Tech Data Opens VAR-Focused Cloud Services Marketplace

Tech Data StreamOne

Tech Data isn’t the only IT distributor pursuing cloud revenues. Talkin’ Cloud is closely watching the IT distributor market and believes some distributors will succeed as so-called cloud aggregators — though it’s unclear if the efforts will be lucrative enough to offset on-premises IT sales that the cloud could disrupt.

Essentially, Tech Data sees its mission as connecting ISVs, software developers and cloud service providers with its “thousands” of reseller partners by way of a self-service portal. Tech Data StreamOne is designed to simplify license agreements and the process of discovering the right solution. Resellers gain the ability to send their customers one combined bill for all services purchased via StreamOne.

On the legacy side of things, StreamOne supports downloading software, and a much-touted feature is the Software License Selector. The idea there is to ask resellers a few questions to make sure they’re buying the solution they need with the licenses they need, no more and no less.

Back in the cloud services catalog, Tech Data StreamOne’s website promises a wide range of services, from SaaS to IaaS to PaaS. Cloud ISVs who opt to list their wares on StreamOne are eligible for co-promotions, their own virtual storefronts, renewal campaigns, and more tools to help a developer turn a listing into a business.

“[The] StreamOne Solutions Store pioneers an untapped path for ISVs and cloud providers to directly access niche markets previously unavailable, while providing a simpler and more efficient interface for VARs,” said Bob Dutkowsky, CEO of Tech Data, in a press release.

For the record, this differs in approach from Tech Data’s existing TDCloud offering — StreamOne is about delivering third-party services, while TDCloud is much more focused on actually building a cloud yourself.

Numerous distributors are launching cloud-related services for VARs and MSPs. The Ingram Micro Cloud and Synnex CloudSolv efforts, respectively, are also pursuing the so-called cloud aggregator model, but it remains to be seen if they’re actually making any money. Stay tuned to TalkinCloud for updates.