Tech Data Canada had a busy year and it should be no surprise that its president Rick Reid has landed on our newsmakers list once again.
This fall, the distributor launched Lenovo’s ThinkPad tablet to its resellers and partnered with NEC and Asus. It also made strides with IBM, which announced it would give Tech Data autonomy with pricing for all deals $50,000 and under. The distributor also partnered with some lesser known, specialized companies. It signed a distribution agreement with Ruckus Wireless, providing its “Smart Wi-Fi” systems and technology to partners.
Tech Data also became the distributor in Canada for Fusion-io, a Utah-based storage vendor expanding out of its OEM-only channel by partnering with about 15 strategic partners here. Tech also formed a distribution agreement with Elfiq Networks of Montreal, which specializes in the development of telecommunications and security solutions.
Related story: RIM strikes up a partnership with Tech Data
This year saw the launch of the distributor’s Technology Services Division as well, which aims to enable partners to take advantage of first-line support from Tech Data, under Richard Toledo, formerly the head of the integration services team. In April, Tech Data also expanded its Advanced Solutions Training Centre in Mississauga, Ont.
Tech Data also made some cloud-related moves, launching TDCloud and TDCloud Academy, a set of products, services and enablement tools available from Tech Data that provides guidance in finding, developing and most important closing cloud opportunities.
Following the federal government’s announcement of its Shared Services plan, Reid remained optimistic about the channel’s role in federal government IT spending. “There will still be a requirement to procure and supply products and services, and there will still be a role for VARs and distributors in that community,” he told CDN in August. “We’re resilient; we’ve been through these situations in the past and we continue to thrive.”
