LeftHand reveals VAR recruitment strategy
SAN vendor set to recruit 30 channel partners within six months
LeftHand Networks is looking to beef up its channel with the launch of a reseller programme and an aggressive recruitment drive.
The iSCSI SAN vendor intends to launch a replica of its US LeftHand Network Advantage programme in the US in September, according to Doug Rich, vice president EMEA at LeftHand Networks. “We have about six partners in the UK right now, but want to recruit 30 within the next six months,” he said.
The programme is tiered with Premier, Gold, Silver and Authorised levels. The vendor is also launching a deal registration process that could offer partners further rebates.
The vendor is hoping to entice resellers to the scheme by unveiling its latest product, SAN IQ 7. The product breaks SANs into hardware and software, according to John Fanelli, vice president of marketing at LeftHand Networks.
“This means resellers can sell an x86, and sell our software on top of it to create a SAN. It means end users don’t have to rip out their existing kit,” he said. “We work with IBM and Hewlett-Packard servers at the moment because this is what the market is demanding.”
Fanelli said resellers can also sell the vendor’s hardware alongside the software as a complete offering. “The iSCSI space is hot right now and because of the expense customers are simply not renewing their Fibre Channel systems,” he said.
Jason Rabbetts, managing director of VAR Union Solutions, said: “With LeftHand we can repurpose our customers’ existing kit, which is what they are looking for.”