The resilience of the channel to grow in the face of all hurdles is a trait that I have always admired. And in my first piece, I would like to salute this spirit of the channel.
p____p In the years that I have watched partners, I have seen players at their wit�s end, trying to survive the slowdown, seen some fight tooth-and-nail to make Rs 1 lakh a month and even seen some who reinvented the wheel! Fearful but determined, partners did what it took to survive. And at the end of the day, it is a vibrant channel that has emerged.
p____p And it was this channel that was present in full force at a recent chat session on ChannelTimes with Saurin Shah.
p____p Channel partners from across the country probed, quizzed and even demanded to know what are the plans of the newly- formed Nacit (National Association of Channels of Information Technology). Bold and insistent was the stand taken, like one partner who asked: �National fellowship sounds very good, but what does it mean for me?�
p____p In all that chatter, what struck me was how much the channel has evolved. There was a time when partners were reluctant to speak to the Press; now they are willing to even go on record against a vendor, if they feel they have been wronged.
p____p The channel is ready to usher in the next phase of growth. It is done with struggling for better margins. The impatience of partners is clear. However, it�s important to remember that all opportunities might not always bring positive returns. So wait and watch and be very selective.
For growth will come, whether it�s propelled byvendors or national bodies like Nacit. But it will take a while for strategies to be chalked out and implemented.
p____p And for the patient, victory is just a step away.