Ideagen appoints SDG as sole European distribution partner

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:30:02 GMT

Leading UK technology group SDG has been appointed sole European distributor for Information and Compliance Management expert Ideagen Plc.

The agreement will not only see the UK-based distributor promote Ideagen's complete range of software and solutions across its European operations but will also see both companies working closely together in a highly strategic partnership. Identified by the listed company’s executive team as the ideal collaborator for growth following its continued investment in its data centre operations, the partnership will see SDG will take over the firm’s hosting requirements and the secondment of one of Ideagen’s senior sales executives into the SDG business.

“This is a significant component of SDG’s Cloud Services Strategy. The latest reports from analysts show that distributors who want to be part of the cloud computing revolution must recruit specialist independent service vendors (ISVs) to provide the solutions that end-users need, and in that context deals like this enjoy a great deal of strategic importance,” said Paul Eccleston, Managing Director, SDG EMEA.

“The partnership with Ideagen has a great deal of potential, and we’re delighted to be able to fulfil our promise to customers that we will continually develop and refine our cloud services offering to ensure that we offer a complete range of best-of-breed technologies.”

Ideagen specialise in the development of SaaS solutions for on demand information and compliance. The company’s SaaS solutions help a wide range of customers in highly regulated industries manage, control and share content in a collaborative environment to drive compliance, reduce risk and improve business performance.

Ideagen CEO David Hornsby commented: “Ideagen has enjoyed rapid growth over the past two years. To continue this we recognise that we must develop the right partnerships which will provide new routes to market for our SaaS proposition. Having identified SDG as the ideal partner for European growth, due to their data centre capability and extensive reseller channel, I am confident that this deal will help underpin our medium terms growth.”

IQ SYS named Fastest Growing Distributor EMEA at the IGEL Awards

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:03:20 GMT

IQ Sys has been named Fastest Growing Distributor EMEA at the prestigious IGEL Awards in Germany.

Unveiled as the winner of the ‘Fastest Growing Distributor EMEA’ Award for 2009 at an event in Bremen, the distribution group underlined its market leading status with year-on-year growth in spite of extremely challenging trading conditions. At a time when many IT vendors experienced a decline in sales revenues, IGEL enjoyed a 3% worldwide growth in a Thin Client market that declined by 6.3%, with the IQ Sys’ growth rate during this period standing at 13%.

"We are delighted to have won this award. To have driven double digit growth while many vendors are losing ground demonstrates the strength of the value proposition we have taken to market and underlines a commitment to excellence on the part of our talented team," said David Turner, Vendor Development Manager at IQ Sys.

Since announcing its partnership with IGEL in 2007, IQ Sys has provided UK resellers and systems integrators involved in delivering desktop virtualisation with access to the complete IGEL range of 20 different Universal Desktop models plus the most powerful remote management software in the industry.

Turner added: "There are a number of drivers pushing this technology forward, from key virtualisation projects to Green IT, powering explosive growth."

IQ Sys was acquired by SCH Distribution (SCHd) - part of the SCH Group, Europe’s largest independent technology business - in July 2009. Combining the Citrix specialists' UK market leader status with its already strong position in Citrix solutions and services.

Joining the SCHd group has enabled IQ Sys to extend its reach as part of a premier and established distribution group that is also one of the market leaders with key vendors including Citrix, HP, IBM, Sun, Symantec and VMware. Furthermore, the combined entity has a leading position in server and storage capabilities.

About SCH Distribution (SCHd)

SCH Distribution (SCHd) has over 25 years experience of helping UK resellers gain channel advantage. Its companies supply leading technology brands to computer resellers including on-line retailers, mail order, systems integrators and value added resellers. SCHd operates through the market leading brands of ETC in the UK, France and The Netherlands, in addition to Interchange in the UK and Bestware in France. Moreover, in the UK, SCHd recently acquired Interface Solutions (ISI), the UK’s largest IBM, Lenovo and Sun distributor. In July 2009, it acquired IQ Sys, the distribution market leader with Citrix in the UK. SCHd is part of SCH, Europe’s largest independent technology group, and accounts for over 40 % of annual group turnover, which is approaching £1 billion annually.

For further information on how SCHd can help create channel advantage see http://www.schd-services.com
Media contacts: Judy Groves T: 0121 766 2580 / judy.groves@sch-group.com / Louise Acton T: 07595 355 938 / louise.acton@btinternet.com

SCH Distribution named VMWare Distributor of the Year 2009

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:25 GMT

SCH Distribution has been named ‘VMware Distributor of the Year' at the prestigious VMware Channel Awards.

Voted ‘Best VMware Distributor in the UK’ at a gala dinner in London this week, the judging panel praised SCH Distribution (SCHd) for its winning combination of a value-driven approach, broad customer base and end-to-end virtualisation capabilities. Recognising the company's pre-eminent position in the UK channel, the distribution specialist's track record and market leading distribution capabilities were pivotal in securing the nomination. It is VMware’s first award to a Distributor.

Paul Eccleston, SCH Group Director responsible for distribution, said:

"We are delighted to have won this award, which underlines the leading position that SCH Distribution holds in the UK marketplace. Having invested heavily in virtualisation technologies ahead of the adoption curve, this emphasises our ability to help resellers deliver complete solutions irrespective of the scale and timeframe involved."

As a strategic VMware partner, SCH Distribution - operating through its market leading brands ETC, Interchange, Interface Solutions and IQ Sys - was one of the first to adopt a new competency framework announced by VMware earlier this year. Intended to differentiate its reseller network, the new framework is designed to encompass, reward and distinguish partners as virtualisation experts.

