technologyreseller.co.uk 03 If you no longer wish to receive Technology Reseller magazine please email your details to [email protected] COMMENT Welcome to the March issue of Technology Reseller. As ever, there’s a rich mix of news and features, all generated in-house without the assistance of ChatGPT (as far as I know). News of Microsoft’s expanding relationship with OpenAI, developer of the ChatGPT chatbot, had everyone reaching for superlatives. Rodrigo Liang, co-founder and CEO of SambaNova Systems, described AI as “the fastest industrial revolution in history” – scary but probably true – before softening the blow by adding “the current developments in AI are going to be as impactful as the GUI in the 1980s and the internet in the 1990s”. Which I interpret as transformative but beneficial. Somehow, the AI revolution feels more disruptive than that, more worthy of the reaction of David Carvalho, Co-Founder & CEO of Naoris Protocol, who wrote: “How Chat GPT crashed into the market can be compared to Superman's arrival on planet Earth from Krypton. We had no clue of his existence before he arrived; we were not sure how his powers would impact the world as he grew up, and we were not sure how dark forces (Kryponite) could affect the outcome of his behaviour. It would be presumptuous, if not arrogant to suggest that anyone really knows how this is all going to play out. The only thing we know for sure is that some aspects of the way the world functions will change irrevocably”. I have a lot of sympathy with this viewpoint (as much as my Superman knowledge allows), except that I think we do know how this is going to play out, because we’ve seen with social media what a powerful tool technology is for bad actors – and how willing people are to collude with those who would harm them (including some politicians). In the age of AI who is going to protect truth, but more fundamentally does anyone really care? That’s a concern, but at the same time who isn’t hugely excited to see where this technology will take us? AI and machine learning was already a big thing – just look at Ingram Micro’s Xvantage platform (see page 18) – but news of Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI has clearly accelerated companies’ plans in this area. And not just Google’s. In the MSP space, ConnectWise is bringing forward plans to add AI into its Asio platform and is soon to integrate its RMM tools with ChatGPT. It will not be alone. I am looking forward to writing about this and other developments over the coming months, that is before ChatGPT takes over. James Goulding – Editor, [email protected] Technology Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 10 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.technologyreseller.co.uk No part of Technology Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. © 2023 Kingswood Media Ltd. Design: Sandtiger Media www.sandtiger.co.uk v58 · 2023 technologyreseller.co.uk Comment Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of Technology Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.technologyreseller.uk/register Read Technology Reseller online, on tablets and smart phones www.technologyreseller.uk Join us : Follow us @techreselleruk www.facebook.com/TechnologyResellerMag technology-reseller-magazine Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 01732 759725 · [email protected] Art Director: Nick Pledge 07767 615983 · [email protected] ISSN 2632-9301 (Print) ISSN 2632-931X (Online) 04 News UK SMEs lead the way in security investment 07 Partner Programmes This month’s new vendor partner programmes 08 Distributor News Pax8 acquires Bam Boom Cloud 09 Working Together A round-up of the month’s new distribution agreements 12 Reseller News FluidOne targets SMEs with Highlander acquisition 18 Distribution Ingram Micro making life easier for partners with Xvantage launch 22 Cybersecurity New research tool for cybersecurity sales teams 24 Q&A We talk to Colin Blumenthal, MD of Sharp IT Services, about the challenges of diversification 26 I couldn’t do my job without… Node4’s Hannah Birch on the five things she relies on during her working day 28 Technology Reseller Awards Vote now for the Distributor Award categories 32 View from the Channel With Justin Harling, CEO of CAE Technology Services 34 ESG Microsoft Tech for Social Impact: what’s in it for resellers? 36 Managed Networks EvolveODM to reinvigorate reseller network in new growth drive 39 60 seconds with… Dominic Ryles of Exertis Enterprise 40 My Life in IT Erik Nicolai, Founder of Workspace 365, on his career in IT 42 People New faces, new places www.trawards.co.uk
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