Tandberg Data commits to the region signing partnership with MENA distributor Aptec
Dubai: The Vice President of an international data storage firm today claimed areas of the Gulf's IT industry represent excellent potential for growth with his company's data protection solutions comparable to markets such as China and India.
Addressing over 50 IT and data storage resellers at an event in Dubai to launch its new partnership with distributor, Aptec, Bharat Kumar, Tandberg Data Asia Pacific's vice president of sales and marketing, claimed his company has earmarked some areas of the MENA region amongst the top for growth potential alongside China and India.
"We are a multinational, but have now put down roots in the Gulf as we see it as a hugely important area. Various research bodies are reporting between six and nine per cent worldwide growth in IT spend. However, we have been achieving close to 30 per cent growth since late 2009 in parts of the Gulf and neighbouring countries and are on target to double our size before the end of 2012, which is a phenomenal market situation," says Kumar.
"In particular, demand for the data protection and storage products we specialise in, has been growing rapidly in this part of the world due in part to the proliferation of Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) looking for highly functional and cost effective protection solutions. It's certainly easier to establish and grow SMEs more quickly in the Gulf than many other countries and, combined with the fact the economy has boomed in recent years, this has produced a fertile marketplace for SME's, which form the lifeblood of any healthy economy.
"In addition, the market has become increasingly aware of the need to back up and protect data. Backing up data has been around for a long time, but a consistent move towards paperless business - from basic accounting to diaries - means it's become much more important for smaller organisations that may previously have opted for paper solutions.
"Pressure on data storage systems has also increased by the need for 24 hour access - down time is no longer an option in the global marketplace. Even locally-based financial institutions and banks are now playing on the global market and their reputation is at stake, meaning data protection has never been so important. This reliance on digital records has also meant people have become much less inclined to delete files, enhancing the need for larger storage solutions that offer greater protection.
"We believe our plug-and play products are performing particularly well in this market as they are designed to be affordable for smaller organisations and can be implemented simply without IT support or overheads and can be scaled up as the organisation grows. We also believe the open-minded mentality of business owners in this region is more conducive to trying the latest technology, when companies in other countries might have persisted with the old tried and tested or incumbent systems they have always worked with and are accustomed to."
"Tandberg Data has traded in this region from a base in Singapore for over a decade now, but we're confident our newly opened Middle East headquarters in Dubai will grow at a rapid rate, creating jobs and maximising the benefits we will reap from partnering with MENA distributor, Aptec. This is the right time to do this here and we see it as a real green field opportunity so we are incredibly excited about the future as we move in to the next level," Kumar adds.
Commenting on Tandberg's distribution agreement with Aptec Holdings, one of the largest technology distributors in the Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey and Africa, Aptec Distribution's managing director, Bahaa Salah, says: "With Tandberg Data's 30 year history of serving the global data storage market with innovative solutions, it made sense to join forces and leverage our expertise in sales, marketing, order fulfillment and tech support to deliver even greater value to our customers. We've a considerable presence in the mid-size enterprise storage market through our current portfolio of storage products and wanted to augment our offering further with tape drives and backup solutions. Being a global leader and an established player in the Middle East market, we had no doubts Tandberg Data was the right fit."
As part of the partnership, Aptec and Tandberg Data are rolling out a focused road show in Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai in order to educate and train the channel on Tandberg Data products and technologies.
www.tandbergdata.com
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About Tandberg Data
Tandberg Data is a leading global supplier of data protection solutions for small and medium sized businesses and in headquartered in Dortmund, Germany. The company has more than 30 years of experience in data protection and more than 10,000 resellers selling its products worldwide. Tandberg Data offers a wide selection of business-grade storage solutions, including tape drives and media, automated tape solutions, removable disk systems and network-attached disk-based appliances. Tandberg Data solutions are supported by AccuGuard™, a robust, easy-to-use deduplication and data protection software. A worldwide service and support network, recognised globally for its outstanding levels of service, undergirds all product offerings. In addition to the standard warranty and support offerings, on-site service upgrades provide Tandberg Data customers with further peace of mind.
Tandberg Data products are supported by all major operating systems and software applications to successfully integrate and operate in heterogeneous storage environments. Tandberg Data markets its solutions exclusively through a global channel of qualified resellers and distributors. This channel model is supported by OEM agreements with major server manufacturers including Apple, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Technology Solutions, HP, Hitachi, IBM, NEC and Toshiba. http://www.tandbergdata.com
About APTEC
Aptec Holdings (www.apteconline.com) is a leading technology sales, marketing and Logistics Company and one of largest technology distributors in the Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey & Africa. As a vital link in the technology value chain, Aptec creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services and product aggregation and distribution. The company offers a wide range of solutions and services to nearly 10,000 resellers and offers thousands of products from leading IT manufacturers. From its offices and warehouses in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait, and Pakistan and with more than 500 specialised staff, Aptec serves over 40 countries.
For more media information, please contact Custard Communications for Tandberg Data on +971 50 4661368 or email ian@welikecustard.com
© Press Release 2010
