Avnet Buys Canvas Systems for IT Lifecycle Management

Avnet continues to expand its presence through acquisitions, and this time, the distributor has scooped up IT hardware, services and lifecycle management company Canvas Systems. How will Canvas System’s augment Avnet’s offerings? Read on for the details.

If you’re experiencing déjà vu, it’s completely normal. In December 2011 Avnet acquired Nexicore, which offers aftermarket technology services with a focus on electronic repair. Avnet is expanding that branch of “recycling” technology with the Canvas Systems acquisition. Canvas Systems focuses on “services that span the IT lifecycle,” which simply means it can help users make the most of their existing hardware. The company provides risk assessment, ensuring customers can migrate, upgrade or “refresh their data center infrastructure,” at as little cost and with as few problems as possible.

While Nexicore has become part of Avnet’s Integrated Resources, Canvas Systems will fall under Avnet’s Technology Solutions arm. Avnet plans on using Canvas Systems’ resources to build out “best in class solutions that help our business partners,” said Jeff Bawol, president of Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. Canvas Systems will be immediately accretive to Avnet’s earnings, but Avnet did not publish how much it will lay out to acquire Canvas Systems. However, Canvas Systems raked in nearly $122 million in its fiscal year 2011.

The trend in recycling and repairing technology is interesting, especially amid virtualization, cloud and mobile device management (MDM). If services such as those offered by Canvas Systems continue to proliferate, more customers could look to buy thin clients or mobile devices to fulfill employee work needs. Refreshing old PCs might just be “good enough.” We’ll keep a close eye as MDM continues in 2012.