transformation

Unified Communications

Avaya CEO lays out forceful agenda for reborn company

January 29, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya CEO lays out forceful agenda for reborn company
New Avaya CEO Jim Chirico acknowledged the old Avaya was the equivalent of a team that loses football games by playing a prevent defense, and told the company’s customers and partners that now they have a fundamentally different gameplan.

Anthony Mackle, senior vice president of finance at Ingram Micro
Distribution

Ingram expands financing capabilities to support partner transformation

November 29, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Ingram expands financing capabilities to support partner transformation
As more solution providers move to more types of recurring revenues, Ingram Micro says it’s getting creative with financing to help smooth the transition.

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins
Channel Programs

Editor’s Notebook: Random tidbits from the Cisco braintrust

November 2, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Editor’s Notebook: Random tidbits from the Cisco braintrust
Short hits from Chuck Robbins et al on how Cisco thinks about change, SMB, new partner types, cloud agnosticism, acquisitions, and more.

Internet of Things

Hitachi intensifies focus on Internet of Things at inaugural customer event

September 22, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Hitachi intensifies focus on Internet of Things at inaugural customer event
In addition to forming a new company, Vantara, to consolidate around the IoT opportunity, Hitachi rebooted their Lumada IoT platform and announced their first IoT appliance, based on Lumada. While they were never close to the top in enterprise storage, their goal is to be the leader in the IoT space.

Channel Programs

Right Touch at centre of new NetApp Americas channel chief Jeff McCullough’s plans

July 20, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Right Touch at centre of new NetApp Americas channel chief Jeff McCullough’s plans
NetApp’s channel transformation includes the Right Touch Model, introduced for its new fiscal year, designed to better balance NetApp channel resources with its internal sales team.

Backup

Changes in sales strategy bearing fruit for Veeam

May 19, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Changes in sales strategy bearing fruit for Veeam
Veeam is also close to announcing the appointment of a new Canadian channel leader, which they think will help enlist some major new partners.

SAP CEO Bill McDermott
Big Data

SAP re-christens Leonardo as its “system of innovation”

May 17, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on SAP re-christens Leonardo as its “system of innovation”
Adding machine learning and Blockchain to IOT, SAP takes a shot at a platform for helping companies through digital business transformation.

Managed Services

New Service Delivery Platform will have broad partner applicability: Riverbed

April 28, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Service Delivery Platform will have broad partner applicability: Riverbed
Riverbed says that the new platform will make it easy, for the first time, for traditional networking partners to deliver services around Riverbed technology.

Jason Gallo, director of collaboration and software partner business development at Cisco.
Networking

Cisco adds new tools, services to support partners on DNA

February 21, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Cisco adds new tools, services to support partners on DNA
Cisco DNA Advisor aims to help partners figure out their customers’ network modernization status, plot strategy to build from there.

Unified Communications

Avaya looks to reduce debt burden and re-emerge stronger with Chapter 11 filing

January 19, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya looks to reduce debt burden and re-emerge stronger with Chapter 11 filing
Avaya says that the sale of its Contact Center business is not being considered as a way to restructure its balance sheet, but that it is in discussions to possibly sell off other assets.