It is heartening to see the channel unite on issue plaguing the community for sometime now. But we need sit back and think, whether we need to bask in the glory of our laurels? or whether more needs to be done in terms of strategizing and clarity in policies.
While talks with the respective government bodies are yet to take shape, I am happy to see channel associations taking the lead. They are now actually uniting, thinking about forming national bodies, drafting national policies, among others.
Tamil Nadu-based Confed ITA has already taken a step in this direction. Realizing that channel partners across the country are falling prey to ambiguous tax structures levied by separate tax bodies, it has decided to become a state body.
Now this certainly is positive. Regional partners and associations can continue to work on issues bothering the community in a particular region. However, intervention of a state/national body on issues plaguing various regions not only strengthens the community, but can also play a vital role in discussions across tables. The reason: the state/national body will represent one voice and communicate the sentiment of the channel to the vendor/distributor concerned.
However, what were interesting in the entire episode is resellers from class C and D cities did not participate in the bans or other activities. The reasons are obvious. My correspondents also told me “that issues such as back-end rebate do not impact their business”. I agree since these partners survival is almost hand to mouth kindaa. But on the other hand I feel, are they not a part of the channel community? Should they not stand in support of their brethren in times of need? Or are they merely being non-responsive because they too had nobody to turn to in times of need.
I understand, I may be touching a raw nerve. But as times change, as the channel unites, it should involve partners from these cities as well for all activities. A little finger to these small partners will work wonders in the long run. And by writing on these issues, I am not instigating the partners to ban products, vendors; but mere putting my thoughts across.
Even as the channel continues addressing issues, there is a larger monster it has to challenge; and that is the global slowdown. It will be nice to see partners collaborating more, extending more support, associations organizing more educational seminars on ‘how-tos’ and ‘what-tos’ as also larger ISVs, Sis, vendors and large resellers coming on a platform to share strategies and ideologies to face the same. Exploit the young minds; they are a mine of new ideas. You can even share those to the community at large, across India. Come to Channel Times!!!
Meanwhile, the channel has found a new rigor, the process has just begun. But there are miles to go before we sleep.
Lastly, the CHANNEL TIMES TEAM takes this opportunity to wish All its Readers a Very Happy, Colorful Holi!!!