Tech Data unveils virtual IBM innovation hub in Singapore – Channel Asia
Tech Data has launched a new virtual IBM centre of competency (COC) in Singapore, designed to drive adoption of emerging technologies through the channel.
The COC will focus on enabling partners in the core areas of hybrid cloud, DevOps and automation, in addition to cyber security, data analytics and artificial intelligence.
“Investing in this new centre of competency in collaboration with IBM is Tech Data’s latest step in accelerating our partners’ journeys to cloud and addressing customers’ business transformation imperatives by leveraging cognitive intelligence like Watson technology,” said Bennett Wong, vice president and general manager of ASEAN, Tech Data.
“We are excited to offer this platform to our partners to enhance their own capabilities as well as leverage our assets and expertise to showcase best-of-breed solutions to their end-users.”
According to Wong, the COC takes a “holistic approach” in deploying new technologies at the enterprise level, moving “beyond single projects” in the process.
Through enabling partners – and their respective customers – to experience next-generation IBM solutions, key offerings of the centre include use case showcases and hands-on experiences, in addition to demonstrations and proofs of concepts.
Alongside education specific to IBM solutions, partner and end-user training will also be on offer, backed by dedicated Tech Data technical resources to support go-to-market strategies.
“This centre of competency is an important part of IBM’s strategy to help transform our clients digital reinvention through our partners,” added Raymond Wong, leader of Partner Ecosystem, IBM. “It supports channel partners to drive innovation and agility and enables them to unlock the full potential of next-generation solutions.
“Through the centre, partners will gain hands-on experience alongside Tech Data’s solutions experts and gain access to enablement programs around the COC solutions stacks to further enhance their capabilities. Partners can experience our technology in a real-world environment working side by side with Tech Data’s experts.”
From a technology standpoint, the facility will offer access to a security operations centre (SOC) in partnership with Hortonworks and Qradar, as well as process automation with workflow and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) on private cloud through IBM and Nutanix.
The launch comes four weeks after IBM appointed Raymond Wong as channel leader in Singapore amid plans to drive new technologies through the supply chain.
As reported by Channel Asia, Wong is tasked with building out the vendor’s ecosystem through an approach based on channel collaboration.
“Working with our partners, I want to help our clients build capacity and capability for their journey to cloud leveraging artificial intelligence and security to propel their growth,” said Wong, when speaking exclusively to Channel Asia at the time of his appointment. “IBM is in a unique position to help partners work with partners, not just IBM, to truly drive vibrancy in the marketplace.
“While partners compete there is so much all of us can achieve collaborating together. Everyone is a winner in the ecosystem I envision.”
Wong is well-versed in the channel following over 18 years of experience in the IT industry – 12 years of which in management roles at IBM – spanning managed services, networking and software.
Most recently, Singapore-based Wong was country general manager of cloud and cognitive software, spearheading sales, technical and services teams in the market.