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

EMEA


Shutterstock

Brexit

How the Channel Is Preparing for Brexit

  • Written by Christine Horton
  • December 23, 2020
We speak to UK channel partners to see how they are preparing for every Brexit scenario.

New research shows that almost a third of UK IT SMEs haven’t yet considered the impact of Brexit on their businesses.

That’s according to figures supplied by Aldermore bank. While the EU and UK haggle over a post-Brexit trade deal, IT firms have been preoccupied managing with COVID-19. This is despite 38% of these firms’ monthly income coming from customers in the EU.

Channel Preparations

So how is the UK IT channel preparing for Brexit?

A Tech Data spokesperson says that the distributor is preparing for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, among other scenarios.

“Our aim is to support our partners in every way we can through this period,” they said. “We are in regular contact with our reseller customers and vendor partners to keep them updated on any changes. [We want to] ensure that partners feel fully supported by Tech Data as we transition.”

Tech Data’s preparations have focused on four key areas:

  • Anticipated delays to vendor shipments travelling into the UK via mainland Europe.
  • Heightened reseller demand for Tech Data to export products into the EU.
  • Potential price increases on some lines due to import charges.
  • Increased demand from resellers to use Tech Data’s specialist configuration centre, rather than their own facilities, prior to export.

“Brexit will inevitably lead to some delays to the supply chain in the initial stages,” said the spokesperson. “We are doing our best to anticipate the challenges and create contingency plans around stock and order cutoff times, for example.”

Sign up for Channel Futures’ new EMEA newsletter, where we feature news and analysis involving companies based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as those doing business in that region.

The trading arrangements between the UK and the Republic of Ireland currently remain unclear. As such, Tech Data says it anticipates additional paperwork and customs clearance activities. It has put in place a specific contingency plan with its Irish partners to cover for January, initially.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the UK’s fourth largest channel player, SCC, believes the ongoing uncertainty “is no good for anybody.” The channel giant is working closely with key partners and proactively monitoring the situation.

“Whatever the outcome from political discussions, SCC is in the fortunate position that its services are primarily delivered by UK-based operations. In most instances little or no services [are] transacted with customers across country or territory borders,” said the spokesperson. “That will remain the case post-Brexit, even where SCC utilises its own support operations based outside of the UK.”

SCC also says the firm is addressing the most urgent issues directly with customers. These include product supply and service delivery, and data protection. It has also carried out an impact assessment and developed flexible response plans with distributors and vendors.

Communication Is Vital

However, for many partners, there will be anxiety about what the future holds. Much of that comes down to a lack of information, according to the Aldermore figures. Thirty percent of small IT firms say there’s a lack of information available on what to do. This, they say, is why they haven’t made any plans.

This is where good communication will be vital, says Graham Charlton, CFO at the UK’s second biggest channel firm, Softcat.

Softcat's Graham Charlton

Softcat’s Graham Charlton

“Resellers, vendors and distributors all have a role to play in adapting to the new trading relationship with the EU. We’ve been working throughout the past 18 months to define our respective roles and bring our complementary skills to bear. We’ll need to remain close throughout the early stages of 2021 to react to tactical challenges quickly. The quality of the collaboration between the channel and vendors has never been more important.”

Between 5% and 10% of Softcat’s income is from overseas trade, much of which comes from the EU. Charlton says adapting to how that will work once a customs border is in place has enabled Softcat to consider how it could broaden our international trade further as well. This is something it has been “looking to do in any case for a few years now.”

“The export and logistics capability we have built to trade into the EU post-Brexit can also be used to …

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
Tags: MSPs VARs/SIs Best Practices Data Centers Digital Transformation EMEA Strategy

Related


  • Hornet
    Hornetsecurity Acquires Altaro for Expanded Security Services
    Hornetsecurity is the leading email security provider in Europe.
  • Akamai Technologies Partners Migrating to New Channel Program
    Akamai partners will migrate to the new program over a six-month transition period.
  • Ready, Set, Go
    New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon
    Vendors and distributors thanked partners for their efforts in 2020 and geared up for 2021.
  • Business hands together, diversity
    Intel Partner Alliance Unifies All Programs, Provides New Opportunities
    The new program is designed to enhance Intel's relationship with valued partners.

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

  • IBM Names CEO of New Managed Services Spinoff
  • QCT Next-generation NVMe Storage Servers featuring Excelero NVMesh
  • Commvault Partners Get New Global Leader with Dell EMC Vet
  • Don't Wait for Fall's 'Homecoming' Channel Event — CP Virtual 2021 Is Coming Soon

Galleries

View all

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

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

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

January 19, 2021

Cloud-Based CRM: What SMBs Need to Know about Backup and Recovery

January 19, 2021

Cybersecurity: What to Expect in 2021

January 19, 2021

Webinars

View all

Blueprint for a Scalable MSSP Practice in 2021

January 21, 2021

Who’s Behind the Mask? Hacker Personas Explained

January 26, 2021

Your Network Perimeter Has Changed

February 18, 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

Our latest #Cybersecurity Roundup features @BitSight and @kovrrIns, @Vectra_AI and @AppOmniSecurity,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@solarwinds hackers target @Malwarebytes, impacting internal emails. #cybersecurity dlvr.it/RqzkZp https://t.co/aWqLjCCW9y

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@citrix $2.25 deal to acquire @wrike expands @CitrixPartners network into collaborative work management.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Carbonite Migrate uses real-time replication to move workloads to #cloud with minimal risk and near-zero downtime… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

Backup and recovery is essential for #cloud-based CRMs @ConnectWise #SaaS #dataprotection #cloudbackup #databackup… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

You an #MSSP looking to avoid a #SolarWinds-type breach? @Asigra, @Barracuda, @CynetSystems give advice. Don’t blam… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

What to expect in 2021 @Webroot #cybersecurity #MSP #remoteworkforce #remoteworking #Carbonite… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

From #itautomation to #workfromhome, a look at 2021 trends from @BitTitan. dlvr.it/RqwFZg https://t.co/EkCeJVNAPo

January 19, 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