Tech Data Corp. has added three partnerships to its Internet of Things solution group, all of which leverage technologies from Cisco Systems Inc.
The Clearwater, Fla.-based broadline distributor announced the new alliance relationships, which are available to its resellers in the Americas, on the opening day of the Cisco Live! user conference in Las Vegas.
Under a new relationship with Quantela Inc., of San Francisco, Tech Data will now offer “smart city” solutions based on the Cisco Smart+Connected Digital Platform.
“Cities are increasingly looking for sustainable and cost-effective methods of deployment and management of smart solutions related to traffic, security, street lighting and parking services,” said Quantela CEO Sridhar Gadhi in prepared remarks. “We are pleased to engage with Tech Data and its partners to offer this capability to cities using our cloud-based remote services platform that will improve efficiency and reduce costs for delivery of urban services.”
A second new distribution partnership with iValu8 Inc., of Chapel Hill, N.C., offers Tech Data resellers access to a variety of social media, loyalty program, and in-store marketing solutions for organizations in the retail and hospitality industries. One of those systems, called VivaSpot, utilizes wireless LAN infrastructure from Cisco’s Meraki unit to give shoppers and hotel guests free Wi-fi connectivity. Businesses can collect contact information from or promote products and special offers to users who take advantage of that service.
In a third and final new partnership unveiled today, Tech Data now distributes Transcend, a line of network-connected LED office lighting solutions from Lisle, Ill.-based Molex LLC, along with a range of compatible Cisco Catalyst Digital Building Series Switches. A complete software and hardware platform, Transcend is designed to help businesses improve productivity and lower energy costs by adjusting lights automatically based on time of day, room occupancy, and other variables.
“Molex strives to bring intelligent, productive and integrated solutions with high reliability, excellent consultancy and technical support,” said Molex sales and business development manager Murad Mohammed in Tech Data’s press release. “Tech Data’s vast experience covering these technology fields makes them a natural fit to drive successful acceleration of these IoT solutions. We are very thrilled and looking forward to working with them.”
Tech Data established its Smart IoT and Analytics Solutions Practice last July. The alliances that group announced today join previously completed ones with Tinley Park, Ill.-based Panduit Corp., which makes Internet of Things solutions for the manufacturing industry; Nexiona, a maker of IoT development platforms with offices in Barcelona, Oxford, and Munich; and Propel GPS LLC, an asset tracking solution vendor headquartered in Reston, Va.
According to Tech Data, citing figures from analyst firm IDC, IoT-related spending within the Americas will reach $335 billion in 2018.
The 2017 Cisco Live! Conference runs through Thursday.
