Plan.com sets out roadmap to be “billion pound” player
UC firm plans to launch consumer airtime offering this year, with US rollout intentions also revealed
Dealers
March 30, 2015
Distributor to debut airtime offering to help drive mobile in IT channel
Tech Data Mobile will launch a B2B airtime proposition to mobile and IT resellers this year, the firm’s MD Peter Hubbard has revealed.
The distributor is said to be in discussions with a number of airtime providers, including Plan.com as part of its strategy to bolster its UK service offering to its 800 mobile (up 35 per cent y-o-y) and 13,800 reseller partners.
Hubbard (pictured) said the addition of airtime will be predominantly targeted at driving mobile sales through its IT channel – although it will be available to existing mobile partners.
Driving up its targets
“There are a number of products that we are bringing to the market in the next 12 months and we are currently planning to bring airtime,” Hubbard told Mobile News during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Strong portfolio offerings
“It will be for mobile and IT although we believe that the pick-up will be more in the IT space. As part of that overall IT reseller proposition, if I can offer a corporate airtime proposition on top of everything else, it’s quite a strong portfolio of offerings.
“It will be available to our mobile resellers as well but they will already have their partnerships.”
The move follows that of IT and mobile distribution rival Exertis, which launched its first airtime proposition to the B2B channel back in 2013 through its Conect programme.
Hubbard refused to discuss potential airtime partners at this stage – although suggests it was keen to work with a single operator as apposed to a full network offering. “It will be a single carrier to start with but we’ll see how it goes. ”
Recycling provider
As part of the firm’s service offering expansion, Hubbard also confirmed Tech Data has now partnered with recycling provider Redeem, for its UK trade-in and buyback programme.
He revealed the distributor “soft launched” the new business division last month. Hubbard said the service will be available to all its reseller partners and is also seeking opportunities with
manufacturers also.
He said: “It makes everything more financially viable, and environmentally friendly. We believe it’s a very strong, good proposition.”
The move follows that of rival Ingram Micro, who completed an £80 million acquisition of buyback firm Anovo earlier this month.