28 October 2013

Cloud Distribution reports strong growth and builds momentum


Reading, UK, 28th October 2013 – Security and networking next-generation value added distributor (VAD) Cloud Distribution has reported strong business results for the first nine months of 2013, including 300% revenue growth, fuelled by a strengthened vendor portfolio, the introduction of a range of pre-packaged services to accelerate its partners go-to-market strategies and additions to its team.

“Cloud Distribution has had an incredible 2013 so far,” said Scott Dobson, managing director, of Cloud Distribution. “We’re making good progress against our mission to introduce disruptive, innovative security and networking technologies to the UK, and we’re already ahead of our revenue forecast.  We’re building a strong, evangelical reseller community by providing services and tools to accelerate their go-to-market strategies.  We are looking to exit 2013 with a strong tail wind which will set us up beautifully for 2014.”

Key successes include:

Extended vendor portfolio - signings include Aerohive Networks, Enterasys Networks, Exinda, Fiberlink Maas 360, Lacoon Security, Lastline, Talon Storage and Watchful Software.

Solution approach - four solution stacks have been created – LAN & Wireless, WAN, Enterprise Mobility and Security – all comprising products that are next-generation and cloud-based. The solutions can be sold stand-alone, bundled or sold as a partner-branded managed service, enabling resellers to create their own bespoke solutions that meet the needs of their end-users.  

Value-add sales tools – designed to support business partners in building qualified pipeline, and assisting with commercial and marketing activities, these include: 

·       Altitude an outbound demand-generation service which has delivered 200+ opportunities in the past 4-months for Cloud’s business partners.  Altitude’s telemarketing team has grown by 300% in 2013.
·       Cloud Cover a range of professional services and pre-packaged post-sales support offerings including Customer Direct, aimed at partners of all sizes who wish to outsource their support; Partner Branded, as with Customer Direct but calls are answered as if the customer is calling the partner; and Partner Enabled, to enhance a partner’s existing support offering.
·       Cloud Crowd and Cloud Club – high-level networking and incentive initiatives to create an active and productive ecosystem for Cloud’s business partners.

Dave Henderson, sales director at Cloud reseller Bluefort said, “Cloud Distribution’s Altitude service is second to none.  In a very short space of time we had a solid pipeline of qualified leads, many of which have now converted into deals. This really makes Cloud stand out from our more ‘traditional’ distribution partners.”

Jonathan Mepsted, UK sales director at Lastline commented, “Cloud Distribution’s demand-gen capabilities are unrivalled.  We’ve rapidly gone from a standing start to having a solid, qualified pipeline of leads, something that we could not have achieved so quickly on our own.  In addition, the fact that we are offering our customers a 24x7 Lastline-branded help desk, thanks to the Cloud Cover offering, has helped us reinforce our position as a credible player in the market.”

Strategic hires – Cloud Distribution’s team has grown by 350% in 2013 with hires across the board.  Among Cloud’s new starters this year are industry veterans Andy Fidgeon and Dale Wilson who joined the team as UK sales manager and northern account manager, respectively.

Industry recognition – winner at Microscope ACE and CRN’s Sales & Marketing awards.

Scott Dobson concluded, “The momentum we have enjoyed in 2013 is just the tip of the iceberg.  Our strategy of bringing innovative and disruptive security and networking solutions to market is paying off.  We are plugging a real gap in the distribution market, giving next-generation technology vendors the platform they need to succeed.”

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Cloud Distribution is a value-added distributor of disruptive next-generation security and networking solutions that VARs can take to market quickly and easily. It currently distributes Meraki, PepLink, Talon Storage Solutions, Lastline Inc, Enterasys, Lacoon Security, Watchful and Fiberlink. Its portfolio of disruptive security and networking solutions helps resellers to differentiate themselves from the competition and create new markets to sell in.  The company was founded in 2009 by senior executives with a wealth of experience in the security, networking and optimisation space. Its philosophy is to take innovative, cutting-edge vendors into the UK market by recruiting and working together with skilled, reputable, market making partners.  For further information please visit www.cloud-distribution.com. Follow us on Twitter @cloudtweeters.

15 October 2013

Cloud Distribution has maintenance services covered


 Uniquely enables VARs to wrap service revenue around cloud & subscription-based technologies

Reading, UK 14TH October 2013 – Security and networking next-generation value added distributor (VAD) Cloud Distribution has extended its Cloud Cover brand of professional services, pre-sales, maintenance support and training services, by introducing a new range of pre-packed post-sales support offerings. 

Cloud Distribution’s new support services offer a menu of pre-packaged options with various SLAs available, as well as the choice of a white-labelled support service to enable VARs to offer their own-branded outsourced helpdesk with a dedicated telephone number.  A key advantage of these options is that they enable VARS to position themselves with customers as having a bigger team in place, enabling them to compete with some of the larger and more established organisations in this space.

As well as enabling Cloud’s reseller partners to offer an efficient and effective IT support service for the majority of products within the Cloud Distribution portfolio, these new post-sales options will enable them to build service revenue around cloud subscription technology and fast-track go-to-market strategies for new products, without the need for costly, upfront investment in additional resources.

Cloud Distribution’s new pre-packaged options include:

Cloud Cover - Customer Direct: Ideal for partners of all sizes who wish to outsource their support to our product specialists, enabling partners to focus their valuable technical resources on other revenue generating activities. This includes calls answered as Cloud Distribution, 1st, 2nd and 3rd line support, as well as next business day advance (return merchant authorisation) RMA.

Cloud Cover – Partner Branded: Encompasses all the attributes of Cloud Cover Customer Direct with the added benefit of being “partner branded”. This means that all calls into the service desk are answered as if the customer is calling the partner, enabling the partner to give the impression of a larger organisation. This package also includes a unique, dedicated phone number along with 1st, 2nd and 3rd line support on the partner’s behalf.

Cloud Cover – Partner Enabled: Designed for partners who have already made a significant investment and have a dedicated support desk. The enabled partners’ package provides first line support to the customer, with product specialists supporting the partner when required. 




James Ball, Technical director at Cloud Distribution said, “We value the success of our partners and do everything we can to help them grow their business. The availability of our post-sales maintenance and support services, especially the Partner Branded offering, creates the perfect climate for resellers to increase their profitability by delivering superior customer service and added services revenue.”

-End-

Cloud Distribution is a value-added distributor of disruptive next-generation security and networking solutions that VARs can take to market quickly and easily. It currently distributes Meraki, PepLink, Talon Storage Solutions, Lastline Inc, Enterasys, Lacoon Security, Watchful and Fiberlink. Its portfolio of disruptive security and networking solutions helps resellers to differentiate themselves from the competition and create new markets to sell in.  The company was founded in 2009 by senior executives with a wealth of experience in the security, networking and optimisation space. Its philosophy is to take innovative, cutting-edge vendors into the UK market by recruiting and working together with skilled, reputable, market making partners.  For further information please visit www.cloud-distribution.com. Follow us on Twitter @cloudtweeters.