NetApp changes tack in SA strategy

·6 Jun 2013

NetApp has announced that it has selected the Westcon Group of companies to be its sole long term distribution partner in Africa.

In February, NetApp, the Nasdaq listed computer storage and data management company, said its investment into Africa and regions like South Africa was starting to pay off, having picked up blue-chip clients including mobile operator, MTN.

In 2012, NetApp’s investment into SA included the opening of a new corporate head office in Johannesburg.

The company said the decision to move to a consolidated distribution strategy in Africa was based on the need to take advantage of growth opportunities and to continue to maximize value for its partner community business well into the future.

“We believe that this strategy will enable NetApp to deliver greater distribution efficiency and scale, and will lead to enhanced service and value for our reseller community,” said Konstantin Ebert, director Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa for NetApp.

Westcon will become the sole NetApp distributor from August 15th.

NetApp said a focused distribution strategy is one element to ensure that the African business has the support required to continue to build on the success in the region.

According to Konstantin Ebert, NetApp will extend and expand its investment in the region to support its business partners who include Bytes, DataCentrix, and Didata.

“With this new approach we have a stronger capability to drive our product portfolio across the African continent in a more effective and aligned way, especially our flagship solutions such as clustered ONTAP, flash and the E-series products,” he said.

“We are looking forward to the new, and much expanded partnership with Westcon Group, and the benefits that this relationship brings to our reseller community, and ultimately our collective customers,” said Ebert.