midmarket

Partnerships

Scale Computing adds BI capability for SMBs with Information Builders partnership

September 20, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Scale Computing adds BI capability for SMBs with Information Builders partnership
The Information Builders partnership is the first in a strategy designed to provide Scale partners with additional software services, turning their hardware platform into an App Store of sorts.

Unified Communications

Built-in encryption, user experience changes highlight Avaya IP Office 10

September 6, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Built-in encryption, user experience changes highlight Avaya IP Office 10
The new release of IP Office also makes some architectural and administrative changes designed to make things easier for Avaya channel partners who sell the product.

Channel Programs

Exact Macola continues aggressive channel push with new training program for partners

September 1, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Exact Macola continues aggressive channel push with new training program for partners
ERP vendor Exact Macola has been aggressively ramping up its channel presence over the last three years. This move to an online self-paced training system was in response to partner requests.

Security

Sophos re-imagines encryption for the mass market

July 19, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Sophos re-imagines encryption for the mass market
Encryption has been basically limited to larger enterprises because of its complexity, but with their new Safeguard Encryption 8 offering, Sophos has reworked it to be simple enough for mid-market and SMB companies.

Big Data

HDS targets midmarket with expanded UCP 2000 and new hyper-converged offering

June 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on HDS targets midmarket with expanded UCP 2000 and new hyper-converged offering
The HC V240, HDS’ first hyper-converged appliance, is based on the VMware stack, but the hyper-converged road map is likely to broaden out beyond that.

Dave Mason, vice president of advanced solutions at Ingram Micro Canada
Cloud

Ingram Micro Canada adds Power to IBM lineup

June 13, 2016 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Ingram Micro Canada adds Power to IBM lineup
Ingram Micro Canada will help Big Blue drive its Power architecture into the midmarket through the channel via an expanded partnership.

Big Data

New HDS UCP1000 for SAP HANA to be strong mid-market partner play

May 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on New HDS UCP1000 for SAP HANA to be strong mid-market partner play
Hitachi Data Systems has greatly deepened its strategic relationship with SAP around HANA in the last several years, and its new announcements, which cover from the low end of the market to the high, broaden that portfolio.

Distribution

Avnet brings EMC Isilon to the masses with software-defined storage solution

May 10, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avnet brings EMC Isilon to the masses with software-defined storage solution
Avnet broadens Isilon SD Edge’s route to market with an offering which puts the Isilon Edge OS on select validated commodity hardware.

Cloud

ERP vendor Epicor looks to channel for aggressive growth in Canada

April 20, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on ERP vendor Epicor looks to channel for aggressive growth in Canada
Epicor has doubled the size of its Canadian business over the last couple years, and while most of its business in the U.S. is direct, the growing Canadian business is going entirely through channel partners.

Channel Programs

Citrix channel chief lays out three major program changes, hints at another upcoming

April 6, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Citrix channel chief lays out three major program changes, hints at another upcoming
Citrix is adding a new, incremental front-end discount for new opportunities among both new and existing customers. They are also reworking their MDF program, and redoing their CAR program to simplify it and increase partner opportunities.