Avnet expands presence as 'solutions specialist' to woo channel partners

Technology distributor Avnet is hoping to woo channel partners by investing more in the technologies that will help them grow. The company's $27.9 billion revenue in 2015 has allowed the company to provide more than 450 solutions to partners, including cloud, cognitive computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), security and enterprise networking.

The company is building new specialised business units to its global channel ecosystem, including its Australian and New Zealand cloud partners. Avnet is currently a distributor for a portfolio of Dell products in Australia and EMC's VCE platforms.

Meanwhile, Avnet New Zealand recently appointed Richard Lightfoot to head its New Zealand operations.

"Avnet is directing significant energy, resources and investments toward the technologies that will define the future. I believe the best way to do this is through a more specialised approach. We are evolving into a solutions specialist to ensure that Avnet, along with our suppliers and partners, continues to meet our customers' needs in a rapidly changing market. It will allow us to capitalise on next-generation technologies while optimising our support for data center technologies, whether legacy or new," says Patrick Zammit, Avnet Technology Solutions global president.

The company's six core business units comprise data center solutions, cloud solutions, security and enterprise networking solutions, data analytics, cognitive computing and IoT solutions and mobility solutions. It also operates education services for partners in the EMEA and Americas.

"Today's customers expect their partners to understand business outcomes and the software, services and hardware needed to deliver results. Our solutions specialist approach empowers Avnet's partners with the dedicated resources, sales support and technical expertise needed to transform their business while driving long-term success for themselves and their customers," Zammit continues.

Avnet says that while its business units are global units, they have relevance to specific regions as they are operated by local branches. This allows partners to work with Avnet to specify and align needs to local requirements.

Avnet also says channel partners will also benefit from continued expansion around next-generation technologies, such as its Cloud Marketplace and IoT collaborations. Avnet also plans to expand its partnerships with customers and technology vendors.

It also builds upon our ability to create brand preference, accelerate adoption and grow market share for technology vendors. The solutions specialist approach gives our partners and suppliers the best of both worlds: a business solutions mindset coupled with deep technical expertise in the data center and next-generation technologies," Zammit concludes.