Avnet bucks downturn

Distributor highlights software opportunities

Avnet’s software division has seen significant growth over the past year, despite the challenging economic climate, and it is keen to pass on its positive message to its VAR base.

Mickey Bharat, director of Avnet’s independent software business unit, said: “Over the past five to 10 years people have been hanging on to the coat-tails of what has been selling in the software space.

“They have not had to understand what made them buy the kit in the first place ­ it has all been on the value of the product, so they have never had the complete picture. That is changing now.

“Partners have become very loyal to particular brands and are going to a lot more seminars to get to know products better. There are a lot of opportunities out there in the software space.”