ShoreTel Teams Up with ScanSource to Deliver Consistent Experience for Channel Partners
ShoreTel (NASDAQ: SHOR:$6.45), a trusted provider of telecommunication systems to enterprises worldwide, recognizes the important role that their channel partners and resellers play in the success of their business. Thus, in order to support its partners and establish a more consistent experience for them, ShoreTel has announced its expanded relationship with ScanSource Communications, a trusted global provider of communications technology products and solutions and the sales unit of ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC: $40.40).
Enhancing Channel Partner Experience with ScanSource
Announced last week, ShoreTel’s partnership with value-added distributor ScanSource enables the former to align its U.S. distribution model with the two-tier distribution strategy that ShoreTel has implemented in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as the Asia Pacific (APAC) via ScanSource.
In ScanSource’s two-tier distribution approach, resellers can now procure products through the distributor instead of directly from the manufacturer. Distributors also handle the support services on behalf of the manufacturer. This includes sales and technical support, as well as education, training, and financial services. The two-tier approach gives manufacturers the opportunity to focus and invest their resources on improving and developing their products; while resellers can also concentrate on their growth as well as in providing customer service and support for their end-user customers.
David Petts, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Customer Success for ShoreTel, had this to say about the latest move:
“ScanSource has proven that they have the expertise, scalability and support to make ShoreTel resellers successful, which made them an ideal partner to assist us in aligning our distribution approach in the U.S. with our global strategies. The consistent two-tier approach also allows ShoreTel to strengthen its focus on our cloud services capabilities, which will help to accelerate the innovative features and solutions that we provide our partners and customers.”
Rich Long, President of ScanSource Communications, also expressed his excitement on their new alliance:
“ShoreTel has long been a strong strategic partner to ScanSource Communications, and we are thrilled that they see the value our technology solutions services can provide to resellers. In addition to providing ShoreTel’s leading communications solutions, we have also developed customized tools, like Omni+, that can help resellers be even more effective in delivering solutions to their end users.”
What Resellers Can Expect
ShoreTel Connect, the company’s innovative IP telephony and unified communications platform, offers businesses and their users a comprehensive and rich set of features that allows them to interact efficiently and enjoy a consistent, intuitive user experience. It is available in three deployment options: cloud, hybrid, and on-premise. Under the new agreement, ShoreTel channel partners can now conveniently procure ShoreTel’s premises-based unified communications products through ScanSource, and no longer directly from ShoreTel. This will be effective beginning July 1, 2017.
Additionally, ShoreTel partners and resellers can also enjoy the following:
- Access to the widest selection of ShoreTel products
- Centralized distribution with same-day shipping
- Access to dedicated professional services teams
- Exceptional support services that take time and costs out of everyday processes
ScanSource also guarantees continued sales and marketing support for partners distributing ShoreTel’s premise-based solutions via ScanSource.
For more information on their expanded partnership, please visit ShoreTel’s or ScanSource Communication’s website.
About ShoreTel, Inc.
ShoreTel (NASDAQ: SHOR: $6.45) provides business telephony and unified communications (UC) solutions designed to make interactions simple. Their products include business phone systems, unified communications, contact center solutions, and a fully hosted voice and SMS development platform. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, ShoreTel gives unmatched flexibility and ease to their customers, offering multiple deployment options for their business telephony platform, ShoreTel Connect. They are on a mission to expand their presence to other parts of the globe. In addition to offering their products in the US and the UK, they are planning to bring their offerings to New Zealand and Australia.
About ScanSource, Inc.
ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC:$40.40) distributes technology products and solutions, including point-of-sale, barcode, physical security, video, voice, data networking and technology services. In 2016, ScanSource was recognized by ShoreTel as a Value-Added Distributor of the Year for the outstanding value-added services and support they provide to ShoreTel’s resellers. ScanSource is trusted by many service providers to distribute their telecom products and solutions worldwide, including industry-leading provider Avaya.
