Tech Data is encouraging its partners to target enterprise opportunities in the augmented and virtually reality space. With Facebook Oculus, Microsoft Hololens and Google Glass already signed to its portfolio, the distributor has appointed a business development manager, and is pledging further investment to support partners taking AR and VR systems to market.
“We have always believed there was real potential in mixed and virtual reality in both the enterprise and consumer markets,” said Ryan Thomas, business manager, mobile and consumer electronics, UK and Ireland, Tech Data.
“We’re ready to help our reseller partners explore the potential and open up new opportunities. We are already seeing a lot of interest in hands-on training and a couple of projects are being rolled-out by partners across the EMEA region. We see good potential looking ahead to the rest of the year and beyond,” he added.
Tech Data has appointed company veteran, Harry Ellis, as category and account manager for major brands. He will be working alongside vendors and channel partners to identify and follow up potential opportunities.
According to Thomas, there is growing interest in AR and VR systems in the healthcare and the public sector. The distributor is working with several partners that have expertise in the integration of cloud, collaboration and Internet of things (IoT) systems to integrate AR and VR technology into their offering.
“The breadth of Tech Data’s expertise in various emerging technologies is a real differentiator,” said Thomas.
“It means that we can bring together all the pieces of the jigsaw – the cloud services and software, integration services, the sensors that might be required at the edge, and the AR/VR devices themselves, to support partners in delivering complete solutions that make use of mixed and augmented reality to solve real-world needs," he added.
