Westcon SA has unveiled its Cloud Solutions business practice unit, which will focus on assisting reseller partners transform themselves into cloud-ready businesses.
Formed from the amalgamation of its former Software Solutions business practice and the addition of a host of cloud services, the unit was a direct response to the growing need from its partners for assistance in gearing and developing their own businesses, and better delivery of cloud-centric services and products to the end-user, says Westcon in a statement.
Also, it will provide vendor partners with the right mix of value-added and back-end logistics services they need in order to deliver their products and solutions through a cloud-centric model, adds Westcon.
According to Leane Hannigan, cloud and software solutions director at Westcon SA, the cloud is starting to consume local businesses. Today businesses' conversation is focused on private, public or hybrid cloud, and not how many more square metres they will need in the future to support server sprawl, she adds.
The objective of the cloud solutions will be to assist Westcon's partner network with the distribution, aggregation and syndication of cloud services, leading with a hybrid cloud eco-system, says Hannigan.
She points out the solution will act as an extension of the reseller's team, provide access to the pre- and post-sales skills it needs to close deals, the support and technical skills needed to help carry their customers, as well as a range of additional services - all under the customer's banner, she adds.
End-users are investigating making investments into cloud solutions and are starting to move small parts of their businesses into small cloud pockets, says Hannigan.
The early adopters in the IT industry, which are ready to take the leap and evolve into cloud delivery businesses, will be in a unique position to capitalise on new and future business from end-users as they start moving, she adds.
However, the window of opportunity is shrinking - so IT companies need to act now if they want to remain relevant and successful into the future, says Hannigan. Businesses are looking at who has the right services in place to partner with them, and Westcon believes it plays a crucial role in adding value to its partners - to help their customers with their desired cloud journey.
"It is our goal to become the formative cloud solutions distributor in southern Africa," states Paul Conradie, CEO at Westcon Group Southern Africa. "We believe that, through the Cloud Solutions business practice, our partners will be able to tap into the resources they need to help them deliver a robust cloud roadmap to their customers, both locally and globally."
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