ENABLING DIGITAL

ENABLING DIGITAL ENTERPRISES

D-Link continues to constantly introduce new innovations in its networking solutions portfolio and with its broad portfolio enables Businesses, ranging from SMB to the enterprise on their digital transformation journeys

D-Link has over the past couple of years, enhanced its portfolio with a good percentage of solutions now targeting mid-market and enterprise customers that are embarking on transforming their networks and seeking greater performance. The Nuclias cloud portfolio is its flagship offering and has been its focus over the past few years. One of the core offerings has been its switches.

D-Link boasts an extensive portfolio for the enterprise sector that incudes switching, wireless and IP surveillance products.

Sakkeer Hussain, Sales and Marketing Director at D-Link Middle East says, “As a networking leader, our focus has been to deliver highly effective network solutions for digital enterprises of today. Under switching, we offer numerous innovations in unmanaged switches, smart managed switches and fully managed switches, to name a few broad categories. D-Link switches consistently outperform the competition in the market and integrates into different verticals at all scales.”

One of its latest launches includes the DMS-106XT, unveiled at CES recently – an unmanaged switch that accelerates network efficiency and delivers uninterrupted online experiences. Featuring 2.5G Ethernet ports and one 10G Ethernet ports, users can connect to 2.5GE notebooks for HD streaming and gaming while the 10G port connects to storage for quick backup or restoring of data.

Another flagship offering includes the growing DGS-2000 Series, which provide a diverse range of Gigabit port densities to accommodate various needs of enterprise access layer connectivity. With optio-ns such as PoE to conveniently power edge devices, SFP ports to extend network connectivity, advanced Layer 2 functionalities, and Layer 3 Lite manageability, the DGS-2000 Series is an ideal choice for any enterprise access layer deployment.

“While these are only two of the most recent additions, we cater to a wide range of requirements for enterprises across verticals to help customers cut down inefficiencies and slash unnecessary costs while also optimizing networks, enhancing security and performance to create great user experiences,” adds Sakkeer.

D-Link’s Nuclias Cloud solution extends to not just SMBs but also enterprises in terms of capabilities and performance. In fact, any organization with any level of IT resources is able to quickly and easily deploy, configure, manage, monitor, troubleshoot, and scale their networks remotely – via web browser or app.

Sakkeer say, “Today increasingly more emphasis is given to remote and digital solutions by customers all across the world, in this regard Nuclias Cloud is often the preferred choice as compared to a traditional networking solution as it is cost-effective, efficient and features easy and zero touch deployment with hassle-free cloud-based management. We have already seen a huge uptake and tremendous adoption rate for Nuclias Cloud since its launch last year.”

The launch of Nuclias Cloud came at the right time for the networking vendor, considering the immediate market requirements

back then. D-Link looks poised to enhance the portfolio with new features and better market segmentations to provide further value-add propositions for its customers. For instance, last year with remote working environments becoming a critical infrastructural requirement, the cloud enabled Nuclias was a solution whose time had come.

Sakkeer say, “The complete end-to-end innovative suite of Nuclias solutions is designed to assist and empower remote learning and working. It is unique because never before have IT administrators set up, automated, monitored and scaled wireless networks remotely so easily and seamlessly”

Nuclias Cloud portfolio allows SMBs and large enterprises across retail, education and hospitality, as well as MSPs, to deploy professional-grade networks securely from anywhere and anytime, eliminating physical space constraints. Convenience, security, cost-effectiveness and ease of use make the solutions ideal for onboarding, studying, troubleshooting as well as monitoring and reporting network activity quickly and easily.

In addition, the Nuclias Managed Wireless Networking Solutions offer the capability, hosting flexibility, and value that customers need to carry out their digital transformation efforts with minimal interruptions. The solutions offer centralized remote network management via an intuitive interface, and multi-tenant architecture that makes outsourcing simple for end-users.

Steadily, the networking vendors has been strengthening its solutions focus for the mid-market and enterprise customers via its channel network. D-Link has been working closely with its channel partners to create a comprehensive ecosystem of innovative solutions to assist enterprise customers in their drive towards digitalization.

“Over the past year, we have conducted in-depth virtual trainings as well as one-on-one online meetings with our partners to educate them on the enterprise opportunity and how our pioneering wireless and networking solutions can be the answer to customers’ digital challenges. We have several ongoing projects where we are empowering enterprise customers through our partners to take advantage of our latest offerings around Nuclias Cloud portfolio, mydlink, Wi-Fi 6, 5G, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet solutions among others,” says Sakkeer.

The SMB segment in particular, is a stronghold for the vendor where it offers an end to end range of enterprise grade solutions at comfortable pricing points. Partners can choose from the broad array of portfolio to cater to SMB customers for all their networking requirements. This includes solutions for IP Surveillance, Wireless, Switching, Storage, Security, Cloud, VoIP, Print Servers, Structured Cabling, Digital Home, 3G/4G Routers, Power over Ethernet Kits, Powerline, KVM, Structured Cabling and Digital SMB offerings.

