Comparex and EMC announce reseller agreement

Enterprise storage systems, software and services provider, EMC, and Comparex Holdings Limited, the local IT solutions provider, have unveiled a five-year comprehensive strategic reseller agreement.

Under the agreement, Comparex will market, sell and integrate the entire EMC portfolio of intelligent storage systems, software and professional services to organisations looking to build information infrastructures that enable them to compete more effectively in the new Internet-driven economy.

Comparex will also offer migration services to purchasers of previous Comparex offerings, as well as EMC e-Infostructure assessment, design, planning and implementation services for new environments. Previously, Comparex sold storage products manufactured by Hitachi Data Systems and other suppliers.

"The information infrastructure is the most critical component of any e-business strategy and companies across the globe embracing the Internet as part of their go-to-market model need to re-look this model from an infrastructure perspective," says Hugh Wason, country manager of EMC SA. "Our agreement with Comparex will allow us to better deliver on our investment in providing an e-infostructure on which customers can build their e-business initiatives. In terms of its integration, outsourcing and professional services capabilities, Comparex is ideally positioned to deliver in the Internet driven economy. Combining these expertise with EMC`s solutions portfolio will enable us to achieve more together," he says.

Rian du Plessis, CEO of Comparex Holdings says, "The Internet economy has changed the rules for organisations everywhere. Success in this environment demands the strongest, most flexible information infrastructure available.

"Pursuant to the recent sale of our European network integration business, we decided to focus our business on the fast growing areas of e-commerce and storage. We faced these new realities and conducted an exhaustive review to ensure that we have the right storage partner for the future," he says.

"EMC`s record of execution and leadership, years of storage-intensive R&D investments, strategic acquisitions such as Data General and Softworks, and compelling vision for the future of information demonstrate how wide the chasm is between EMC and the rest of the market. We are most enthusiastic about being able to partner with EMC in offering our customers the world`s most robust, risk-free information platforms," Du Plessis adds.

Comparex`s ability to quickly deploy complex, value-added solutions will accelerate the adoption of the EMC`s e-Infostructure.[BB1] EMC aims to assist Comparex in translating EMC`s offerings into competitive advantage for mutual customers.

"Comparex has recognised that EMC is ahead of the market and has elected to make us an exclusive supplier, turning our biggest competitor into our most significant partner," says Wason.

"EMC is fully committed to working with Comparex to best deliver across the board to all businesses in South Africa. We see this as a positive commitment to the South African market and can, together, better deliver to, service and support clients than independently," he concludes.