Avnet, Cisco Broaden Data Center Distribution Deal to Latin America, Caribbean

Avnet (AVT) Technology Solutions has broadened the geographic reach of its Cisco (CSCO) data center portfolio to Latin America and the Caribbean, a move the distributor expects will dovetail with solutions provided by its other suppliers EMC (EMC), NetApp (NTAP) and VMware (VMW) in the region.

The distributor said the Latin America and Caribbean agreement builds on an existing distribution relationship between Avnet and Cisco in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and North America, enabling it to supply channel partners with complete converged infrastructure solutions for data centers in those regions.

The data center distribution relationship between Avnet and Cisco dates to 2009. Avnet said that in the ensuing four years it developed a solution provider community for Cisco in North America and EMEA, providing data center expertise, resources and tools to open new converged data center infrastructure sales opportunities.

“With the addition of Cisco to our portfolio in Latin American and the Caribbean, Avnet is uniquely positioned as a single source that channel partners can rely on for all of their data center needs,” said Sergio Farache, ATS Latin American and Caribbean senior vice president and general manager. “Avnet’s resources, services and skills will enable partners to quickly and efficiently target the most complex data center environments, including those associated with converged infrastructure.”

The new agreement calls for Avnet to provide channel partners with Cisco’s data center-specific technology, including Nexus switches, MDS fiber channel SAN switches and Unified Computing System (UCS) B and C-series servers. Channel partners also will be able to tap into Avnet’s services for pre-configured solutions, including fully assembled and tested, remote base performance connection, and ready virtual machine, which the distributor will drop ship directly to customers’ sites for channel partners.

“As we expand our relationship into Latin America and the Caribbean, Avnet’s technical expertise, strategic portfolio, sophisticated integration capabilities, and local market knowledge will accelerate our channel partners’ success,” said Andrew Sage, Cisco Americas distribution vice president.

Avnet’s Converged and Data Solutions group offers business consulting, technical assistance, business development, demand generation, training and financial and logistics services for channel partners selling converged solutions from Cisco, EMC, NetApp and VMware.