Cloud purchasing

Cloud, security and data center technologies will be among the biggest opportunities for channel partners, who will make the most progress with the cloud.

The vendor and distribution executives surveyed predict a positive business outlook for the channel in 2017, despite more work that has to be done in areas like digital and the cloud.

55% of the vendor channel executives expect double-digit growth through the distribution channel this year.

Nearly 62% of vendor channel execs expect their indirect business to grow faster than their direct business in 2017.

13% of the vendors surveyed are 100% indirect and have no plans to add a direct sales channel.

78% of vendor channel execs expect distributors to develop new business around vertical market solutions.

The data center, cloud and security are the top three solution categories for distribution businesses in 2017, according to vendor channel execs.

51% of the vendor channel executives surveyed said they expect distributors to develop or enhance cloud financing programs.

72% of the channel execs said they’re already offering or planning to introduce internet of things (IoT) solutions through the channel.

Vendor channel executives expect partner recruitment, partner enablement and cloud-related services to grow the most in 2017.