SaasyUk – HyBrid Cloud

Regardless of perennial claims from critics that distribution is struggling something of an identity disaster, wholesalers do actually look like becoming more relevant in the UK.

The proportion share of the end-user market intermediated by distributors within the UK leapt from 40 to 43 per cent year-on-year final 12 months, (thanks partially to Apple’s choice to shift some gross sales to distribution right here.)

Technology Channels Alliance (TCA) chief executive Robert Norum “One of the key take-outs is that there is a significant role for distribution at the volume end, but actually the value end – which clearly offers higher margins and brings more of a solution play – is where there’s an opportunity for distributors in Europe,” he said.

“There are three areas Bain pulled out as fundamental technology drivers – cyber-security, hyperconverged infrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT), and in all these cases the whole channel needs help: vendors need help working out how to get these products to market, and resellers need help working out how to sell them. In that sense the role here for distribution is less of a box-shifter model and more of a value-add one.”

Distributors’ profitability, nonetheless, is on the wain, the analysis discovered, with the typical margin of a ‘conventional‘ broadliner and value participant standing at just one and three-to-four per cent, respectively apparently.

Asked where distribution is heading in the event margins continue on this downward trajectory, Norum remained upbeat.

“There is downward pressure on all of the volume products,” he said. “There’s no way of getting away from that. But that puts pressure on all distributors to think much more about where the value-add is, and that’s where cloud and as-a-service models, as well as these new technologies – cyber-security, IoT etc, have a significant role to play.

“There’s no question that distribution needs to step up to the plate on as-a-service models – it needs to have a much clearer story on it. That’s an opportunity, and I think from a European perspective, given the complexities of billing and infrastructure and making all the stuff work from a local perspective, the perception that you can do this all from one place in the world is a long way off.”

So if you think you want to discuss your recruitment tactics in light of 2017 or you are looking for top SAAS / Cloud and Enterprise Staff then get in touch on 07552347696 or Jay@WunderTalent.co.uk