Avnet Technology Solutions Introduces New Consultative Services to Accelerate Cloud Adoption
July 26, 2011 - Avnet Technology Solutions Introduces New Consultative Services to Accelerate Cloud Adoption
Cloud strategy workshops and assessment services help Avnet partners create migration paths to cloud computing for their customers
Tempe, Ariz. -- Avnet Technology Solutions, the global IT solutions distribution leader and operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today unveiled the latest services in its cloud computing solutions portfolio - cloud strategy workshops and cloud assessment services. These consultative service engagements are available as resellable services for Avnet's independent software vendors (ISVs) and value-added reseller (VAR) partners. Avnet's partners can build on these engagements to provide their end-user customers with the quantitative and qualitative analysis they need to make informed decisions on how to incorporate cloud computing into their data centers. The services are designed to create an opportunity for partners to work hand-in-hand with their customers to create strategies and migration paths to cloud computing.
"While CIOs and IT teams recognize the benefits of cloud computing, industry analysts consistently find that many IT executives are trying to figure out how to build cloud solutions into their enterprise strategies," said Dan Allaby, director of managed and cloud services, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "Our ISV and reseller partners are experiencing this first-hand as they have discussions with their current and prospective customers. Avnet developed the cloud workshop and assessment services to provide our partners with a progressive, data-driven approach to help their customers develop and ultimately implement their cloud computing strategies. This approach positions our partners as trusted advisors by giving them a seat at the table throughout the strategy development process, while ensuring they have revenue-generating opportunities for the consultation they are providing."
The one-day billable cloud workshops bring partners together with their customers' C-level and senior IT management teams to collaborate on cloud strategies, based on in-depth industry knowledge from Avnet. The workshops are facilitated by Avnet's cloud solutions architects, whose expertise helps drive the discussion toward a practical cloud strategy using qualitative and quantitative information and industry best practices. The workshop session includes an executive overview and education on cloud computing, as well as an interactive discovery process to create a shared cloud vision and approach for the organization. During the session, the customer identifies their cloud computing goals and business objectives. This process uncovers gaps between the current state of their technology infrastructure, processes, governance, security and people skills and the desired end state. Following the workshop, the partner will be able to provide their customer with an executive-level summation including scope, approach, high-level findings and recommendations.
In addition, partners can help move their customers' cloud strategy closer to the implementation stage with Avnet's cloud assessment services. This on-site professional services engagement is typically three weeks in duration and includes a business and technical analysis of the customer's organizational readiness for adopting a cloud computing strategy. With assistance from Avnet, partners work with key stakeholders within their customer's organization to determine key drivers and goals. The result is a detailed report documenting the customer's current state of cloud readiness, cloud strategy recommendations with ROI metrics, and changes required to meet business needs and IT goals. The assessment methodology is based on Avnet's Cloud Maturity Model - a framework that outlines the stages and requirements across people, processes and technologies - for cloud adoption.
"We're having very in-depth conversations with our customers about cloud computing, but it's often challenging to help them quickly bridge the gap from discussion to strategy to implementation," said Mike Martin, vice president Cloud Solutions at Logicalis, Inc., a global provider of high-performance technology and server virtualization solutions and an Avnet partner. "Avnet's new cloud workshop and assessment services are the perfect solution to help us move our customers progressively toward cloud computing implementation. It will accelerate our sales cycle for cloud solutions, while ensuring that we are generating revenue through every step of the cloud engagement process."
For more than a year, Avnet has enabled and prepared partners to capitalize on cloud computing growth opportunities through CloudReady™, the cloud-specific component to its SolutionsPath methodology. This initiative includes education, training, financing solutions, professional services, technical resources and integrated cloud computing solutions.
Additionally, partners can leverage Avnet's SolutionsPath practices in conjunction with CloudReady, to further develop specialization in the high-growth vertical markets of energy, finance, government, healthcare and retail, and data center technology areas including mobility, networking, security, storage and virtualization.
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About Avnet Technology Solutions
As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver effective solutions that address the business challenges of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2010, the group served customers in more than 70 countries and generated US $8.19 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.
About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2010, Avnet generated revenue of $19.16 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
Media Contact:
Marcia Chapman
Brodeur Partners, for Avnet
mchapman@brodeur.com
480-308-0284