Dicker Data New Zealand has been appointed as a distributor for APC by Schneider Electric products and services in New Zealand in reshuffle of the vendor's local distribution channel.

Dicker Data NZ will join Westcon-Comstor in distributing the products here, with Schneider Electric ending a 20 year relationship with Ingram Micro New Zealand.

Richard Harri, Dicker Data New Zealand general manager of volume, says the deal, which covers the full range of APC hardware and software solutions, will enable Dicker Data to configure solutons for resellers within its dedicated configuration centres.

“We can install the APC power infrastructure complete with the server, communications and networking into an APC stack,” Harri  says.

“The solution will be powered on, tested, images applied to the server if required and shipped as a ‘ready rack' providing a turn-key solution so it can be simply turned on and ready to go when it arrives at the end user site.

“This will help our resellers save time and money and provide a conveniently configured, pre-tested solution.

Vlad Mitnovetski, Dicker Data COO, says the addition of the APC by Schneider Electric product range to Dicker Data NZ's portfolio will provide SMB and enterprise resellers with a broader range of power and UPS options.

The distributor has not previously had a UPS, power infrastructure or rack partner in its New Zealand portfolio.

“APC is best of breed and ticks all of the boxes,” Harri says.

“We see that the APC range will perfectly complement our existing networking, PC and server solutions.

Muralee Kanagaratnam, Schneider Electric Pacific general manager of operations, channels and alliances, says  “The new distribution landscape in New Zealand will best serve our aspirations for future growth.

He says the Dicker Data NZ partnership will expand the vendor's customer exposure and help it access a target audience in the New Zealand marketplace.

In September, APC by Schneider Electric will launch a new partner program, which Kanagaratnam says will help ensure the vendor offers the services and tools necessary for partners to be more successful and ultimately more profitable.

The APC deal won't be the last for Dicker Data NZ with Harri promising more new vendors will be added ‘in a matter of weeks'.

Ingram Micro NZ will cease distribution of APC at the end of this month. Kanagaratnam thanked the distributor for its support and development of APC by Schneider Electric over the years.