Dell/SonicWALL trying to win back partners

LAS VEGAS – Judging from the roughly 750 channel partners from more than 20 countries who are attending the Peak Performance Conference the important question on their mind came to the forefront by Calgary-based solution provider Carl Fransen of CTECH Consulting Group.

Can Dell/SonicWALL win back the partners?

Fransen, a very loyal Dell partner, notes that SonicWALL appears not to get the same fanfare as Dell’s server, PC, and laptop business units.
Fransen reflects on his experience post-Dell’s purchase of SonicWALL in 2012 “Dell bought SonicWall and messed up the entire procurement process. It took three months to get a unit shipped correctly.”

Asking Fransen flat out, will you give SonicWALL another look now that private equity group Francisco Partners and hedge fund management firm Elliott Management are going to be in the driver’s seat? “We have already switched to another product,” states Fransen.

But B.J. Farmer from Houston IT Solutions organization CITOC doesn’t agree with Fransen. Farmer says “Absolutely fantastic. One of our best vendors.”
Why are some SonicWALL partners raving fans, while others like Fransen struggle with the relationship?
During my tenure with IT Matters in Calgary, SonicWALL was one of our most strategic partner relationships. I know many managed IT service companies who continue to engage SonicWALL at a strategic level.
Most recently, Apex Technology Management completed two highly successful lunch and learn events sponsored by SonicWALL in Redding and Chico, CA. According to George Passidakis, VP of Business Development, “SonicWALL has been an amazing strategic partner with Apex.
Our technicians love working with their products. Our customers know they are secure, and the SonicWALL team has been fantastic to work with.”

When the new organization takes over SonicWALL from Dell, the “SonicWALL Secure First” Partner Program will be introduced. Will this new program be attractive to new and returning SonicWALL partners?

According to Steve Pataky, Vice President of Worldwide Security Sales, “This will be very attractive to new SonicWALL partners.” Pataky says that “SonicWALL is here to compete”. They are looking for the best partners to maintain competitiveness in the market.

When will SonicWALL complete its transition from Dell? Patrick Sweeney, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, mentioned “November” during his morning keynote on Monday.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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Stuart Crawford is an MSP marketing specialist and coaching professional. He is president of Ulistic Inc., a managed services coaching, mentorship, sales and outsourced marketing services firm. For more info call u 716.799.1999 or email [email protected]

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