A new lease of life

Who knows what's in store for the sector in 2003? One thing we're sure of is the continuing roll-out of CRN's invaluable online services.

For many people, the only good thing about 2002 is that it is over. While some hope that 2003 may see the start of recovery in a sector that has been battered for several years, others are not so optimistic.

Few can blame them, when the only predictable factor over the past few months has been unpredictability.

However, one thing that vnunet.com's sister title Computer Reseller News (CRN) can confidently predict for this year is the continuing roll-out of its online services.

At the Channel Awards in November it launched the CRN Virtual Warehouse service, which sources and checks the availability of products from leading UK distributors, in partnership with IT Dealer.com.

Since then it has been working on more tools and services aimed at helping value-added resellers to win more business in today's tough economic climate.

The next offering will be an online leasing service, powered by independent third-party IT finance, leasing and rental company Syscap.

Technology is moving at a rapid pace but IT budgets are static, and many end users believe that outlays for IT equipment may produce return on investment and capital.

With finance and leasing services, end users can acquire the systems they need to drive their businesses but pay for them when they deliver the benefits they want.

For the reseller, the leasing service offers the ability to trade at any time and from anywhere, and it offers online credit decisions and real-time deal-tracking facilities.

There is also an online reward scheme to which value-added resellers can subscribe.

So get clicking on the CRN online services section at www.crnservices.co.uk, or visit www.crn.vnunet.com.

We have also included our Green Pages directory, a fully searchable database of 10,000 IT firms and 15,000 software products.

There will be plenty more exciting services rolling out throughout the year, so keep going back to your favourite channel portal.