Distribution Watch: Avnet, Tech Data, D&H Distributing

Greetings, and welcome to Distribution Watch, our weekly peek at what’s going on in the distribution space. This week we’ve got news from Avnet (NYSE: AVT), Tech Data (NASDAQ: TECD) and D&H Distributing, so if you’re comfortable, let’s get started.

Avnet: Avnet Technology Solutions, the global IT solutions distribution arm of Avnet, now offers a data protection solution for IBM (NYSE: IBM) business partners in the United States and Canada to address the disaster recovery and business continuity challenges of their midmarket customers while further enhancing their data center and storage offerings.

The new offering combines services from Avnet with software and hardware from IBM and Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD), offering data replication features that securely and efficiently transport critical business data to remote sites over any distance, according to the company. The solution enables partners to provide their customers the ability to restart processing in their backup data centers at the point of disruption. Instead of locating and loading backup files, a customer’s remote data center can immediately continue transactions from the most current point reached at the primary data center, saving time and improving customer service.

“Avnet worked with IBM and Brocade to design a cost-effective, secure solution that helps midmarket enterprises protect their data and information assets. With this solution, our partners will be able to competitively differentiate themselves and drive additional storage sales by offering a solution that addresses their customers’ technology and financial issues,” said Mark Martin, vice president of Business Development and Marketing, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, IBM Solutions group.

Tech Data: The global distributor was recognized by Autodesk as the top distributor in overall sales growth for Autodesk's fiscal year 2013. The award was presented at a ceremony at the Autodesk One Team Conference in March in Las Vegas.

"This award reinforces Tech Data's dedication to its partnership with Autodesk and its customers," said Stacy Nethercoat, vice president of Product Marketing, Cloud and Software Services at Tech Data. "Through our partnership with Autodesk, Tech Data will continue to provide the best logistical and service capabilities to the channel, driving value to meet the needs of our community of solution providers."

Tech Data works closely with Autodesk to help customers design, simulate and analyze their ideas, increase operational efficiencies and maximize their return on investment in Autodesk software solutions.

D&H Distributing: Just in time for Earth Day April 22, the distributor is touting the success so far of its “Go Green” ecological programs and policies, including new internal projects that aid in conservation. D&H has sold almost 10 million units of green-certified products per year, aggregated across the three years that D&H has been tallying numbers for these products, amounting to 28,449,298 green items sold since 2010. The distributor’s inventory of merchandise that qualifies as “green” has also increased steadily over the years, it noted.

In addition, D&H recently completed an installation of 62,729 square feet of solar panels adjacent to its corporate location in Harrisburg, Pa. The Solar Farm includes 3,542 U.S.-made panels generating 245 watts of energy a piece, which is projected to save up to 44 percent annually on D&H’s energy expenditures at that location, according to the company.

Also, D&H’s IT department is in the process of virtualizing its infrastructure, consolidating 60 virtual servers to run on only 20 systems. The company’s use of IBM Blade Centers further reduces cooling and energy costs.

We commend D&H on its efforts to help the planet.

And that’s this week’s Distribution Watch. Come back next week, same bat-time, same bat-channel. Until then, stay safe.