C2000 to offer Big Blue storage in the UK

Parent Tech Data strikes major deal with Big Blue

Computer 2000 is to distribute IBM's storage products in the UK for the first time, following a deal between parent company Tech Data and Big Blue.

Tech Data Europe said last week that it has extended its Europe, Middle East & Africa storage distribution deal with IBM to include the UK, the Czech Republic, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

The distributor is also in the process of centralising all its IBM Technology Group operations into a single European PC Components Division, to be managed by Tech Data International and based in Switzerland. Products will include IBM's Deskstar and Travelstar hard disk drives.

Klaus Schlichtherle, managing director of the PC components vertical business unit for Tech Data Europe, said the enhanced deal was "very positive" for the partnership between the firms.

"We are delighted to have signed this extended agreement. It is an opportunity to grow our sales of IBM products across Europe, while centralising our operations will improve efficiency," he said.

In addition to enabling centralised purchasing and fewer product 'touch points', Schlichtherle said that the centralised operations will help customers reduce costs.

"A growing number of major accounts have expressed a desire to purchase on a centralised basis. This will enable them to do so and to benefit from Tech Data's logistics, as well as other services such as drop shipment, which will cut costs," he explained.