Articles by Mark Cox

Channel Programs

Polycom enhances flexibility with first phase of new partner program

April 2, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Polycom enhances flexibility with first phase of new partner program
Polycom introduces new and more flexible criteria to reach higher partner levels, while at the same time requiring minimum sales thresholds at all levels and getting more rigorous about joint business plans for upper tier partners.

Distribution

Arcserve signs exclusive North American agreement with Ingram Micro

April 2, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Arcserve signs exclusive North American agreement with Ingram Micro
Arcserve believes consolidating with a single broadliner will strengthen their market presence as they continue to bring a range of new offerings to market.

Distribution

Global Technology Systems enlists Ingram Micro to deepen Canadian market penetration

April 1, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Global Technology Systems enlists Ingram Micro to deepen Canadian market penetration
GTS has done well in Canada with ScanSource and BlueStar, but on the advice of a partner they looked into Ingram Micro, and now hope to expand their partner base through them.

Distribution

ScanSource, Mitel launch new North American distribution agreement

April 1, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on ScanSource, Mitel launch new North American distribution agreement
In the U.S., ScanSource will carry Mitel’s entire product line, but in Canada, where the core Mitel products do not go through distribution at all, ScanSource will be limited to the Aastra product line.

Servers

SanDisk enhances solid state caching software, unveils new bundles

March 31, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on SanDisk enhances solid state caching software, unveils new bundles
Nine separate bundles across the Windows, VMware and Linux platforms give SanDisk a broad range of “device+software” solutions for server-side solid-state caching.

Managed Services

OnX adds two IT Service Management offerings to its Managed Services division

March 27, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on OnX adds two IT Service Management offerings to its Managed Services division
OnX Managed Services is a fast-growing part of the solution provider’s business, which now accounts for almost 40 per cent of its earnings.

Managed Services

New Canadian HP Security Operations Centre to strengthen HP’s competitive position

March 27, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Canadian HP Security Operations Centre to strengthen HP’s competitive position
HP’s first Canadian SOC will overcome objections about a lack of Canadian delivery from some customers, notably in the federal government.

Big Data

Big Data big deal in Canada?

March 27, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Big Data big deal in Canada?
Thursday’s Microsoft Big Data event featured a panel of Canadian service providers and customers, who offered some interesting insights about the state of Big Data in Canada.

Big Data

Microsoft doubling down on Big Data

March 27, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft doubling down on Big Data
Microsoft says its recent focus on and investments in the Big Data space have made it a key player. That carries with it new partner opportunities, even for smaller ones with a focused vertical strategy.

Channel Programs

Sage to give partners customer feedback data to strengthen customer relationships

March 25, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Sage to give partners customer feedback data to strengthen customer relationships
Like the Sage Advisor Dashboard introduced last year, the new Sage Net Promotor Score Program makes data Sage has collected from customers available to partners to help them improve customer satisfaction, and their business.