Tech Data Expands Successful Cloud Practice Builder Program

Tech Data on Tuesday announced additions to its successful Cloud Practice Builder program, including vendor-specific enablement programs and interactive, solution-focused paths. 

This expansion of the program builds on Tech Data’s move last October to a cloud business assessment, a digital enablement experience and enhanced access to dedicated cloud experts. 

Tech Data’s Sergio Farache

“Our partners are looking for new ways to expand their businesses and take advantage of high-growth opportunities as evidenced by the 900-plus customers who have participated in digital cloud-practice building since its launch in October,” said Sergio Farache, senior vice president, global cloud solutions at Tech Data. “Our latest additions to the program enhance our [partners]’ ability to build and diversify their cloud practices.” 

Having a cloud practice is non-negotiable for any partner with a pulse. 

Gartner recently projected that the worldwide public cloud services market will grow 17.5% in 2019 to $214.3 billion, up from $182.4 billion just last year. By 2022, that revenue forecast is $331.2 billion. 

Those billions of dollars represent revenue from cloud business process services (BPaaS), cloud application infrastructure services (PaaS), cloud application services (SaaS), cloud management and security services, and cloud system infrastructure services (IaaS).

Gartner’s Sid Nag

“Cloud services are definitely shaking up the industry,” said Sid Nag, research vice president at Gartner. “At Gartner, we know of no vendor or service provider today whose business model offerings and revenue growth are not influenced by the increasing adoption of cloud-first strategies in organizations.” 

And this is just the beginning. 

That’s why Tech Data continues to ramp up its Cloud Practice Builder program. The distributor’s new interactive paths are designed to simplify the complexity of developing a new technology practice. The new elements of the  program offer partners a single source for growing diversified cloud practices by assessing, mapping and building expanded practice or solution-focus areas that deliver recurring revenue. 

The distributor points to its Microsoft enablement path, called Azure Express, available in the U.S. as an example of a vendor-specific path. Created in partnership with Microsoft, the program, which includes working with a dedicated program manager, helps resellers to ramp up and take advantage of high-demand cloud applications while building a new practice that leverages opportunities using Microsoft Azure. 

Tech Data has plans to expand Azure Express, globally, though no date is available.