Convergent pushes the convergence message
Maverick's technical division looking for VARs that want to take advantage of combining AV and IT market
Maverick’s Convergent business has bolstered its number of vendors and is now looking for resellers that are interested in taking advantage of the growing convergence between audiovisual (AV), IT and communications technology.
Since its inception at the end of last year (CRN, 18 December), Convergent has dubbed itself the technical division of distributor Maverick and unveiled its own web site.
Speaking to CRN, Kris Davies, business manager at Convergent, said: “We have 12 vendors on board. Eight are new and four were Maverick’s that we now look after. Maverick is growing and some of its products needed a different strategy and higher level of support than it could provide.”
One such product was Polyvision’s Thunder meeting room system. Sam McMaster, managing director of VAR Questmark, the only authorised Thunder reseller in the UK, said: “Unfortunately, Maverick didn’t put the necessary resources into pushing Thunder, but I think Convergent will give it the attention it deserves. It’s lonely out here as the only Thunder VAR. To really build the market there needs to be three Thunder resellers in the UK.”
Davies claimed that resellers have needed a division like Convergent for some time.
“A lot of resellers keep saying to us that it’s about time,” he said. “We’re now trying to make sure we get in front of the right VARs – those who are already involved in, or those that want to learn about, convergence.”
Davies added that training is a key priority for Convergent, with both bespoke and non-bespoke offerings available.
Paul Reeves, sales and marketing director at IPTV and digital signage vendor Cabletime, said: “Our route to market has historically been through a staple of 25 AV integrators. We have partnered with Convergent to try and broaden the type of partners we work with.”