LOUISE TAUTE, Managing Director, Westcon-Comstor Southern Africa
In recent years, Africa has been experiencing a reinvention through adopting digital transformation. Improved connectivity, the ubiquity of mobile devices, and a willingness by corporates across industry sectors to embrace hybrid and multi-cloud environments are contributing to how advanced technologies are being adopted.
For channel providers, a service-led approach that enhances digital distribution capabilities can differentiate themselves and deliver solutions in ways that make sense for their customers.
The diverse African business landscape also presents unique challenges and opportunities. For our part, Westcon-Comstor is committed to moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach that has become pervasive in the distribution market.
Instead, it is about delivering tailored IT solutions that cater to the varied needs of businesses in this region.
This can only be achieved through a concerted effort to blend global expertise with in-depth local knowledge, drawing from the adage “think global and act local”. When this is achieved, you move into a space where you are equipping the channel with solutions that are effective, culturally, and contextually relevant.
The ‘new’ frontier of digital distribution
Leading with and injecting all things digital into our offerings has become an exciting and vital aspect of our strategy, especially in the burgeoning digital economy of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The region has shown an increasing appetite for advanced IT solutions. As a distributor, this has resulted in us enhancing our digital platforms to benefit our channel partners while redefining how modern services (like cloud-based offerings) are delivered and experienced.
As we head into 2024, I believe we will see a further need to integrate technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide predictive analytics into digital platforms.
This extends beyond the supply of these solutions to grow revenue; it refers to the distributor’s need to leverage these technologies to better anticipate market demands and identify customer needs more accurately.
Such a forward-thinking approach goes beyond tailoring offerings. Instead, it ensures distributors like us provide partners and clients with the most effective access to technologies relevant to them.
Harnessing the new
Moreover, the channel must push the envelope in driving up the delivery of cloud technologies to ensure they give clients the scalability and accessibility needed by modern solutions.
This will allow partners and clients to access services and solutions from anywhere, anytime, and from a provider they prefer, overcoming traditional barriers of distance and time.
We already know that the cloud-based approach also facilitates better collaboration and data sharing, enhancing the overall efficiency of the supply chain. Something we believe will be even more important in the coming year.
Finding new ways to enhance the user experience is another key component to injecting the channel with a forward-thinking approach – making the acquisition of cloud solutions and services more interactive and featuring even more intuitive interfaces will become one of the cornerstones for success in the New Year.
Enhanced navigation, personalised dashboards, and real-time support will make it easier for clients to find what they need quickly and efficiently.
Maintaining data safety, embracing sustainability
Of course, it matters little if distributors embrace new technologies but are not committed to data security and privacy in their digital distribution efforts.
As we integrate more advanced technologies and handle increasing amounts of sensitive data, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures is a top priority. This commitment to security protects our clients and builds trust and reliability – essential components in the digital age.
Furthermore, our digital strategy is aligned with sustainable practices. We understand the importance of reducing the carbon footprint in the IT sector, and our digital solutions are designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.
We believe that the ‘green agenda’ will be one of the top priorities in the channel in 2024 as companies are under continued pressure to become more sustainable.
Fortunately, our expanded focus on leading with digital sees the adoption of new technologies while creating a more connected, efficient, and resilient IT ecosystem that helps reduce carbon emissions.
Always improving
Our journey and the evolution of the channel does not stop there. For the channel to thrive in 2024 and beyond, distributors need to be constant in their goal to explore and uncover new ways to add value to partners and clients.
Yes, refining service delivery and enhancing digital platforms are important. But success will also require strengthening our presence on the ground to provide partners with the insights and expertise they need to make the right decisions around their technology roadmaps.
What does 2024 hold for Westcon-Comstor? Success. Why? Because we are not just adapting to the technological changes happening around us but leading the way.
Our service-led approach and focus on digital platform and service delivery allow us to align the business with trends not only emerging today but that are bound to emerge tomorrow.
