Servium focuses on services growth and lands in Germany

VAR launches Servium GmbH and appoints new UK services head

Chessington-based VAR Servium to pursue overseas expansion with the launch of Servium GmbH, in a move prompted by the ongoing complexity of Europe-wide shipping post-Brexit.

Two years in the planning, the firm's CEO Paul Barlow soft-launched the new arm of the business via LinkedIn.

Speaking to CRN, Barlow (pictured) said that since Brexit, it has become increasingly complicated to ship kit to Europe from the UK, often resulting in extra taxes and unexpected charges through the extended supply chain.

"We have launched Servium Germany because it makes it a lot easier for us to export to the EU, Barlow explained.

"Primarily it is for our UK customers who have subsidiaries across Europe that they need to supply kit to, but we are keeping an open mind and will look for other opportunities within Europe as well now we have an opening there."

Currently the German side business will be run from the UK, but nothing is being ruled out for the future, Barlow said.

"It is an exciting time for us and we will see how it goes."

He added that Servium is also laser-focused on growing its UK services business in the coming year following the recent appointment of channel veteran Lisa Finn as its new head of services. Finn has held senior roles at a number of channel firms over the last two decades including Ingram Micro, Comms-Care and Softcat.

Barlow added that services was a significant growth area for the company and it will be looking to set up a dedicated UK services sales team in the near future.

"It is great news that Lisa has joined us and she certainly has a busy time ahead. We will be looking to enhance our services offering and increase customer penetration through services, as well as gaining new customers," he said. "Our services business is set up to complement our customers' IT teams and free up their resources so they can focus on overcoming other challenges in their businesses."

But he stressed the firm would not lose focus on its hardware, software and licencing business.

"While the client side of the business might be slower at the moment, I am confident it will come back, there is always going to be a market for it," he said. "We are very lucky in this industry - there is always an opportunity for growth with new revenue streams popping up, but the real challenge is finding the right ones to back."