Avnet Technology Solutions Helps IBM Partners Identify, Sell and Deliver Bundled Software Solutions

Think Solutions Initiative Provides Exclusive Marketing, Sales and Services Resources for IBM Software Solutions
IBM PartnerWorld

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, a value-added distributor of enterprise computing products, software and services and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced its Think Solutions initiative. Think Solutions provides Avnet’s value-added reseller partners with exclusive solutions bundles that target growth opportunities in software sales. These solutions include not only the hardware and software required to implement a technology solution, but also the marketing, sales and services resources that Avnet’s partners need to identify opportunities with new and existing customers, and cost-effectively implement these solutions.

“To be successful, value-added resellers need to be experts in solving business needs with complete technology solutions,” said Tony Madden, senior vice president and general manager of Avnet Technology Solutions’ IBM business unit. “With Think Solutions, Avnet is helping its IBM partners create new marketing, sales and implementation disciplines that address specific business pain points such as information and storage management. We then empower our partners with all the tools and resources they need to solve their customers’ problems.”

As a part of Think Solutions, Avnet has identified 14 software-centric solutions based on IBM technology. The first four solutions launched to Avnet’s IBM partner community focus on information management, portals, process integration and storage management. Additional solutions will follow throughout the year, including solutions for business intelligence, collaboration and security.

“Our channel partners are critical to identifying and driving complete IBM solution sales opportunities,” said Bob Guidotti, vice president, software at IBM. “Avnet’s new Think Solutions initiative supports IBM's commitment to helping clients innovate and become more flexible, while making the most of current resources and controlling costs.”

Avnet’s Think Solutions initiative provides its partners with a tools roadmap to help them identify new opportunities within their customer base, sell these solutions as complete product and service bundles, and implement the solutions through a combination of Avnet and partner provided services. Sales and marketing resources include assessment services, collateral materials, demo sites, educational resources, finance packages, IBM co-marketing programs, interactive sales tools, presentations, sales sheets, software consulting and telemarketing resources. Delivery and implementation services are available from Avnet to augment a partner’s business, and include solution installation, testing and deployment.

“Avnet has always ensured we have the right resources to deliver complete solutions to our end customers, and the Think Solutions initiative takes that one step further,” said Gregory Harris, president and CEO, zCore Business Solutions. “Think Solutions gives us a unique advantage for selling software solutions across key industries.”

About Avnet Technology Solutions

Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) representing US$5.1 billion in annual revenue for calendar year 2006, with locations in more than 30 countries. As a global technology sales and marketing organization, Avnet Technology Solutions has sales divisions focused on specific customer segments and a select line card strategy enabling an exceptional level of attention to the needs of its customers and suppliers. Visit www.ats.avnet.com/.

About Avnet

With more than 250 locations serving customers in 70 countries worldwide, Avnet markets, distributes and adds value to the products of the world’s leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Additionally, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of service capabilities, such as supply-chain optimization, logistics solutions, product assembly, device programming, computer system integration and engineering design assistance. For the fiscal year ended July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue of $14.25 billion. Visit www.avnet.com/.