The storage market, including hardware, software, and services, reached $75 billion in 2008, according to Avnet estimates based on data from IDC, and a cumulative four-year CAGR for these three areas would be 3.2 percent, says the company. StoragePath helps Avnet’s U.S. and Canadian solutions providers deliver strategic solutions–including hardware, software, and services–to assist their customers in improving utilization of storage resources, reducing costs, supporting business continuity/disaster recovery imperatives, and addressing regulatory issues. Initially, StoragePath will focus on storage infrastructure design and management, storage utilization, data loss protection and recovery, and application optimization.
Leveraging Avnet’s SolutionsPath methodology, the StoragePath practice is designed to help solutions providers build and expand their storage market expertise. The practice provides a unique portfolio of services and training programs, along with access to experts and technology from industry-leading suppliers. It features StoragePath University, which provides partners with knowledge of the storage industry and the opportunity to develop critical technology and sales skills.
Additionally, solutions providers can leverage five key storage assessment services available through Avnet OneTech Services to drive business, augment existing staff, and deliver complete solutions.
“Avnet StoragePath delivers results and accelerates the success of our partners around this business-critical technology,” says Kim Hofmann, director, storage solutions practice, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. “Regardless of a solutions provider’s experience, Avnet StoragePath provides them with training, tools, and resources to develop comprehensive storage solutions that address the rapidly evolving business needs of their customers. Also, participating partners can take advantage of storage assessment services to make certain proposed solutions directly address customers’ business challenges and have a measurable return.”
“Since 2003, Systems Alliance has been building a growing infrastructure practice with significant emphasis on data management and optimization of server/storage architectures,” says Ric Hughes, president and CEO, Systems Alliance. “Avnet’s investment in resources like training, assessment and implementation services supports this activity, helping us address the latest storage-related challenges and earn the trust of our clients. By participating in Avnet StoragePath, our team is positioned for accelerated growth in the ever-changing storage solutions market.”
