Comztek appointed as Microsoft distributor

Microsoft has appointed Comztek as its third distributor in South Africa. Following the company`s recent acquisition of LAN Design, Comztek, one of South Africa`s most influential distributors in the networking and communication market will now be able to offer its resellers a broader IT solution.

"Comztek will continue to focus on the distribution of networking and communication products, but will also be expanding its offering to ensure that the company continues to offer its SME focused resellers a tailored distribution solution," says Paul Conradie, managing director at Comztek.

"Microsoft has presented us with the opportunity to grow our local business and offer our resellers new sales opportunities in the market. In turn, this will enable Microsoft to strengthen its position in the networking and communication market, as Comztek is able to provide the necessary client base and infrastructure to add the required force to successfully penetrate this target market, "adds Conradie.

"Microsoft awarded Comztek distribution rights to its products as we believe that they have a well established distribution model that benefits both the reseller and end-user," says David Prosser, distributor manager at Microsoft South Africa. "Comztek has a strong focus on offering a value-added service to its channel and we believe that through its reseller channel Microsoft will have the opportunity of increasing its platform market share."

A key focus area for Comztek is to grow and service the SME market in South Africa. With its loyal SME reseller client base, Comztek believe that they will be able to add a fresh approach and enhance the Microsoft product offering. "Although Microsoft products are well represented in the local SME market, it is estimated that only 20% of its products are licensed correctly. As a distributor focused on resellers addressing the SME market we are hoping to increase revenue through intensified attention to this issue," says Mark Dorfling, Microsoft product manager at Comztek.

Microsoft strives to ensure that its product range is easily and readily available to all members of the channel. "When considering Comztek`s focused relationships with its resellers, as well as its reputation for excellent distribution management and the support structures it has in place for its resellers, we believe that they will be able to offer local resellers a comprehensive solution," concludes Prosser.

Comztek will now be distributing all Microsoft full packaged products and Open Licence 5.0, a flexible volume licensing programme that is widely accessible and cost effective for company`s to licence multiple copies of Microsoft software. Comztek will also offer resellers Microsoft latest licensing programme - Open Subscription License, which unlike other Microsoft volume licensing agreements, allows end-users to rent the licences instead of buying them.