PQ Africa`s data centre solutions provider, Persetel, has become the focus point of the recently penned five year comprehensive strategic reseller agreement signed between Comparex Holdings Ltd and EMC Corporation, the world`s leading provider of enterprise storage systems, software and services.
The agreement brings to the PQ Africa stable, the ability to add additional elements to the stated focus on e-commerce and storage, with storage-based integration. It also allows customers to take advantage of the additional portfolio of intelligent storage systems, software and related professional services.
There is a great deal of enthusiasm from both companies and former rivalries have been transformed into a strong business alliance, with the customer the central focus point of the combined energies of the partnership.
The agreement is extremely positive for EMC, says Hugh Wason, country manager for EMC South Africa. Persetel is a company with local focus and a complete solution set for the enterprise - incorporating software and hardware consultancy as well as product expertise. Having them as a strategic reseller means customers now have access to value added EMC solutions.
MD of Persetel, Leon Avenant, says direct access to EMC products will increase the flexibility of the company`s data centre solution set.
Storage is becoming more and more important to an enterprise, he says. Custom applications, data warehousing and e-commerce are all driving the need for sharing, managing and protecting data. EMC is the undisputed leader in this business. Having a relationship with them means our customers will benefit from their track record and solution set.
Both companies say the agreement is unlikely to stifle competition. Enterprise storage is a highly competitive market, says Wason. All of the major vendors have stated this year that it is strategic to them and we expect customers will still have plenty of choice. Partnering with Persetel aids our efforts in the face of this competition and gives us access to those customers that they have partnered with over the last twenty years in the South African market.
EMC`s deal with Comparex (PQ Africa`s holding company internationally) is part of a broader move in the Europe, Middle East and African markets to do more business through partners and resellers.
Everybody wins, adds Wason. PQ Africa, as a significant player in the South African market, gets access to our premier storage solutions. EMC gets greater market reach through the power of PQ Africa`s client contacts. And customers get the top integrators offering them the top solutions.
Avenant agrees: "EMC`s edge is in their software and business logic. They have made a huge investment in products and testing. Direct access to that expertise allows PQ Africa and Persetel to be far more effective as an integrator."
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Persetel (Pty) Limited
Persetel (Pty) Limited was formed in June 1999 through the merger of Persetel Open Systems and Persetel Mainframe Systems to supply guaranteed, business-critical data centre solutions.
A subsidiary of IT giant PQ Africa, Persetel is a leading player in the South African data centre industry, with particular strengths in enterprise-wide business-critical systems, including enterprise storage, storage area networks, data warehousing and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). By adding real business value to its customers, Persetel`s business-focused technology solutions reduce the risk normally associated with the implementation of complex data centre solutions. It has close relationships with leading vendors in the data centre including EMC and IBM, which enables the offering of a solution set, rather than product groups.
Competitive advantage, service excellence and improved profitability have long been the cornerstones of Persetel`s business. Thanks to a carefully selected range of leading-edge products, strategic alliances and partnerships, Persetel is able to provide greater choice, better business value and tailor-made solutions for its customers.
Persetel`s head office is in Sandton, with regional offices in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. The company also has the ability to draw on skills from within the PQ Africa group and from its business partners world-wide.
EMC
EMC Corporation, a Fortune 500 company based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, is the world`s technology and market leader in the rapidly growing market for intelligent enterprise storage systems, software, networks, and services. The company`s products store, retrieve, manage, protect and share information from all major computing environments, including Unix, Windows NT, Linux and mainframe platforms. The company has offices worldwide, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EMC, and is a component of the S&P 500 Index. For further information about EMC and its storage solutions, EMC`s corporate Web site can be accessed at http://www.EMC.com.