Avnet Technology Solutions UK teams up with EMC

Avnet Technology Solutions has launched the Altitude programme in the UK aimed at promoting EMC storage and back-up devices designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The initiative benefits new and existing Avnet business partners reselling EMC’s range of resilient VNXe storage solutions and Data Domain back-up products.

Avnet’s new Altitude programme consists of an online configuration tool that business partners can use to calculate pricing for EMC products without the need to contact either Avnet or EMC. Accessible via a secure portal, the configurator saves valuable time when preparing quotes and is available 24x7. For example, if an Avnet business partner is with a customer who requests a price for a device to store data in a remote office, the partner can provide this by simply logging onto Avnet’s Altitude portal to get a quote.

Lee Bushnell, EMC business manager, Avnet Technology Solutions, UK, explained, “By working closely with EMC, Avnet helps new and existing storage business partners secure lucrative revenue streams by offering their customers uniform and attractive pricing options while eradicating the need for complex and time consuming proposals. We believe the next 12 months will see a high level of growth in terms of companies leveraging existing network technology and adding storage functionality to their data centre environments. The new Altitude portal will give Avnet business partners a distinct advantage in terms of speed of response to such opportunities.”

Business partners taking advantage of Avnet’s Altitude programme receive training on the new portal supported by a comprehensive range of sales collateral, data sheets and product training.

Terry Beale, channel director at EMC, said, “Offering competitively-priced, high-performance storage and back-up devices for SMBs with minimum delay makes sound business sense. We are confident that combining Avnet’s Altitude portal with its extensive network of business partners will deliver value and service throughout the channel. Avnet has already demonstrated its ability to act quickly and efficiently by setting up this programme, and we look forward to working together to maximise this market opportunity over the coming months.”

Nigel Tatlock, director of sales at Enables IT, concluded, “In the SMB market things can move pretty quickly. Avnet’s Altitude portal gives us the toolset we need to speed up the whole quotation and deal registration procedure. Enables IT offer a comprehensive range of IT solutions and services to ensure our customers’ needs are satisfied. By going online we will be able to give our customers on-the-spot proposals to help them make informed purchasing decisions quickly, smoothing the way to an efficient sales and delivery process.”