Midwich sits pretty with Poly amid unified comms push

Distributor launches Hardware as a Service programme as its Poly contract goes global

Midwich has launched a Hardware as a Service programme after winning global distribution rights with comms vendor Poly.

The addition of Poly - a brand forged last year through the merger of Polycom and Plantronics - is part of Midwich's "ongoing focus" on unified comms (UC), the audio visual-specialist distributor said.

Although Midwich saw first-half underlying revenues plunge by an expected 22 per cent, it pinpointed UC as a star performer in a pre-close trading statement last month (recent US acquisition, Starin, was already a Poly distributor).

The LSE-listed distributor said at the time that it intended to build expertise and reach in the UC market.

Officially launching on 1 September, Midwich's Hardware as a Service offering will initially focus on Poly's video solutions that have been certified for Zoom.

The programme aims to give Midwich's channel partners the ability to offer the latest UC technology to their customers without them having to stump up a substantial outlay.

"The global pandemic has resulted in unprecedented financial constraints and a need to optimise communication is key for every organisation, through work-from-home (WFH), office or classroom UC solutions," said Midwich group managing director Stephen Fenby.

"The launch of the new Hardware as a Service programme along with this exciting new global partnership with Poly, leaves us well positioned to offer the leading UC technology to our channel partners and their customers, without the substantial upfront costs."

Nick Tidd, vice president, Global Partner Organization, Poly, added: "Customers are facing the unprecedented challenge of navigating a world where the work ‘place' is less important. The partnership we have with Zoom, coupled with this impressive Hardware-as-a-Service model, enables our customers to not only connect from any location, but maintain productivity effectively."