Dicker Data has launched an AI Accelerate practice, aimed at increasing the accessibility of AI solutions by Australian and New Zealand partners.
The AI solution ecosystem is designed to make it easier for partners to identify AI opportunities, and to provide access to AI expertise that can bring customised AI solutions to life.
The company said that the impetus behind the launch was "recognising that AI adoption amongst Australian and New Zealand businesses is lagging similar markets, such as the US, UK and Europe".
The first ecosystem provider to join the AI Accelerate practice comes by way of an exclusive partnership with Australian AI and Internet of Things (IoT) solution provider, 365mesh.
The Sydney-based partner organisation was hand selected by Dicker Data due to their expertise in designing, building, deploying and maintaining complex AI solutions. The 365mesh team brings over 40 data scientists and AI solution experts to help mid-market partners who are ready to start leveraging AI solutions with their end-customers.
365mesh delivers AI outcomes through two integrated lanes: Core AI Product Engineering, offering modular services from strategy to deployment, and a portfolio of industry-aligned, AI-powered SaaS platforms designed to solve sector-specific challenges.
The AI Accelerate practice builds on news from earlier in the year where Dicker Data and Dell Technologies announced they had invested in the deployment of an AI proof of concept facility.
Built on Dell infrastructure, including Dell PowerEdge servers with NVIDIA H100 chips and housed in an Equinix Sydney facility, the proof of concept is described by Dicker Data as "a channel-first" in Australia.
Dicker Data's executive director and COO Vlad Mitnovetski said there is a clear need for faster adoption of AI solutions in both Australia and New Zealand.
"Our region is lagging the rest of the world, and we see it as our responsibility to provide a tangible path forward for partners and their end-customers to realise the benefits of AI, in turn making those businesses more competitive on the global stage," he said.
“Our partnership with 365mesh, coupled with the powerful Dell Technologies and NVIDIA AI infrastructure proof of concept enables us to provide access for local partners to test and evaluate custom-developed AI solutions locally here in Australia."
Mitnovetski said Dicker Data is launching a consultative approach to AI, bringing 365mesh into the conversations with partners when they identify the need for external AI expertise.
“We’ll then work closely with both parties to support the development and deployment of those bespoke AI solutions into the most appropriate environment for the end-customer," he explained.
"We’re confident in the capabilities of 365mesh to help our extensive network of over 12,500 partners accelerate the adoption of AI in Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, as the exclusive NVIDIA distributor for both Australia and New Zealand, we can provide access to the cutting-edge NVIDIA technologies that our partners may need to run and maintain their new AI solutions.”
365mesh CEO Marco Delgado said partnering with Dicker Data allows the company to take a complete, market-ready AI productisation offering to organisations ready to move beyond roadmaps and prototypes.
"While Dicker Data drives the growth of the AI infrastructure ecosystem, 365mesh delivers the software layer by building and operating AI-driven solutions that align with business outcomes," he said.
"Together, we provide an end-to-end pathway for AI adoption, delivered through scalable, consumption-aligned models that accelerate time to value and reduce implementation risk."
