https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Channel Programs


Tech Data, Ingram Micro: Global SaaS Distributor Battle Looms

  • Written by The VAR Guy 1
  • February 25, 2010

At first glance, rivals Ingram Micro and Tech Data are launching regional SaaS and cloud experiments involving channel partners. But take a closer look at North America, Europe and Australia, and you’ll see the start of a global SaaS battle between Ingram Micro and Tech Data. Here are the details, and the implications for solutions providers.

The story starts in Australia, where Ingram Micro has joined the new Kaseya SaaS Partner Program (KSP). Switch your attention to North America, and Ingram Micro continues to build out its Seismic business, which includes multiple SaaS offerings for VARs and MSPs. Turn your eyes to Europe, and Tech Data has quietly gained SaaS channel momentum with a service called Fusyx.

Other distributors are making SaaS and MSP moves. In particular, keep an eye on Synnex, which is working with former MSP Services Network (MSPSN) CEO Amy Luby and itControl Solutions to develop a series of on-demand solutions for partners.

The bigger question: Will Ingram and Tech Data each take their regional SaaS efforts global? The VAR Guy’s bet: Absolutely yes. But it’s going to take some time to happen.

Hidden Success?

The VAR Guy is most intrigued by Europe, where Tech Data Belgium has developed a “set of SMB services based on Parallels Automation software.” Tech Data says the effort, branded as Fusyx…

“enables the delivery of hosted Microsoft Exchange, Windows SharePoint, Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS), BlackBerry services, shared hosting for Windows and Linux, VPS hosting based on Parallels Virtuozzo Containers, hosting Microsoft CRM and Windows media streaming. Parallels Business Automation complements this with complete ordering and billing.”

Intriguing. But will VARs and MSPs sign up to offer the SaaS services to end-customers? Apparently, yes. Sources at this week’s Parallels Summit in Miami said roughly 80 partners are working closely with Fusyx. Not a bad showing, considering the platform is only about two months old.

A spokesman for Tech Data is checking with Tech Data Europe for an official comment about Fusyx’s progress.

Beyond Europe

More moves are coming. At least two other major distributors are evaluating Parallels’ platform for potential SaaS initiatives, The VAR Guy has learned. Translation: Parallels could become a software arms dealer in a global distributor SaaS war.

Also of note: Tech Data’s corporate management team apparently is keeping tabs on Fusyx and Tech Data Belgium. If Fusyx gains momentum, there’s speculation Tech Data will repeat the SaaS initiative in other regions.

Of course, this blog entry is filled with heavy speculation — and some key answers are still missing (imagine that…). Among the pressing questions:

  • How many end-customers have signed up to use the Fusyx services?
  • Can Fusyx become a profitable, sustainable business for Tech Data?
  • How are early VAR and MSP experiences with Fusyx? And are those channel partners actually profiting from the service?

Hmmm… like The VAR Guy said… plenty of questions need to be resolved. Hopefully, our resident blogger will get some updates from Tech Data.

Leader or Laggard?

In some ways, Tech Data is playing catch up in the MSP and SaaS markets. A prime example: Ingram Micro’s Seismic team in North America has been gaining substantial momentum with VARs and MSPs seeking recurring revenue.

When Ingram Micro announced quarterly financial results last week, most pundits forgot to check in with Seismic. Poke around, and you’ll learn Seismic’s revenue apparently grew 80 percent and the services division doubled its partner base. For Q4, Seismic had double-digit growth. And four of the past five months have been among Seismic’s strongest. At least… that’s what The VAR Guy is hearing from multiple sources.

Can Tech Data Belgium’s Fusyx gain similar momentum? And will all of these regional SaaS efforts evolve into global SaaS strategies for Ingram Micro and Tech Data?

