Acer shows some channel love

Vendor calls channel the lifeblood of the Acer machine as it moves on from inventory woes earlier this year

Acer is a "speedboat" among vendors, according to its SMB and distribution channel manager.

Speaking at the Synaxon conference in Crewe today, Alicia Shepherd reaffirmed the vendor's commitment to its partners, shrugging off the negative inventory news that has plagued it this year and outlining its commitment to innovation.

"Acer is just being honest about the market." she said. "Our mission has been to break down the barriers between people and technology and we stand by our commitment to easy-to-use, reliable and dependable technology.

"I would compare us to a speedboat in the channel because if we need to do something, we can be quick and nimble, unlike other manufacturers that I would refer to as tankers," she said. "Acer is all about being first to market."

The vendor, which also owns the e-machines, Packard Bell and Gateway brands, is holding onto the number two PC and notebook slot globally and is still number one in EMEA, she said, with the channel playing a key role in its success.

"[The channel] is the lifeblood of Acer's machine," she added. "Without our partners we are not going to achieve our goals. We will continue to be 100 per cent indirect and we have a highly focused sales channel."

Shepherd said the vendor covers the spectrum of products from laptops, notebooks, TFTs and servers, right through to whiteboards and projectors in the education space. And of course it is in the thick of the tablet revolution.

"It is all about touch," she said. "We will continue to develop our smartphones and our tablets. In fact, we offer one of the most expansive portfolios in the IT marketplace."

And in spite of its recent inventory woes, she said the vendor continues to hold its head high.

"Despite the economic conditions we have a lot to be proud of," Shepherd said. "And we are engaging with our channel partners, offering a winning formula of supply chain management. We know what our weaknesses are and we have addressed them. Now, rather than an enormous inventory in the channel, we have the right inventory at the right price for the right technology."