Logicalis claims lead in cloud computing

Integrator claims it is at least a year ahead of its competitors after launching cloud, consulting and managed services arm

Kelly: it is critical that we still deliver numbers for our vendor partners, but we have also looked at ways to move our goalposts to areas everyone wants to get into

Logicalis is at least 12-15 months ahead of its rivals when it comes to cloud computing, its UK managing director Tom Kelly has claimed.

The VAR recently unveiled its new cloud computing, consulting and managed services division (ChannelWeb, 5 November), along with plans to build a £7.5m datacentre next to its UK headquarters.

“We have been planning this for nine months,” Kelly told CRN. “It is critical that we still deliver numbers for our vendor partners, but we have also looked at ways to move our goalposts to areas everyone wants to get into. We had to align the resources that we had into a single team.”

Kelly said he had been talking to a wide range of potential public sector
and commercial customers and had received very positive feedback.

“We will be completely hardware- and software-agnostic to get the right architecture for each customer, because no matter what manufacturer people talk to they will have a self-centered view on trying to sell their own portfolio,” he said.

He added that Logicalis is still recruiting for its cloud computing team, which will eventually be 21-strong.