TD, OEMs Partner to Excite Enugu Market

Technology Distributions Limited, number ICT distributor in West Africa, which recently established a branch in Enugu, has given the ICT market in the coal city a positive push towards structure, productivity and profit.

Determined to drive the ICT revolution in Enugu and ably supported by its OEM partners – Microsoft, IBM, Samsung, and Dell – TD recently organized a one-day resellers’ forum at which many of the problematic marketing issues in the market were resolved.

The forum was preceded by visits to the shops of the resellers by TD and the partnering OEMs the day before.

At the forum, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, managing director, TD, was the first to take the podium as she discussed the relevance of the channel. She said that the channel as opposed to the grey market was the best assurance for genuine and original products direct from the manufacturers.

Mrs. Chimere explained that pricing in the channel is more affordable in real terms, short and long run.

The TD managing director said that, moreover, the manufacturer’s warranty can only be delivered through the channel.

She urged participants not to be carried away by the apparent cheap pricing of the fake products in the grey market because these products are prone to inexcusable downtimes.

Presenting a marketing slide on behalf of Microsoft, Ada Iwugo, Small and Medium Market Business and Distribution head, said that there are good reasons why Microsoft remains the preferred operating system.

Microsoft, she informed, has broad and deep experience in enterprise and consumer market segments.

She said that Microsoft has embraced the growing tendency for new information technology products to emerge first in the consumer market and then spread into business and government.

She explained that the user friendliness of Microsoft makes it easy for consumers to handle the urgency of data explosion and unpredictability of social computing.

For the resellers, she said, Microsoft has a scheme that helps cost saving, triggers efficiency, drive innovations, grow their businesses and domesticate technology.
  
In his contribution, Ololade Olotu, Dell’s Solutions executive, explained that Dell remains a leader with a product range of solutions for home, small and medium business, and for large enterprises.

Dell’s goal, he said, is to bring the right products and services to a wide range of customers across all business segments throughout the region.

Dell has built its business on giving customers personal choice and then delivering high-quality products and service at a compelling price.

Mr. Olotu affirmed to the resellers that Dell’s warranty support will delight the end users and provide the assurance of a worthwhile IT spend.

Ibe James, Samsung’s Eastern Sales representative informed that Samsung has set up a reward program under which resellers enjoy robust rebates and undergo product training. 

He listed other trade benefits to include availability of demo units, dedicated account Managers, and an unmatched comprehensive one year warranty policy.

The Samsung executive said that the Samsung marketing is full of schemes that make the market keenly competitive and profitable for all actors.

Technology Distributions Limited started business in May 1999 as the pioneer bulk distributor in West Africa for HP, Microsoft, APC, and Epson with a vision to build a globally recognized ICT distribution company and become the key driver of technology revolution across Africa.

TD has evolved into a world-class company with fully developed structures, processes and corporate governance and controls over 60% of ICT products distribution in West Africa.

TD is the primary platform for the distribution of the products of most renowned OEMs including HP, DELL, Microsoft, Toshiba, Zinox, IBM, Samsung, Lenovo, Cisco, iDirect, Cisco, Huawei, eBeam, and D-Link.