Technology Reseller v07

technolog y reseller.co.uk 13 BULLETIN : RESELLERS NewVoiceMedia outpaces market growth Cloud contact centre and sales technology provider NewVoiceMedia is outperforming the cloud contact centre market by a factor of two, having achieved compound annual growth rates of 49% in revenue and 55% in seats over the last five years. Forecasts in the 2016-2017 Cloud-Based Contact Center Infrastructure Market Report from DMG Consulting LLC indicate growth in cloud- based contact centre seats of 23% in 2016, 23.5% in 2017 and 2018 and 24% in 2019 and 2020. NewVoiceMedia has also seen a 55% rise in international bookings in FY 2017 and now serves more than 650 customers in six continents. www.newvoicemedia.com Phoenix acquired by Bytes Software services and security solutions provider Bytes has acquired public sector-focused IT reseller Phoenix. Phoenix, a provider of end-to-end IT solutions, including Software Licensing, Software Asset Management and IT Services, has an annual turnover of more than £130 million and employs 165 people.  Following the acquisition, Bytes will have combined annual revenues of circa £400 million and a staff headcount of 480. www.bytes.co.uk First Scotland office for Waterstons Business and IT consultancy Waterstons has opened its first office in Scotland, at Regus Eurocentral, Maxim Park, Motherwell. It has already made three appointments for the Scottish office, Ricky Milliken as Regional Head, Sally Edgar as Senior Transformation Consultant and Cosmin Argatu as Bespoke Consultant, and is in the process of taking on additional staff. Waterstons has its UK headquarters in Durham and another office in London and employs 130 people across the UK. www.waterstons.com Dixons Travel opens store on cruise ship Airport electrical retailer Dixons Travel has opened a 274 sq ft store on board the P&O Cruises Ventura cruise ship for a six-month trial period. Located in a central position on deck seven, the store will offer the latest technology and gadgets from top brands, including Apple, Beats, Bose, Canon, Samsung, Microsoft and Monster. Under the retailer’s Double the Difference promise, shoppers who can find an item cheaper at Amazon, John Lewis, Argos or Jessops will receive an instant discount worth double the price differential. www.dixonstravel.com Commercial steps up to boost staff wellbeing Forty employees at Cheltenham-based business services specialist Commercial have taken nearly 13 million steps in a six-week walking challenge. The initiative was part of Commercial’s ongoing Green Angels programme, which stimulates and supports staff- led ideas for environmental and social activities. Each participant was given a pedometer to track their progress and on average walked 12,265 steps per day. www.commercial.co.uk Blackbox Solutions adds TelcoSwich telephony to services offering Office technology reseller Blackbox Solutions has partnered with award- winning telecoms provider TelcoSwitch as it continues to expand its product and services offering. Launched in 2015 and winner of the Best Hosted Platform category at the Comms National Awards 2017 , TelcoSwitch provides an end-to-end cloud telephony service, business mobile services, an ISDN solution and high availability broadband. Colin Griffin, Managing Director of Blackbox Solutions, said: “This partnership will give Blackbox Solutions access to a comprehensive integrated suite of telecoms products including VoIP telephony, conferencing, mobile, broadband and contact centre features, ensuring we can provide our clients with the best software and hardware solutions, tailored to their business’ needs.”   He added: “We will maintain control over the customer relationship and service, including billing. That flexibility simply isn’t possible with most of the more established telecoms providers.”  n Blackbox Solutions has also announced the appointment of Nicki Graves as its new Finance Manager. With 15 years’ experience in finance and accountancy, she will be responsible for switching Blackbox Solutions to the Vantage Online cloud-based service management and billing system. www.blackbox-solutions.co.uk      Sponsorship hat-trick from Midshire Midshire, the full-service technology reseller acquired earlier this year by Sharp Electronics Europe, is continuing to support sporting groups in the Midlands through sponsorship, print and design. It recently renewed its sponsorship agreement with Stockport County Community Foundation’s School Coaching Programme for a third consecutive year and is also providing £1,000 to the University of Manchester’s Netball Club to help fund training tops and bibs and other expenses, including team travel costs. Stockport County Community Foundation’s School Coaching Programme works with local schools to engage children of all ages in safe developmental activities around football. The Foundation’s Dave Wardle said: “Midshire supports the foundation with investment, design, and print. Their sponsorship goes far beyond finance and has always felt very personal. As a registered charity we are completely reliant on donations, grants and sponsors, and it’s amazing to be supported by them once again.” The University of Manchester Netball Club has six teams and more than 60 active members. It was named Club of the Year at the Athletic Union Awards 2017. Other local organisations supported by Midshire include Stockport Metro swim club and NK Theatre Arts. www.midshire.co.uk