Tech Data To Launch Printing Solutions Unit

The unit, announced earlier this year at Tech Data's Business Partners Summit, is slated to get under way Feb. 1. Driven by the convergence of areas like color printing, copying and multifunction printers, the Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor formed the unit to go beyond printing supplies to a more solutions-based approach, adding more resources around services, hardware and software for VAR partners.

The Printing Solutions unit will be modeled after Tech Data's 10-year-old document management unit, providing VARs with trained resources in the field as well as inside-sales and field-sales support.

"[Document management] is a very profitable space. This year, we continue to expand and grow that particular space by adding ISV software packages that really help us offer the total solution, so that we're not just offering the hardware side of the business," said Jennifer Burke, marketing manager for digital imaging product marketing for peripherals at Tech Data.

Tech Data will offer a tool that identifies recommended add-on supplies when a VAR looks up a particular printer or part on the distributor's Web site, she said, adding that the company also aims to build relationships with software vendors in the printing space.

"Today, where we have a supplies business unit focused on selling print supplies, we're going to take those resources and that team and build upon that, and we're really going to be focused on selling printing solutions," Burke said.