Redington inks Avaya IP telephony deal in Saudi

Avaya has appointed Redington as a distributor for its recently-launched IP telephony SMB platform in Saudi Arabia. As part of the contract, Redington will be tasked with providing a number of services, including sales assistance, back-up support, marketing and lead generation. Avaya believes the launch of its IP Office 500 platform will prove a big hit with Saudi SMBs that want IP functionality at a competitive price. The signing of Redington is designed to help the company reach out to the thousands of small and medium businesses operating across the Kingdom. “Redington’s extensive regional coverage and local presence, strong financials, systems and processes, and entrepreneurial approach to business mirrors Avaya’s strengths,” said Roger El-Tawil, channel and marketing director MENA at Avaya. “We are certain that these qualities will boost the growth of Avaya in the region.” El-Tawil continued: “It is essential that when a customer is buying Avaya, they can either talk to our channel partners, or to Avaya directly, knowing they will get the same well-informed expert perspective on how to get a return on investment through an intelligent communications network. We choose our business partners carefully to ensure this level of consistency.” Raj Shankar, director at Redington Gulf, said: “With nine sales offices, 58 authorised service centers, four major stock-points, and the company’s robust local presence, we endeavor to be part of Avaya’s regional expansion success. Avaya supports an increase technology adoption by regional SMBs by enhancing its market coverage and intensively training channel partners from Saudi Arabia and other key markets.” The roll-out of IP Office 500 comes at a time when Avaya claims there is soaring demand for IP solutions in both Saudi and the wider MENA market. A survey of 1,400 Middle East decisions makers conducted by the company last year revealed that 71% of respondents were ready to deploy IP telephony solutions. “The SMB sector is of considerable importance to growing Avaya’s regional business,” reiterated El-Tawil. “The region’s rapidly-rising SMB sector has a strong influence on IT spending and accounts for approximately 90 per cent of the companies in the region.”