12 Most Channel Friendly Companies

How do you define channel friendly companies? Obviously, our task is made easier as most channel partners DQChannels spoke to picked their favorites. What impacted their choices was having well defined policies in place, delivering perfect services, announcing innovative schemes at regular frequencies and honoring warranties and replacements policies.

Hewlett-Packard

S - Strongest portfolio in printer
and laptop segment
W - Service complaints in major upcountry locations
O - Increased adoption of Pavillion series
T - Storage and server segment under threat from IBM and WD

Lenovo

S - Revision of channel tiers created strong partners
W - Lack of adequate direct sales outlets
O - Increase in ThinkPad sales and IdeaCentres
T - Vaio growing fast in the mid-range outpacing Lenovo

ASUS

S - Strongest components portfolio
W - Weak laptop player
O - Channel hierarchy can boost systems division by appointing more partners
T - Numerous service issues in major upcountry locales

Cisco

S -Strongest channel network in networking space
W - Weak in home segment compared to competition
O - Numerous channel schemes and offers can further boost up sales in 2013
T - Alleged global intimidation tactics can harm company reputation

LG

S -Leader in monitors space
W - Relaunched systems (laptops) products not picking up sales as anticipated
O - Upcountry locations can open up new market for the newly introduced laptops
T - B2B portfolio may not perform so well as established players have already taken the lead in the segment

Intel

S -Market leader in processors
W - Status quo in channel structure for many years
O -Intel Ultrabooks faring good reviews
T - Qualcomm poised to
jitter Intel in the tablet and smartphone processor market

Microsoft

S -Strongest software player
across verticals
W - Controversy over ‘raids'
leading to mistrust among partners
O - Windows 8 and Windows Phone
T - Google Apps taking a lead over Microsoft cloud solutions in India

Digilink

S -Pre-eminent position in structured cabling business and strong distribution network
W - Lacks in after-sales support provided to the partners
O -Expertise of the foreign brand (Schneider) will attract channel partners
T - Growing & heavy competition from Indian brands in the passive networking business

Seagate

S -Strongest product portfolio in 
hard disk range
W - Needs re-focusing on regional presence and empower partners
O - Tablet adoption can see a surge in external HDDs from which Seagate can benefit
T - WD outpacing Seagate's growth
in major markets in North
and West

Quick Heal

S -Strong channel structure
and presence
W - Operating primarily in
mid-market
O -Mobility market can open new fronts for antivirus solutions
T - Growing competition from a resurgent Norton

Tally Solutions

S -Strongest portfolio in its segment
W - Channel structure presently under confusion related to stocks, updates and price hikes
O - Cloud operations can open new possibilities
T - Growing mobility apps (business and productivity) can threaten future mobility plans for Tally

Samsung

S -Market leader in smartphones and strong in monitor segment
W - Laptop segment did not perform as expected
O -Smart TV will boost the high-end product portfolio
T - Patent and ongoing copyright
wars