LSI gears up for systems integrator push

Storage vendor credits products and programme refresh for renewed channel interest

Storage vendor LSI claims its reworked product portfolio and partner programme are proof of its commitment to its systems integrator (SI) channel.

Over the past 12 months, the vendor has released a series of new product "building blocks" to help its SI partners create bespoke storage systems for their customers.

These have included the rollout of a product LSI claims is the channel's first 6GB/s SAS switch and release of its Warpdrive I/O Acceleration Card last month.

Suresh Panikar (pictured), senior manager of worldwide channel marketing at LSI, said the vendor is one product away from completing its reworked portfolio.

"In terms of the competition, there's no other vendor out there at the moment that can match the breadth of products we have at LSI," he said.

"The channel is picking up on this. We are getting a lot of interest from systems integrators that have previously thought of LSI as an OEM-only operation."

As well as products, the vendor's partner programme was subjected to an overhaul in October, which Panikar claims has also contributed to the increased interested in LSI.

Partners now receive rebates at the end of each quarter based on the level of revenue generated, improved access to demonstration units and market development funds, and favourable pricing on certain items.

Paul Hickingbotham, solutions manager at LSI distribution partner Hammer, said LSI's product and partner programme changes were a step in the right direction.

He added: "It is a little early to see how successful this will be, but we are already seeing an increased level of interest and opportunity around the portfolio."