Results of manufacturers three month distribution tender has been postponed until next week
The results of Samsung’s distribution review are now not expected to be revealed until next week after the manufacturer failed to make a final decision.
According to sources in the channel, Samsung is expected to cut up to half of its existing UK mobile distribution partners following completion of its three month channel review.
The manufacturer, headed up by Samsung UK mobile and IT vice president Conor Pierce, originally informed interested partners a final decision would be given by yesterday (Wednesday 10).
However, Samsung is now understood to have in the past few days contacted each distributor to requested further details around their routes to market, but also value added services such as finance and insurance, available to customers.
Existing distributors Ingram Micro Mobility, Exertis, Data Select, Tech Data Mobile, West Coast and Brightstar are also said to involved in the tender process.
Mobile News has contacted Samsung and is awaiting a reply.
Samsung first issued a ‘request for information’ (RFI) to all of its existing partners back in April as part of plans to “refocus and realign” the UK mobile and tablet business.
Pierce, who famously axed Data Select and 20:20 Mobile as Nokia partners back in 2011 in favour of Exertis (then Micro P) and Ingram Micro Mobility, told Mobile News back in April he expected the number of partners to be reduced. Sources from those involved in the tender claim the manufacturer has made it clear it wants relationships with just three or a maximum of four.
Commenting in April, Pierce said: “We have some great distribution partners working with us, but now is the time to refocus our energies on creating a strong future for the IM brand. Once the tender is completed, we will have the right distribution landscape in place that will help us deliver against our ambitious business goals in 2015 and in the future.”
