Corporate VAR Computacenter has opened the first UK-based EMC Velocity2 Signature Solution Centre.
The centre, one of just five globally, is designed to demonstrate hardware and software solutions, provide training and accreditation and test concepts in the Integration Labs that match a particular end-user’s environment.

Jon Lewis, vendor relationship manager at Computacenter, said: “Computacenter has a fast and growing relationship with EMC. The Solutions Centre was something we immediately wanted to do because it matches our messaging to the market. It mitigates risk and ensures a faster speed to market for the customer.

“Both Computacenter and EMC work well together because business is about trust and we have generated that trust over the past seven years. Now we can add to and complement EMC’s offering,” added Lewis.

Adrian Foxall, operations manager at Computacenter, said: “More than half of the storage equipment at the centre is from EMC, so there is a big commitment from both firms to drive the business forward.”

While modifying its partnership scheme in July, EMC launched the Enhanced Velocity2 Partner Programme in EMEA, compressing the previously five-tiered programme into three tiers (CRN, 12 March).

Peter Yarwood, EMEA commercial sales director at EMC, said: “The Affiliate level provides the partner with products that are easy to resell and install. The Premier level is value added with EMC software. The highest tier is the Signature level, which includes the Solutions Centre.

“EMC wanted to focus on the higher application level. With Computacenter, EMC has a partner that can handle Microsoft Exchange implementation, migration and virtualisation.

Together we can ensure that we are targeting the right customers in the right areas,” added Yarwood.

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