IBM plans to increase its global software sales and technical staff numbers working with the channel by about 30 percent from January, an IBM executive said at the Comdex forum in Las Vegas USA.
'The number of (IBM channel software support people) are in the thousands and we plan to add hundreds more next year,' said Scott Cooper, IBM's vice president, worldwide channel and SMB marketing. Cooper didn't give specific numbers, but said the net increase in IBM software support people working with the channel would be about 30 percent.
'There are some technical people and some sales people,' he said. 'We are adding more and more technical skills. The blend of the field force will be more technical in 2004 than it was in 2003. That's purely in reaction to what partners have asked us for.'
Tech Data Chairman and CEO Steve Raymund said the move signals intent by IBM next year to 'substantially increase feet on the street' by adding channel field support people.
-1.jpg&w=100&c=1&s=0)
.png&w=100&c=1&s=0)
