CRN's 2014 Vendor Report is set to be bigger and better than last year with comparative data based on performance. Who will top the leaderboard this year?
The CRN Vendor Report survey came to a barnstorming end last week with a 20 per cent increase in resellers taking part, including nearly 50 per cent of the top 100 UK VARs.
Not only that, but we have increased the number of vendors covered in the report to a not-to-be sniffed at 50. So where did you come this year?
To even feature in the report is an achievement in itself, because each vendor needs a certain number of responses to generate enough data for a profile and place in the rankings.
For those not familiar with CRN’s Vendor Report, it differs from the usual survey because it allows for open text responses to a number of questions, allowing respondents to air their real feelings with confidence on the matter.
This year we have also split the larger vendors into hardware, software and services so they can see how they are performing in each area.
Early indications suggest that there is some work still to be done by a lot of vendors, as CRN starts the laborious process of sifting through the mountains of data produced by this survey. But which vendors are doing the best job?
At launch last year it was the first time a report of this nature had been done in the UK, and this year CRN can claim another first, as it will be the first time we can get real comparative data on who has brushed up on their channel performance, and who hasn’t even reached dress rehearsal stage.
As with last year’s survey, vendors will be ranked on seven different areas including support, margins and rebates and product quality, and the results will create a rankings chart which can be compared with last years’ results, to see if changes to channel strategy are having the desired effect.
Those that have sat on their laurels will be exposed in all their glory, and newcomers to the list will see how they compare to their rivals and peers.
Alan Loader, publisher of CRN said: “This report really does differ from other reports because it offers proper comparative year-on-year data with some of the most frank and honest feedback vendors will see all year.
“All our respondents have been able to comment freely and anonymously on how they feel their vendor partners have performed over the last year and it has painted a picture in their words of how the top 50 vendors in the UK are really performing. We are very excited about seeing the results. And any vendor that really cares about its UK partners will also want to see the results for themselves.”
More details of the CRN Vendor Report will be released in the coming weeks. To reserve your copy, contact [email protected].
