Avnet Adds Workshops, Assessment Services to Cloud Portfolio

Avnet Technology Solutions, the distribution arm of Avnet, Inc., said recently that it is offering channel partners cloud strategy workshops and cloud assessment services for resale to customers

The distributor said that the new services added to its cloud portfolio will help channel partners assist their customers to make informed decisions and construct suitable migration paths regarding integrating cloud computing into their data centers.

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,” said Dan Allaby, ATS director, managed and cloud services.

“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,” he said.

For the one-day cloud workshops, which are overseen by Avnet cloud solutions architects, channel partners and their customers’ executive-level and senior IT management can develop appropriate cloud strategies. The focus is on building practical cloud strategies based on qualitative and quantitative material, and industry best practices.

At the conclusion of the workshop, channel partners will be able to generate an executive summary of the proceedings, including scope, approach, high-level findings and recommendations.

Channel partners are free to bill their customers for the sessions.

Avnet’s cloud assessment is a three-week long, on-site professional services engagement in which a business and technical analysis of the customer’s organizational readiness for cloud computing is conducted.

Avnet channel partners work with key participants within the customer’s organization to determine cloud goals and drivers, resulting in a report detailing current state of cloud readiness, strategy recommendations, ROI metrics and suggested changes to meet business needs and IT goals.

The assessment is based on Avnet’s framework for cloud adoption, which it calls the Cloud Maturity Model.

Mike Martin, Logicalis Inc. vice president, said that Avnet’s new cloud services will help customers to move from concept to strategy to action.

“Avnet’s new cloud workshop and assessment services are the perfect solution to help us move our customers progressively toward cloud computing implementation,” he said. “It will accelerate our sales cycle for cloud solutions, while ensuring that we are generating revenue through every step of the cloud engagement process.”