Distribution Central signs high-end switching vendor

Extreme Networks has signed Distribution Central to manage sole distribution for Australia and New Zealand.

The vendor will sit within the distributor's specialist networking and infrastructure business unit, NetWorld Systems.

Distribution Central saw a lot of potential in the advanced switching business, said Nick Verykios (pictured), sales and marketing director.

The advanced switching market is not dominated by a single player so there is still room to make money out of it, said Verykios. "The whole point of NetWorld Systems is to avoid typical switching and routing business. That's done," said Verykios.

Distribution Central was selected after Barnard had reviewed the vendor's objectives since he took on the role in January. Extreme Networks was keen to get a foothold in New Zealand, said Simon Barnard, Extreme Networks' regional director for Australia and New Zealand.

Another drawcard was the wider range of services.

"Avnet was very good at logistics but we needed someone who could provide a wider range of services which is what my partners needed," said Barnard. "It allows me to free up my resources to do other things.

"Distribution Central has a wide range of other suppliers who are all complementary to us so customers can build a complete end to end solution."

Distribution Central has an exclusive arrangement for Extreme Networks' full range. Barnard said he was trying to make the transition as smooth as possible and was working with Avnet to sell down its stock.

Distribution Central was attracted to Extreme Networks because it was willing to commit to a model that was profitable for resellers.

"A reseller is not going to stay if I'm not going to help him make money," said Verykios.

Distribution Central had four selling points that attracted the vendor, said Verykios. Its extensive evaluation program was valuable because Extreme Networks' products were often going into complex integrated networks.

"Evaluation is very important," says Verykios. "These products need to be tested."

Distribution Central's Advanced Hardware Replacement program, where the distributor sets aside stock to swap for failing units on customers' premises, helps resellers maintain customer uptime.

Asset Systems, which is based on iAsset, Distribution Central's asset management and renewals tracking program, has boosted renewal rates among its vendors into the 90-percent range, claimed the distributor.