Again, The VAR Guy says “absolutely yes.” But this story is going to take another two to three years to play out. Please check back every day through 2013 for updates.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Channel Programs Cloud Leadership Mobility

Related


  • Samsung Galaxy S21
    Samsung Boosts Smartphone Security with New Galaxy S21 Line
    In addition, John Curtis will replace Mike Coleman as Samsung’s North America channel chief.
  • Network monitoring and management
    Malwarebytes Enhances OneView to Help MSPs' Security Business
    Security is an increasing concern for MSPs, particularly amid COVID-19.
  • Woman Thumbs Up
    HPE, Synnex Channel Execs Look Forward to Former Intel CTO Returning as CEO
    One Intel partner calls Gelsinger an industry veteran and visionary.
  • Cloud
    How Secure is Your Cloud Data?
    The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive shift to remote work. According to one estimate, the number of days spent telecommuting has risen 49% since the pandemic. While the pandemic may have triggered the shift, there’s no sign things will return to normal once the crisis fades. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses […]

3 comments

  1. Avatar Ed Grant June 27, 2010 @ 10:44 am
    Reply

    I agree with you on this because I know all about it. Tech Data are not only launching SaaS in Belgium via Parallels, they are also doing it in the Netherlands through SaaSplaza. The concept is exactly the same with one important difference, all SaaS vendors being sold through Tech Data Netherlands are hosted in SaaSplaza, this falling under the same SLA and legal agreement. And it’s not just Tech Data doing this, there are other global more traditional distribution companies doing it. We are working with a lot of them already. Most of them understand that they will be able to build new businesses around SaaS in time so are starting to invest now.

  2. Avatar The VAR Guy June 28, 2010 @ 10:11 pm
    Reply

    Ed: Thanks for the update. The VAR Guy recently heard more rumblings… this time involving Ingram Micro potentially leveraging Parallels… Our resident blogger is still digging for confirmation.
    -TVG

  3. Avatar Ted March 9, 2012 @ 11:13 am
    Reply

    Interesting analysis…they are all talking and trying, we have it up and running and are distributing saas successfully now since almost 1 year.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • D&H Extends Financing Terms to Help Partners Amid COVID-19
  • VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger Replacing Bob Swan as Intel CEO
  • The Benefits of Co-Managed IT for Enterprises in the New Normal
  • Your Cloud Data Is Protected, But Is It Portable?

Galleries

View all

New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

The Importance of Being Security-Centric

January 22, 2021

Cyberattacks: Threat Hunters Conquer Unpredictability with 3 Measures

January 21, 2021

The Right Data Migration Tool Helps Schools Move to Cloud During COVID Crisis

January 19, 2021

Webinars

View all

Who’s Behind the Mask? Hacker Personas Explained

January 26, 2021

Your Network Perimeter Has Changed

February 18, 2021

How Managed Hosting Providers Thrive with the Alternative Cloud

February 24, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency

January 14, 2021

Eight Reasons Why MSPs Need IT Industry-Specific Sales Tools

January 14, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@exabeam, @VulcanCyber, @ntti3, @Vectra_AI, @Lookout and @valtixinc give high marks to @POTUS' federal… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Judge sides with @AWScloud against #Parler; @SADAsystems gets AI-centric board member; @EnsonoIT, @navisite get… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

2021 may be the year of the #security-centric #MSP @BarracudaMSP #remoteworking #ITsecurity #dataprotection #RMM… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Adding #AIOps and #AI-driven WANs will help IT administrators move forward, says @MistSystems.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Microsoft taps @tybryson as corporate VP @msuspartner group @julwhite heading to SAP, @anderson to @Qualtrics.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

#MSPs can inject predictability into #threathunting @Sophos #cybersecurity #ransomware dlvr.it/Rr4ffV https://t.co/Bztc2Yxwvc

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@RiskBased report shows decrease in #databreaches, jump in exposed records in 2020. dlvr.it/Rr4fcW https://t.co/PYiDMiJFbt

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Legal experts say @VMware's #lawsuit against @nutanix's new CEO holds little weight. dlvr.it/Rr48FJ https://t.co/oLxPhgvgAt

January 21, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X