners a consolidated view of transactional data and the ability to track trends by geography, end user and product type. Possible use cases of the Partner Insights tool include monitoring and tracking hardware versus software/services spend with Westcon-Comstor or comparing sales growth with a vendor against industry benchmarks. In a survey for the distributor’s recent Bridging the Gap report 59% of partners surveyed strongly agreed that the future of distribution lies in the provision of data-led insights. Gaining access to the right data was identified as the biggest challenge facing partners as they transition to recurring revenue models. Patrick Aronson, Chief Marketing Officer and APAC Executive Vice President at Westcon-Comstor, said: “By providing a single source of truth for transactional data, we’re empowering partners to make more informed decisions, optimise their operations and compete effectively as they look to accelerate their journey to an everything-as-a-service (XaaS) future.” .... ID Connect to help partners profit from subscriptions Infinigate is helping MSPs, VARs and SIs to digitalise their business, increase the efficiency of business operations and meet demand for a subscription consumption model with the launch of a new portal offering an end-to-end digital experience. The Infinigate Digital Connect (ID Connect) portal gives partners single sign-on access to a variety of tools, platforms and services including sales & order administration; a digital marketplace (Infinigate Store) with real time information on product availability; an MSP portal with assisted self-service for sales, order and admin; customisable marketing assets; professional services support; and training courses, webinars, Spire Technology to become Westcoast components pillar Westcoast, the UK’s largest IT distributor, has got even bigger after Westcoast (Holdings) Ltd acquired 100% of the share capital of IT components distributor Spire Technology Ltd. Based in Verwood, Dorset, Spire will become Westcoast Group’s main components pillar and gain full access to all Westcoast customers, finance and tools. Alex Tatham, Executive Director at Westcoast, said: “There are so many benefits to the combination of Spire and Westcoast for both companies, vendors, UK resellers and employees. It will add significantly to Westcoast’s components portfolio, and both businesses emphasise their agility and flexibility when it comes to speed of decision-making and performance as well as a strong customer intimacy. This cultural fit will help realise immediate mutual opportunities.” Spire CEO John Appleton added: “Westcoast can only help grow our business and in return we can bring a range of accretive components vendors to Westcoast’s significant and diverse customer base. We are delighted that we can form part of Britain’s largest privately owned technology group and can use its considerable resources to accelerate our growth.” Eric Gourmelen Alex Tatham Patrick Aronson
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