Avnet integrates its Sun business
Distributor branches out from traditional IBM business by adding Sun distribution agreement
Avnet has untethered itself from the bounds of being a single vendor distributor following the integration of GE Access into its Partner Solutions division.
Avnet had primarily focused its business around IBM, however, late last year the firm acquired GE Access, and with it a Sun distribution agreement. The firm said that it has now rolled the Sun business into its Avnet Partner Solutions alongside its IBM unit, under the management of Colin Robertson.
Speaking exclusively to CRN, UK country manager Robertson, said: “There is no more GE Access in the UK, there is Avnet Partner Solutions with two primary units; an IBM unit and a Sun unit.”
Robertson refuted the fact that the move could see the distributor lose focus on its IBM business. “I have not had any calls from IBM complaining. They have simply asked me whether we will continue to grow the IBM business, which we will. The value is by no means compromised.
“End-users are demanding multi-vendor solutions and we want our partners to be able to use us as their one source. A significant number of VARs that already sell Sun are with us for IBM. This will make it much easier for them.”
Robertson admitted the GE Access integration had resulted in some overlap. “We have made just two redundancies and closed a very small Manchester office,” he said.
Greg Carlow, managing director of IBM and Sun VAR Repton, said the move was a good one for Avnet.
“It means that resellers of both vendors can now go just to Avnet instead of having to use two or more distributors,” he said. “There is always a chance that the stock or skill set might not be right at any given distributor, but now at least we have that choice with Avnet.”