Storage vendor Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) is turning its attention to mid-market reseller recruitment following a year of channel expansion in the SME space.

The vendor claimed it doubled its UK channel business in 2007 and has recently trebled its channel staff and added 25 new SME-focused partners.

HDS told CRN it has aggressive plans to sign 20 more partners in the mid-market and is aiming for 25 per cent UK growth in 2008.

Neil Evans, regional sales director for UK channels at HDS, said: “HDS had a strong SME push last year and is already strong in the enterprise space. This year an extra push in the mid-market will complete the whole picture.

“When times are tough people look for value for money and the biggest names. Now is the time to take market share,” he said.
However, Hamish Macarthur, of analyst Macarthur Stroud, said: “In the current economic environment larger vendors like HDS will be under threat from the two-tier companies when competing on price.”