HDS shifts strategy to lift consultative sales

Vendor eyes high-end enterprise storage market with the release of its USP V offering

Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) has launched a service oriented storage strategy that it has claimed will help channel partners drive more consultative sales.

The strategy is based on HDS’ latest Universal Storage Platform (USP) V (pictured), which according to the vendor will enable firms to buy storage services tailored to their business needs.

In addition, the firm, which recently announced plans to double the volume of business conducted through the channel, unveiled a range of related software including an enterprise-level virtualisation layer integrated with thin provisioning software.

Rob Walley, EMEA product manager, solutions and business development group HDS, said: “This announcement signifies a strategic leap forward in the high-end enterprise storage market, enabling us and our channel partners to bring proven technology to a critical client base. Channel partners can use our USP V as the foundation to which they add their own services to provide custom offerings for their clients.”

Jason Rabbetts, managing director of VAR Storpoint, said: “We are just about to go through some changes, and one of our key sales messages is going to be services oriented infrastructure – so HDS is bang-on with its messaging.

“It will get end-users and channel partners thinking about the business messaging side of storage such as what the service is trying to deliver, how much it will cost and how the service is measured in terms of cost, risk, performance and availability.”

HDS renews channel focus for market shift