Retail IT outsourcing specialist Retail Assist has launched its first UK channel programme to help it grow market share.

The firm, which has recruited document management and purchase-to-pay specialist Image Integrators as its first UK partner, intends to run its channel programme alongside its direct sales activities, and is aiming for an 80/20 direct/indirect split within the next two years.

Speaking to CRN, Dan Smith, shared services director at Retail Assist, said: “We have a very strong brand name because we are the only outsource retail specialist. A lot of larger vendors claim to have a retail specialism, but we can offer more focus and help resellers to tap into an attractive proposition that gives them extra capability.”

Smith added that Retail Assist is looking for a small number of UK partners with specific skills in areas such as comms, hardware maintenance and security.

“Our partnership with Image Integrators is important because its business culture mirrors ours,” he said. “It also specialises in an accounts package from Coda, which ties in with our offering.”

He added that the firm will always maintain its direct business, although it has already had a significant number of new business enquiries since announcing its channel plans.

Ilija Ugrinic, marketing manager at Image Integrators, was confident of a successful partnership with Retail Assist.

“This is an ideal opportunity to bring two complementary organisations together, both working to remove business inefficiencies for retailers,” he said. “By collaborating [with Retail Assist] we can bring about a tighter integration of back-office processes based around finance and ERP systems, such as Oracle and Coda where we have considerable experience.”

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