The award underpins SCH Distribution's value approach in delivering channel enablement involving sales, technical and marketing capabilities, particularly around desktop and server virtualisation. Last month, the group was also named ‘Best Citrix Distributor UK / Ire / SA’ at the prestigious Citrix Select Awards, for the fourth year running.

“These two awards highlight our strategic commitment to grow our distribution business to be THE Specialist Distributor. As we are seeing an explosion of growth around applications, server and desktop virtualisation, VMware plays a key role in our long term strategy to continuously evolve and grow our capabilities around all leading and new technologies," added Paul Eccleston.

Notes to editor:

Image, left to right:

Matthew Piercy, VMware Senior Director, Northern Europe

John Churchhouse, VMware Senior Manager, Partner Organisation

Sarah Deller, SCHd Sales Director, Enterprise Software

Paul Eccleston, SCH Group Director responsible for distribution

Lynda Edwards, SCHd VMware Vendor Manager

Andy Hunt, VP EMEA Partner Organisation, VMware

Jon Kane, Distribution Manager, UK & Ireland, VMware

SCH Distribution highlights importance of partnerships in the evolving IT reseller marketplace

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:38:58 GMT

Leading specialist technology distributor, SCH Distribution, has called on IT resellers to continue embracing a more collaborative approach to business as the industry adopts new models, in a bid to remain profitable in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive marketplace.

Recognising that concern over falling revenues and a sector-wide squeeze on profitability has motivated many companies to explore a partnership-based approach to market, SCH Distribution believes that resellers must continue working more closely with distributors and expert technology enablers in order to continue delivering profit-making, best of breed services and solutions to customers.

"There have been a lot of drivers pushing for change. Resellers are finding customers putting greater pressure on them to make better use and get more out of their existing IT, while at the same time responding to the increasing customer demands for virtualisation solutions and energy efficient IT." said Sean Fane, Managing Director, IQ-Sys.

As the technology industry continues to mature, the complexity and range of platform options available is making it increasingly difficult to profit from standalone propositions. Profitability is the main challenge and increasingly resellers are tackling the problem by working with partners who can provide them with the enhanced scale and expertise they need.

SCH Distribution currently works with, for and as a number of IT resellers, providing specialist expertise, competencies and logistics, particularly around desktop and server virtualisation solutions. The group can combine best of breed vendor relationships - not just across hardware platforms including IBM, HP, Fujitsu and Sun, but market leading positions with Citrix and VMware - to help resellers grow market share.

"Supporting partners on major projects and working with them to provide delivery is just the beginning. Increasingly, we are working in partnership with our resellers to provide pre and post sales support, marketing and vendor enablement.” added Sean.

Over 90% of the UK's servers are not yet virtualised and over the next three to five years the majority of customers will not only refresh but look to optimise their IT infrastructure. This means a massive opportunity for those resellers who embrace partnership and collaboration to accelerate their ability to deliver solutions.

SCH Distribution acquires IQ Sys to underline market leadership in Citrix

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:44:11 GMT

SCH Distribution (SCHd), part of the SCH Group, Europe’s largest independent technology business, has acquired IQ Sys Limited, the distribution market leader with Citrix in the UK. Through combining IQ Sys with its already strong position in Citrix solutions and services, SCHd will become the clear and overall market leader. The combined entity will account for over 60% of UK sales, based on current figures. SCHd will retain and build on the IQ Sys identity, which will trade alongside its other distribution brands.

Sir Peter Rigby, Chairman and Chief Executive of SCH Group plc, commented:
“The deal forms part of a clear and long standing strategy to evolve the breadth and depth of SCHd’s capability to enable resellers to go to market with the solutions and services demanded by their customers.” This latest acquisition is one of a number of significant moves that have already enhanced its market leading distribution offer. This includes the acquisition of ISI in 2008, a key partner for IBM and Sun technologies; achieving prime status with VMware; and its investment in creating a leading position with Symantec.

Paul Eccleston, SCH Group Director, responsible for distribution, said:
“This acquisition reinforces our strategic commitment to grow our distribution business to be the Specialist Distributor. We are seeing an explosion of growth around applications, server and desktop virtualisation. This acquisition forms a key part of our long term strategy to continuously evolve and grow our capabilities around all leading and new technologies. As a result of this deal we have enhanced our ability to support our reseller partners in taking the best and latest solutions to their customers to maximise sales opportunities.”

As part of SCHd, IQ Sys can now extend its reach, as part of a premier and established distribution group that has market leading relationships with all the key vendors, including HP, IBM, Sun and VMware. The combined entity will furthermore have a leading position in server and storage capabilities.

Sean Fane, Managing Director IQ Sys Ltd, said:
“We are very excited to be joining this specialist distribution group which has a fantastic reputation for achieving sustained, profitable growth. Access to supportive infrastructure, within a financially stable group with a common vision means IQ-Sys can focus even more exclusively on value solution development around Citrix.”

Kevin Bland, Partner Sales Director UK and Ireland Citrix Systems UK Ltd, said:
“As SCHd already holds the rights to distribute Citrix, the purchase is a reflection of their continued support and investment in Citrix and is the result of a deliberate decision to extend their reach further into the channel and take IQ-Sys’ strength into their own extended base.”

An independent and award winning solutions provider, established more than 20 years ago, IQ Sys was formerly part of the QA-IQ Group, an education-led services business. By divesting ownership of its specialist distribution company, the QA-IQ Group aims to focus on its core business in market leading training and learning services, in the knowledge that IQ Sys will be supported in developing its core capabilities as part of SCHd.

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