Avnet Selected by NetApp To Support Sale and Delivery

Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc., will use its SolutionsPath‘ services teams to support the sale and delivery of professional services for the general business market segment for NetApp, Inc.

Effective March 1, 2010, NetApp started transitioning the management and execution of its professional services for NetApp’s North America Commercial Resellers to its distribution partners. This change permits Avnet and its U.S. and Canadian reseller partners certified by NetApp to more effectively deliver installation, implementation and consulting services. The transition does not apply to partners or accounts which transact business directly with NetApp or to the U.S. Public Sector. NetApp Authorized Professional Services Providers who are also resellers continue to be able to scope, sell, and deliver Professional Services on their own behalf, or they may choose to obtain those NetApp Authorized services through Avnet, using NetApp NetApp certified technical resources.

"This change enables Avnet to support our reseller partners to sell and deliver their own brand of services to NetApp’s general business market," said Gavin Miller, vice president and general manager of Technology Infrastructure Solutions at Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "By coordinating the service delivery component, our reseller partners will have a greater opportunity for increased revenue and profit."

To support this transition for reseller partners, Avnet’s sales and SolutionsPath Services teams have thoroughly tested all aspects of the new quote, order and service delivery processes related to providing professional services as authorized by NetApp. NetApp has also provided access to a pool of NetApp certified resources capable of delivering consulting services for their solutions, without directly involving the NetApp professional services organization. NetApp is enabling Avnet and its partners to quickly become self-sufficient while maintaining support for maximum efficiency during the transition period. Transition completion is planned for May 1, 2010.

"As evidenced by the successful installations being completed by Avnet Technology Solutions, resellers benefit from the same level of expertise, capabilities and guidance from our distributors as they would directly from NetApp," said Pat Weber, vice president of professional services for NetApp. "Transitioning professional services to our distributors creates additional opportunities for our most trusted partners, providing them greater engagement in solving and supporting the data center needs for our resellers and their customers."

Avnet SolutionsPath Services provides a portfolio of professional and managed services that Avnet’s U.S. and Canadian value-added reseller partners can leverage to help them expand their data center offerings to meet end-user business needs. Solutions include configuration, design, installation and implementation, all of which are delivered and project managed through Avnet on behalf of its partners. SolutionsPath Services directly supports the sale and delivery of data center solutions developed within Avnet’s SolutionsPath technology practices, NetworkPath, SecurePath, StoragePath and VirtualPath, and vertical market practices, GovPath and HealthPath.