Retail

Partnerships

Scale Computing, Lenovo formally announce major strategic partnership

October 18, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Scale Computing, Lenovo formally announce major strategic partnership
Lenovo and Scale Computing have been working together for some time, but have now formally announced both a strategic partnership and a joint solution designed for the edge and suitable for organizations with many locations in highly distributed environments.

[…]

Channel Programs

Square announces first formal program for channel partners

September 20, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Square announces first formal program for channel partners
Square has built a big business around providing support to microsellers who were too small to interest credit card companies, or who found their services too expensive. While this market is still their core, they have moved upmarket as well, with larger sellers, assisted by strategic partnerships with companies like SAP. The new channel program is designed to support partners in this upmarket transition.

[…]

Computers

HP looks to channel to drive new Pavilion gamer lineup

April 12, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on HP looks to channel to drive new Pavilion gamer lineup
HP made its first announcement of a consumer product family at a channel event, as it expects the channel will sell almost all of these new rigs, and while much of it will go through etailers and retailers, there is a VAR channel play here as well.

[…]

Mobility

Extreme Networks introduces first new solution from Zebra acquisition with ExtremeLocation

January 18, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Extreme Networks introduces first new solution from Zebra acquisition with ExtremeLocation
The new Extreme Networks retail offering is a location-based platform that gives retailers real time analytics data about customers, and lets them manage associates’ interactions with them as well.

[…]

Partnerships

SAP partnership key element in Square channel push

November 20, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on SAP partnership key element in Square channel push
Square, which built its business on simple point-of-sale solutions for microbusinesses, is moving upmarket, and partnerships like their new integration with SAP are putting them in touch with an integrator channel for the first time.

[…]

Backup

Arcserve adds direct-to-cloud capability with Zetta acquisition

July 11, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Arcserve adds direct-to-cloud capability with Zetta acquisition
Arcserve also says out a roadmap to have, within twelve months, a midmarket disaster recovery offering based on a fusion of the two technologies that overcomes today’s pricing, complexity and efficiency issues.

[…]

Digital Signage

ViewSonic Canada drives strong results after return of Canadian autonomy

May 5, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on ViewSonic Canada drives strong results after return of Canadian autonomy
While monitors still make up 70 per cent of their business, falling prices has also led ViewSonic Canada to scale back its retail business and put more emphasis on the B2B market.

[…]

Computers

Zebra upgrades its mid-range mobile computers

November 23, 2016 Mark Cox 2
These machines, targeted mainly at standard retail outlets, have met with a strong initial response, selling more units before launch than other Zebra phones typically sell in 3-5 months.

[…]

Channel Programs

SonicWall names new CEO as it becomes formally independent of Dell

November 1, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SonicWall names new CEO as it becomes formally independent of Dell
Bill Conner, best known as the CEO of identity-based security product vendor Entrust, takes over as SonicWall’s CEO, and talks with ChannelBuzz about the company’s plans going forward.

[…]

Big Data

Sad news: SAP Anywhere launch in Canada delayed indefinitely

May 19, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Sad news: SAP Anywhere launch in Canada delayed indefinitely
SAP Anywhere formally launched in the U.S. this week. But while demand for the small business-focused CRM solution is strong, a change in SAP’s SMB applications strategy has led to the Canadian launch being put on hold for now.

[…]

Distribution

Tech Data Canada makes play in unlocked smartphone market with Noetic agreement

March 17, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Tech Data Canada makes play in unlocked smartphone market with Noetic agreement
The distributor is expanding its presence in the unlocked smartphone market, to give solution providers more options, and to keep them well positioned in the event of a shift away from major carrier solidarity on the subsidy model and its phone plans.

[…]

Data Capture/Point of Sale

HP announces next-gen POS retail system

January 17, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on HP announces next-gen POS retail system
In addition to its new HP RP9 Retail System, HP is also highlighting its HP Pro Tablet 608, which provides an eight-inch screen version of a product HP has offered for years in a ten-inch form factor.

[…]

Big Data

Inside SAP Anywhere

November 24, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Inside SAP Anywhere
SAP’s new HANA-powered CRM solution for SMBs, which will hit general availability in both the U.S. and Canada in 2016, is drawing lots of interest. ChannelBuzz takes a look at why.

[…]

Solution Provider News

ACCEO enhances ability to service larger retail chains with Gemmar Systems acquisition

July 16, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on ACCEO enhances ability to service larger retail chains with Gemmar Systems acquisition
ACCEO continues its drive into the retail space, following up its June acquisition of Multipost with a larger deal in which they acquire GSI, which has many large retail chain clients, and whose solutions are targeted to that larger type of chain retailer.

[…]

Data Capture/Point of Sale

ScanSource beefs up mobile POS portfolio with new Star Micronics partnership

June 30, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on ScanSource beefs up mobile POS portfolio with new Star Micronics partnership
Star’s strength in mobile printing in particular will enhance ScanSource’s ability to provide total POS and retail solutions to their reseller partners.

[…]

Distribution

Tech Data Canada signs Apple

June 24, 2015 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Tech Data Canada signs Apple
Apple has added Tech Data Canada to its distribution ranks. What does this say about the direction Apple’s relationship with the channel is going?

[…]

Solution Provider News

ACCEO Solutions expands smaller retail footprint with Multipost acquisition

June 11, 2015 Mark Cox 2
The Québec-based solution provider continues its strategic acquisitions by buying Markham ON-based Multipost, which makes POS software for smaller retailers. ACCEO also indicated that more acquisitions are coming in the next few weeks.

[…]

Networking

Dell extends proactive automated support to consumer PCs and tablets

June 2, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell extends proactive automated support to consumer PCs and tablets
Dell’s proactive support services have been a big hit in the channel, but this particular product is designed as a retail play, rather than for solution providers.

[…]

Storage

Canadian retailers ring up low scores in backup protection in new EMC-sponsored study

December 5, 2014 Mark Cox Comments Off on Canadian retailers ring up low scores in backup protection in new EMC-sponsored study
EMC Canada’s Michael Sharun also stressed that channel partners (and sales people generally) need to do a better job of adding backup and recovery to their storage sales.

[…]

Security

ESET announces new versions of flagship products

October 9, 2014 Mark Cox Comments Off on ESET announces new versions of flagship products
These are ESET’s flagship consumer products, but they are also sold by the channel, typically as an add-on in a commercial sale. They also preview the new features coming in the next commercial refresh.

[…]