Tech Data Matches Up TechSelect Members

The Affiliate program will be launched at the Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor's TechSelect conference in San Antonio, said Annette Taber, director of TechSelect.

"Some of our members are actively promoting products. There are also a handful of ISVs joining us for the first time, and we have a number of third-party services companies that we added throughout the year," she said.

The program is part of TechSelect's mission to help solution providers build their businesses, Taber said. Other efforts include conference sessions on RFID, storage, disaster recovery and executive leadership development.

"Solution providers are driving more services and realizing they have to be seen as specialized. It's so costly to train folks to be generalists," she said. "You have to think of what you want to focus on and make sure your staff is focused top to bottom."

TechSelect member SoftwareOne plans to leverage its Microsoft large-account reseller status to sell Microsoft enterprise licenses through other TechSelect members, said Keith Ackerman, marketing director and CIO of SoftwareOne, New Berlin, Wis.SoftwareOne created a program called VARassist about a year ago and has worked with about 150 VARs across the country, Ackerman said.

"We share revenue with them on licensing deals we handle. We do more than handle paperwork. We work with them on asset and license management," he said. "We're hoping to be very strategic about this. We've reached out to the membership and all areas of the country to build up coverage. TechSelect knows its partners and is willing to put the right partners together to help you grow."

SoftwareOne has worked informally with a few TechSelect members, including MCPc, Cleveland, which has used SoftwareOne several times for Microsoft Select and Enterprise licenses.

"We're looking for cooperation, not competition," said Kris Snyder, CTO of MCPc.