Computerlinks offers virtual aid

Miller: Some resellers have to pass on opportunities

Distributor Computerlinks is offering resellers the chance to bolster their virtualisation manpower through its outsourcing initiative.

The scheme will see Com­puterlinks helping resellers that lack the resources to take on virtualisation projects alone. Support will be offered in three areas: capacity planning, design and implementation.

Kathryn Miller, professional services manager at Computerlinks, said: “Some resellers have the skills, but have to pass on opportunities because they do not have enough staff to tackle projects – we can partner with them to resolve these issues.”

The UK and Ireland are the first countries to benefit from the support initiative, which Computerlinks said it plans to roll out globally in response to demand.

To benefit, resellers will need to be recommending virtualisation products in Computerlinks’s portfolio, which include Citrix and The Virtual Machine Company.

The distributor will partner with resellers during each stage of the deployment process, said Miller, but those that take on the majority of the work will chalk up the most margin.

Rupert Collier, e-business product manager and virtualisation specialist at Computerlinks, said he expects take up for the services to be buoyed by the end of the recession.

He added: “There is no risk of any conflict of interest involved with this because at no point do we deal direct with the end user.”

Dan Hobson, managing director at Computerlinks VAR Codestone Communica­tions, said his firm is currently in talks with the distributor about making use of its virtualisation services.

He said: “It is of great value to have a trustworthy partner working alongside us with no conflict of interest in terms of the channel.”