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Avnet to leverage regional scale and scope to further the adoption of end-to-end retail solutions
Avnet Technology Solutions, an IT solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today expanded its global relationship with IBM to include the distribution of IBM's world-class Retail Store Solutions (RSS) in the European region. Avnet will distribute IBM's RSS solutions to its value-added reseller (VAR) and independent software vendor (ISV) partners in the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria, with additional countries to follow. Business partners will benefit from Avnet's ability to provide complete end-to-end retail solutions that leverage Avnet's portfolio of server, storage, mobility and wireless technologies. Avnet will also provide integration support for ISV-based solutions through its IBM accredited integration centre centrally located in Tongeren, Belgium.
"Avnet's track record in accelerating the success of IBM and its VAR and ISV partners has earned us the opportunity to expand our support for the retail market across Europe," said Miriam Murphy, senior vice president, IBM product business group at Avnet Technology Solutions, EMEA. "We will provide dedicated support for business partners looking to expand their sales in the retail market, including training, enablement, solutions demonstrations and proof of concept units for use with partners' customers. We see this as a win for partners looking to support traditional retail markets, as well as those targeting non-traditional retail environments. Avnet's IBM RSS partners can also target markets such as healthcare, government and leisure by leveraging the point-of-sale and mobility solutions available through Avnet to solve their customers' unique business needs."
Avnet is IBM's largest distributor globally, with more than $3 billion USD in annual sales. The two companies recently celebrated 25 years of partnership. Key to the success of the relationship between Avnet and IBM is Avnet's ability to develop and deliver complete solutions that target the business issues of end customers. Avnet will complement IBM's RSS offerings in the point-of-sale (POS) and self-service areas with mobility and wireless technologies, such as barcode and scanner solutions from Motorola, plus provide sales and enablement support from Avnet's experts in these markets.
"In addition to helping traditional IBM and Motorola partners deliver IBM RSS solutions, Avnet will be working with the ISV community, who create software solutions for RSS products, and non-IBM electronic POS resellers, to create valuable solutions that address the challenges facing the retail market," said Keith Robinson, product business group director, wireless and mobility at Avnet Technology Solutions, EMEA. "Our integration capabilities will be of key importance to ISVs as we will be able to offer full integration capability of their software into complete IBM RSS solutions."
"The benefits Avnet provides to IBM's business partners extend beyond the company's value-added services, such as logistics and technical design support," said Ted Clark, IBM RSS Global Channel Leader. "Avnet's ability to support a broad base of partners across Europe through a combination of local resources and regional strengths has made them an excellent company to provide pan-European distribution for IBM RSS solutions. Avnet's unique market position allows them to leverage best practices and resources from around the region to help our partners target new opportunities in the growing retail market. Their breadth of IBM software, hardware, and services expertise will more quickly enable our business partners to provide Smarter Commerce solutions to retailers in Europe."
About Avnet Technology Solutions
As a global solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver effective solutions that address the business challenges of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2010, the group served customers in more than 30 countries and generated US $8.19 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. Visit: www.ts.avnet.com/ae.
About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of customers around the world by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2010, Avnet generated revenue of $19.16 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
Media Contact:
Linda Patterson
Avnet Technology Solutions
Tel: + 44 (0) 1344 662091
Email: linda.patterson@avnet.com
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