“As a networking solutions leader for over 20 years in the region, we are well positioned to cater to all SMB requirements in an ever-evolving market. As SMB businesses expand, they need to have enterprise quality networking and wireless solutions at cost-effective prices. Understanding these requirements well, over the years, we have unveiled a number of products and solutions targeted at this segment. Partners can rely on us to be their one-stop-shop when it comes to the SMB segment, ” says Sakkeer.

D-Link continues to invest in numerous trainings, certifications and workshops for its channel partners to educate them on the fundamentals of SMB businesses and how they should approach customers from these segments. Additionally, the vendor offers specific and dedicated programs, directed at the SMB sector to motivate partners to earn more. Coupled with relevant services, D-Link is providing its partners opportunities to earn higher margin with offerings in the SMB space.

The SMB segment had a tough battle right through the year because of Covid-19, and there were many companies who chose to reinvent and recalibrate their go to market with digital transformation. Those companies who have kept pace with what transformation was need of the hour, have had it easier in meeting Business challenges. And those businesses kept Technology vendors like D-Link and their partners interested, with the current year likely to be a lot better.

Sakkeer says, “While 2020 was certainly a tough year for all businesses, it was interesting to note the uptake of technological solutions as that became the key differentiator between a company that was able to successfully sail through and one that didn’t. In this regard, SMBs while cautious were also investing in immedi-

Sakkeer Hussain

Sales and Marketing Director, D-Link Middle East

ate requirements that would enable them to seamlessly transition their operations to an online model, which was the need of the hour then.”

He elaborates further, “At D-Link we are observing a renewed optimism from the market as we progress ahead into this year. We expect the market to stabilize further as more vaccines are rolled out and we gradually enter into a post-pandemic era. In terms of the technology sector, we will see increased investments in remote, cloud and digital technologies that enable business continuity. As per 2021 Global Investment Outlook Report published by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE economy is expected to grow by about 2.5 percent this year after shrinking by 6 percent in 2020 as a result of pressures relating to the global coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices.”

Last year, D-Link also introduced several solutions to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This included the DCS-9500T Group Temperature Screening Camera Kit that can simultaneously scan up to 30 people with a rapid response time within 30 ms, eliminating queues in busy public areas such as office buildings, factories, schools, shopping centers, etc. The DCS9500T features dual-lens technology for high-quality footage, while 17 viewing modes and intelligent facial recognition allow for accurate, rapid identification. The DCS-9500T can precisely distinguish people and raise an alarm when someone has an elevated temperature. Body temperature can be measured to an accuracy of ±0.3°C with a sensitivity of 40mK.

It also introduced the DCS-F7200FT Face Recognition Access Control Terminal with Digital temperature Measurement Module. The DCS-F7200FT Digital temperature measurement face recognition access control terminal is a kind of access control device with precise recognition rate, large storage Capacity and fast recognition, which integrates face recognition technology and non-contact temperature detection technology. The digital temperature measurement module supports rapid body temperature detection. Thus, the product can achieve face recognition and temperature detection at the same time, and support warning people with abnormal body temperature. It can be widely applied in the crowded places, such as smart communities, schools, office buildings, hospitals and other important areas

D-Link also has solutions for the fast-growing surveillance segment with IP cameras, camera accessories, NVRs and switches. The Middle East is in fact one of the fastest growing regions for electronic security systems market, and the bulk of the market demand is driven by video surveillance segment.

Sakkeer says, “The factors driving the growth of the regional video surveillance market includes the flourishing constructions market, increased foreign investments, along with mounting security concerns, security spending and large-scale international events. At D-Link we have seen that the regional video surveillance market is displaying a rising demand for IP/ Network video surveillance systems, while demand for analog video surveillance systems are declining. Video analytics are also increasingly playing a critical role in the surveillance area and we will see more advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning being employed in this space.”

In a continuing quest to broaden its offerings and segments addressed, D-Link towards end of last year, also struck a partnership with Ameyo to offer cloud-based omni-channel contact center solutions for the Middle East market. Through this strategic partnership, D-Link is Ameyo’s sole cloud partner in the UAE and Oman. Sakkeer says, “Our aim and focus have been to provide our partners the hardware reliability and software services under one umbrella with Ameyo’s product suite. Ameyo’s portfolio includes Omnichannel Contact Center Solutions and Helpdesk & Ticketing Software. Enterprises can now replace their existing legacy contact center infrastructure as part of their digital transformation journey and save huge costs with combined offerings from Ameyo and D-Link.”

In the next few months, D-Link has a line-up of several new solutions to launch from its various Business groups including Wifi-6 Mesh Routers, Wifi-6 Extenders, Nuclias Business Cloud access points, mydlink cloud cameras, 5G Routers and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet solutions.

With over two decades of commitment to the Middle East market, D-Link continues to be steady in its efforts to reach out and continue addressing market requirements. Alongside, it has also nurtured a successful ecosystem of partners who have been instrumental in helping script its success.