D-LINK to enhance SMB focus across GCC

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D-Link Corporation has announced that it is sharpening its focus in the GCC market in preparation for the launch of new SMB offerings and programme.

According to the vendor that manufactures solutions in the IP Surveillance, Wireless, Switching, Storage, Security, Cloud, VoIP, Print Servers, Structured Cabling, Digital Home, 3G/4G Routers, Power over Ethernet Kit, Powerline, KVM, Structured Cabling and Digital home offerings, the company is pushing its SMB offerings in the GCC as small businesses warm up to
D-Link’s products aimed at this segment.
Sakkeer Hussain, Director – Sales and Marketing, D-Link Middle East and Africa (MEA), said D-Link is preparing to roll out the SMB Partner Programme to help partners that serve and target this segment to increase their share of business with the company.

Hussain said from a product breadth, D-Link has one of the widest offerings for channel partners of all sizes to serve across the different vertical markets. “We will be pushing our AC router range, wireless LAN offerings, controllers, IP surveillance cameras and SMB offerings,” he said.

He added that the GCC has continued to show maturity in the IT market even though spending has slowed down largely due to the drop in crude oil prices. That said, Hussain pointed out that the UAE leads in terms of the number of projects, IT spending and business in general following by Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
Hussain noted that Saudi Arabia is by far the biggest market in the GCC especially now that the country is moving away from its dependence on oil. “The SMB sector is doing well in Saudi Arabia and we have seen that with our own networking SMB business,” he stated. “All channel stakeholders (vendors, distributors and resellers) need to be upbeat about business prospects in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia this year, despite a slowdown in IT spending and some projects being shelved,” he said. “There are some good initiatives in these countries as governments lead with smart city initiatives and digital transformation programmes.”

Hussain said from a D-Link standpoint, the company is also seeing a lot of opportunities opening up for channel partners in North Africa as the telecoms space opens up because of deregulation. “In the SMB segment, we are seeing a lot of businesses adopting wireless networking solutions and we are seeing an increase in the adoption of these solutions and services in the hospitality, education, healthcare and organisations involved with e-learning solutions,” he noted.

Looking ahead, Hussain added that without doubt, partners that combine products and services have a better chance of earning higher recurring margins in the SMB space. He said the networking, security, managed services, storage all present prospects for savvy channel partners to explore in the GCC market and beyond. “This, with opportunities in government, education, healthcare, hospitality, SMB and SOHO, partners serving any or a combination of these verticals stand a chance to earn decent margins if they can combine their product offerings with services,” he said.