TRANSFORMING SMALL BUSINESSES

SAKKEER HUSSAIN, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING AT D-LINK MEA, EXPLAINS HOW SMBS CAN BENEFIT FROM DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION.

What are the priorities for SMBs in today’s evolving digital business landscape?

The evolving digital business environment is compelling SMB customers to increasingly take advantage of the emerging technologies to boost their operations. SMBs are also looking at growing their productivity with remote working cultures, especially in today’s circumstances. The top-most priorities for SMB firms are finding ways to save on time and costs to improve business efficiency. SMBs are realising that automation and smart technologies can play a big role here. They are embracing cloud, automation and Artificial Intelligence tools and solutions. They need to invest in Internet of Things (IoT) and fast and stable Wi-Fi connections to truly leverage the technologies their business depends on. Networking technologies perform a crucial role in enabling SMB companies to stay connected and put their efforts towards growing their revenues and reach.

What are the technologies that D-Link specialises in to empower SMBs with their digital transformation goals?

Robust, fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections are central to the smooth operation of a SMB company embracing smart solutions. At D-Link, we are market leaders in Wi-Fi, cloud and networking technologies, serving both enterprise and SMBs for decades in the region. We understand regional SMBs’ business needs as they get along their digital transformation journeys. From, Mesh routers – cutting-edge technology modernisation for home and SMB Wi-Fi setups to pioneering remote networking solutions, cloud-based offerings, networking solutions and Wi-Fi 6 routers, we have an extensive range of products and services specially curated for this segment. AI, IoT, mesh, Wi-Fi 6 routers and 5G technologies dominate the new launches planned for this year from D-Link.

How are SMBs leveraging remote working solutions from D-Link? Can you elaborate on your key offerings?

SMBs are searching for cost-effective ways to deploy innovative enterpriselevel digital solutions that will help drive their businesses in the new normal and ensure business continuity. D-Link’s Nuclias Connect and Nuclias Cloud remote network management solutions are our flagship remote working offering for SMBs and enterprises alike. SMB firms across verticals are able to quickly and easily deploy, configure, manage, monitor, troubleshoot, and scale their networks remotely – via web browser or app. The Nuclias portfolio is cost-effective, efficient and features easy and zero touch deployment with hassle-free cloud-based management – all the features SMB companies are looking out for. In addition to the Nuclias solutions, SMBs can also leverage our robust Wi-Fi, wireless and 5G-enabled solutions to support their remote working models.

Can you elaborate on the market response of your flagship offering Nuclias product line?

We have observed a huge adoption rate for the Nuclias portfolio since its launch last year. We aim to grow the portfolio with new features and better market segmentations to provide even more value-add for our customers.

What are the growth drivers for this segment? How will D-Link power SMBs’ transformation over this year?

Without a doubt the rapid digital adoption by the SMB segment is continuing to accelerate the industry’s growth in the region. They are looking for flexibility and innovation to help future proof their business operations. Smart and digital technologies allow them to have these advantages in cost-effective ways.

D-Link’s objective continues to be a one-stop-shop for the end-toend digital requirements of the SMB segment in an ever-evolving tech and market landscape. From housing dedicated solutions and products for the SMB sector, we also have specific partner programs, training workshops and relevant service opportunities to empower our channel partners to serve SMB customers and help solve their business challenges. Over the course of the year, the market can expect to see more innovations targeted towards the SMB sector from D-Link.

REDEFINING ENTERPRISE STORAGE

BIBIN GEORGE, SALES REPRESENTATIVE MENA, ENTERPRISE AND SYSTEMS, SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY, HIGHLIGHTS THE FIRM’S RECENT DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP WITH ASBIS MIDDLE EAST AND MARKET PLANS FOR THE YEAR.

Can you give an overview of the current data landscape in the region? Are there key trends customers and partners must keep an eye out for?

The datasphere is growing at an unprecedented rate. By 2025, IDC predicts the global datasphere will grow to 175 zettabytes. Data is fuelling a smarter and more responsibly connected world and will continue to play an instrumental role across all business segments. As the world adopts IT 4.0, customers and partners should transform the storage infrastructure at the granular level and reconsider the hardware they implement in their systems in order to maximise performance at every stage of the data flow, from the edge to the cloud.

Why should regional customers capitalise on Seagate’s latest data management offerings in today’s new normal?

We store most of the world’s data, shipping over 400 Exabytes per year. From petabyte to exabyte, we offer the best storage solutions at the best value with industry-leading capacity, firmware, and multi-core capabilities. Also, as Seagate develops technologies such as HAMR and MACH.2, valued Seagate customers will be able to get a first-hand experience with such solutions.

Can you elaborate on the recent distribution partnership with ASBIS Middle East for Seagate Storage Systems? How do you expect ASBIS to help scale your business to new heights in the region?

Seagate never had a distributor for Seagate Systems in the Middle East region. Now, signing up with ASBIS would help us to grow this business across the entire Middle East. ASBIS boasts over 30 years of experience in the Middle East market and a dedicated team for value solutions. We will work together with their existing base of SIs and VARs, as well as target the channel of our trusted global partners to develop a successful business.

How can channel partners build value-added offerings around data management for their end customers?

Channel partners should emphasis to customers that Seagate is the only enterprise storage manufacturer that designs and builds its entire system (including ASIC) and leverage our global partnerships to address their growing challenges with the ever-increasing data growth and associated costs.

How does Seagate support and enable its channel ecosystem with resources and trainings to help stay differentiated in the post-pandemic era?

All our channel partners have access to Seagate Insider portal where they can access on-demand training and knowledge base which can be used to empower their team. Product Marketing collaterals are also available to promote the Seagate portfolio of products. Apart from that, we as Seagate along with our authorised distributor ASBIS run regular on-line trainings and webinars.

What kind of Data Migration Services does Seagate offer?

Seagate offers Lyve Services which includes data migration as well as tape migration services to customers. Migrating data from a tape/disk legacy environment into a cloud environment (public/hybrid/private) can solve data management issues such as data retention and compliance. Working across different verticals such as the oil and gas, telco, media and entertainment, we have global experience to engage with complex data migration projects.

What can the regional market expect from Seagate during the course of this year?

Customers can expect CORTX, a 100% open-source object storage that enables efficient capture and consolidation of massive, unstructured data sets for the lowest cost per petabyte. Designed, built, and maintained by Seagate and a community of data scientists and enterprise storage experts, CORTX will bring exabyte scalability for their private cloud. Also, Seagate will be coming out with our Lyve Drive Solutions later this year. It is a revolutionary system of modular solutions that will help you to efficiently move data around your enterprise, cloud, and edge.