Not a Hard Choice

Scoring over its competitors, though
not with a huge jump, href="http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdqweek.ciol.com%2FNation%2FSeagates-slimmest-hard-disc-now-in-India%2F127335%2F0%2F&rct=j&q=seagate%20%2B%20dqweek&ei=m6btTb_6OISyrAeS-qSQBA&usg=AFQjCNEU5RSO1jBK-jDKJ9KtC6XCEWBOVg&cad=rja">Seagate
has retained its #1 position this year
in the hard drive segment. The channel partners seem to be completely
bowled over by the diversity of product range and user friendliness
of products. Being the leader in the hard drives segment, Seagate has
made its stand by bringing new innovations in the market development
programs and also allocation of funds in the marketing space. Seagate
also impressed partners with its quality of marketing manpower,
promptness in replacing stocks and its technical expertise to solve
problems. Though Samsung and Seagate in the online support offered by
the companies, Samsung missed out on the profit margins and back-end
incentives and its settlement. But it also looks like Samsung has
managed to impress its customers with good relationship management
through consistency and effectiveness of communication with channel
partners. The hard drives for Samsung also add value to the products
by complimenting products, services and other forms of enhancements
for channel partners. As far as transparency in the commercial terms
and policies are concerned, no doubt Samsung tops the list with its
promptness for schemes and incentive programs for channel partners. For
Hitachi, it is important to concentrate on the online support for
channel partners which involves queries being resolved online,
turnaround time and promptness, richness of online resources offered
and presence of online partner portal and its effectiveness. The
after-sales support offered by Hitachi is also appreciated by channel
partners with the regular availability and competence of account
managers and helpdesk services, and ability to provide satisfactory
repair and replacement services with the presence of vendors in the
selected localities and regions.