Distribution Watch: Avnet, Ingram Micro Cloud and Synnex Moves

Avnet Technology Solutions (NYSE:AVT), Ingram Micro (NYSE:IM) and Synnex (NYSE:SNX) each caught The VAR Guy’s watchful eye this week. The three distribution giants each made strategic moves in different areas — IT services, cloud services and point of sale (POS) solutions. What exactly happened? Here’s a recap from our resident blogger.

First up: Avnet Technology Solutions unveiled Avnet Services, which “will combine existing services organizations within Avnet into one dedicated, global team with a unified strategy focused on software, lifecycle and education services that complement existing solutions sales and suppliers¹ services offerings.” Avnet in recent years has acquired multiple companies — such as Ascendant Technology, BrightStar Partners, Canvas Systems, Genilogix, Mattelli and Pepperweed Consulting — to build out the global IT services push.

Is Avnet preparing to sell IT services direct to end customers? Nope. Instead, the company says it will continue to promote IT services through VARs, ISVs, systems integrators and OEMs. Avnet claims it has more than 2,000 service delivery pros — led by SVP Bill Wentworth — set to assist those partners. True believers include Logicalis, an MSPmentor 501 company that leverages Avnet’s services.

Ingram Micro Cloud Services

Meanwhile, Ingram Micro has announced its 2013 Cloud Partnership award winners. The partners typically plug into Ingram Micro’s Cloud Services Marketplace — essentially a cloud services brokerage and aggregation system.

Jason Bystrak, director of sales, Ingram Micro Services Division, North America, said the honorees included All Covered, Computer Solutions, CCB, DenaliTek, GB Tech Inc., Innovation Networks, IT Works, Nexus IS, ProTech Systems Group Inc., SNP Technologies and SOS Systems.

During the recent Ingram Micro Cloud conference in Phoenix, VP Renee Bergeron said more than 4,000 VARs now use Ingram Micro’s cloud services.

Synnex Goes North (With NCR)

Finally this week, Synnex Canada is now offering NCR point of sale products to the Canadian channel.

Canadian resellers can source NCR tier one POS solutions from Synnex warehouse locations in Vancouver, Halifax, Guelph and Calgary. The product lineup includes POS terminals, kiosks, digital signage software, peripherals and related IT services.

Looking Ahead

So what’s next on the distribution landscape? Check The VAR Guy’s Top 100 Channel Partners Conferences list for 2013, and you’ll discover that Ingram Micro is heading to Hollywood, Fla., really soon. Perhaps The VAR Guy will tag along.

That’s all for this week. Check back every Thursday for the next Distribution Watch column — now penned by The VAR Guy.

Special thanks to Charlene O’Hanlon. The former author of this weekly column, O’Hanlon has joined a media startup. Our resident blogger wishes her well.