Software

Channel Programs

Oracle urges partners to climb into cloud at Oracle PartnerNetwork kickoff event

June 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Oracle urges partners to climb into cloud at Oracle PartnerNetwork kickoff event
While much of the event was based on emphasizing Oracle’s commitment to the cloud, they did announce a new program to help ISVs into the cloud.

Storage

NetApp emphasizes simplicity, flash functionality in ONTAP 9 software

May 31, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on NetApp emphasizes simplicity, flash functionality in ONTAP 9 software
NetApp has also strengthened, and is now giving much greater emphasis to, its flash-focused 3-4-5 guarantee to customers.

Distribution

D&H Canada again posts growth numbers many times the industry norm

May 30, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on D&H Canada again posts growth numbers many times the industry norm
Storage, video conference, monitors and software and licensing all came in around 40 per cent or more. Greg Tobin, General Manager in Canada, discusses why D&H did much better than the industry average.

Cloud

API platform vendor Apigee seeing strong results from SAP partnership

May 24, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on API platform vendor Apigee seeing strong results from SAP partnership
SAP and Apigee are both seeing good synergies from their approximately two year-old partnership, the type of ISV alliance strongly being broadly pursued by both companies.

Partner Awards

SAP Application Innovation award winner OpenText sees SAP as hub of new partner push

May 19, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SAP Application Innovation award winner OpenText sees SAP as hub of new partner push
OpenText has historically been mainly a direct player, but is looking to leverage its strong partnership and personal relationships with SAP, and its relationship with SAP partner Accenture to build up its channel business in Canada.

Cloud

SAP promises new emphasis on understanding customer problems

May 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SAP promises new emphasis on understanding customer problems
CEO Bill McDermott didn’t exactly promise a kinder, gentler SAP, but he did pledge a company that will be more empathetic to customers, have a more complete vision, and be more focused on simplicity. He also offered a forecast of some trends he thinks SAP will be well positioned to leverage.

Cloud

Epicor CEO pledges major company changes to serve customers

April 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Epicor CEO pledges major company changes to serve customers
Joe Cowan told Epicor’s Customer Conference in Las Vegas that the company is committed to major changes to its systems and products, to take customers into the cloud and become easier to do business with.

Data Centre

Stratoscale announces Ingram Micro deal in U.S. and imminent signing of deal for Canada

April 6, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Stratoscale announces Ingram Micro deal in U.S. and imminent signing of deal for Canada
Stratoscale, which emphasizes its ability to deliver cloud economics to the data centre – rather than the hyperconverged nature of its technology – also made the formal announcement of its PartnerFirst Program for its channel, which is its sole route to market.

Cloud

HEAT sees major tech, business benefits in acquiring Absolute Manage, Service businesses

September 22, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on HEAT sees major tech, business benefits in acquiring Absolute Manage, Service businesses
The strategic acquisition of assets Absolute wanted to divest to focus on its core business continues HEAT’s transition from FrontRange’s old SMB business to an integrated endpoint management platform that increasingly appeals to enterprises

Mobility

BlackBerry adds vertical strength, shows swagger in Good Technology acquisition

September 4, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on BlackBerry adds vertical strength, shows swagger in Good Technology acquisition
A company given up for dead by many not that long ago makes the biggest acquisition in its history, driving it further along in its transition to a software company.