Features - Storage Innovations:

AVNET HALL-MARK EXPANDS RESELLER ASSESSMENT CAPABILITIES

Avnet Hall-Mark, a value-added distributor of enterprise servers, storage, software and services, announced it has expanded its Networked Storage Advisor service to offer regionally deployed storage assessments conducted by Avnet Hall-Mark technical consultants on behalf of resellers. The consultative service extends reseller reach and enhances customer relationships by collecting detailed information about a client's storage environment used to address business requirements. Introduced in 2002, the Networked Storage Advisor service consists of system tools, training and support designed to automate the front-end data collection of storage assessments. The reseller-implemented service reduces the time necessary to perform a complete storage assessment from several weeks to a matter of days.

The new regionally deployed service extends reseller reach by performing data collection operations on behalf of resellers when qualified reseller personnel are not available. At the discretion of resellers, Avnet technical consultants may be introduced as reseller personnel or Avnet staff to allow engagements to be transparent to end users. The service can also be engaged to train reseller consultants to perform assessments independently.

"We've had great success in the mid-market using the Networked Storage Advisor service as part of our storage practice," said Patrick Edwards, vice president of sales for Alliance Technology Group. "The availability of qualified, field-based technical consultants to perform assessments for us extends our reach by increasing the number of assessments we can perform."

Avnet Hall-Mark technical consultants employ a standardized methodology to ensure consistent data collection practices. Information gathered from the assessment is presented in several convenient and easily understandable reports that can be interpreted by storage professionals to propose a solution. If a reseller lacks the personnel to accurately interpret assessment data, Avnet Hall-Mark can also provide that service for an additional fee.

"Conducting a storage assessment is all about finding and aligning recommendations with business objectives," said Ray Fischer, senior vice president of Avnet Hall-Mark Enterprise Services. "Our field-based assessment team can quickly analyze an end user's storage environment so resellers have the information they need to address customers' key areas of business concern. The result is increased customer confidence, better utilization of internal resources and most importantly, superior solutions."