Annual field conference MERLION Business Channel in the Baltics

The four days, from September 23 till September 26 this year were eventful for MERLION partners: at that time the annual field conference MERLION Business Channel was held in Riga. By tradition the forum consisted of several blocks: official part with reports and presentations, business meetings in the format of personal communication and, of course, pleasant walks through medieval streets of the Old Riga. The leading world producers of computer equipment – such companies as ASUS, D - Link, DELL, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Philips – presented new interesting products to MERLION partners and shared their plans of further business development and progress at the Russian market.

The first business day of the conference was opened by Sergey Raskolov, MERLION sales director. In his speech S. Raskolov shared news on the company’s new projects with the partners and told of objectives and tasks of the current meeting.

One of the new projects of the company is MERLION training center that renders to the partners consulting services on personnel training and development.

Being the universally recognized leader in the sphere of distribution MERLION has also many years of successful experience in organization of personnel training and assessment. The training center renders the following services to partners: distant training, intramural seminars and trainings as well as consulting in different spheres of business (sales, purchases, personnel management). More detailed information is available on the portal of the project: https://edu.merlion.com/login/index.php

Then vendor’s representatives continued the MBC conference with interesting reports.

Valery Bochkaryov, Intel Sales Director of the Central Russia, made the presentation “Intel News” in which he made a short review of the processor market. Moreover, V. Bochkaryov presented new products on the basis of the most efficient Nehalem platform to the partners and told of advantages of purchase of Intel products in the authorized channel.

Then Alexander Morozov, DELL Partner Relationship Manager in Russia and the CIS, continued the conference with the presentation “Formula of Successful Partnership.” In his report A. Morozov went in details on the last news of Dell, told of advantages of work with the manufacturer (Dell partners support program PartnerDirect, updated partner portal and new rebate programs) and he made a short review of Dell new products.

Aleksandr Lomovskikh, Business Development Manager, PHILIPS Monitors Department, made the report “Development Prospects at the Russian market”. In his report he told of the last news of the company, announced the model range of M1 monitors and went in detail on 2009/2010 partner program. At individual meetings with partners Sergey Prelov, PHILIPS sales manager, joined A. Lomovskikh.

Maria Shulgina, Microsoft Partner Relationship Manager (ОЕМ distributors), made the report «Windows® 7» in which she told of the new Microsoft operating system. M. Shulgina shared useful information on the new operating system with MERLION partners, compared it with previous operating systems and told of the main advantages of the Microsoft product.

Windows® 7 is a quick, safe and mobile system compatible with the most of programs. All everyday tasks are fulfilled Windows® 7 quicker and more easily.

Andrey Babenko, ASUS Corporate Market Development Director, closed the first business day with the report “Results 2009. Development Strategy”. In his presentation A. Babenko told of the manufacturer’s product range, went in detail on the authorization program and support of partners and announced the company’s new products.

The second business day of the conference was also eventful and interesting.

The forum was opened with the opening speech of Vyacheslav Simonenko, MERLION General Director, then vendors’ representatives made presentations.

Viktor Gorodnichy, Manager of the Standard HP Architecture Server Department, made the report “Russian Server Market and HP Promotion Programs on Servers” to the partners. In his presentation he made a short review of the market of x-86 servers (IDC) and blade systems (IDC) and stressed that HP servers were the number one at the Russian market. Moreover, V. Gorodnichy went in detail on the program ProLiant CHAMPION Q4 2009, the main objective of which is support of partners buying ProLiant servers from warehouses in Russia.

Dmitry Bozhkov, Manager for Partnership with Partners on Sale of HP Printing Equipment and Consumables, continued the conference with the presentation “HP Partner Program on Printing Equipment and Consumables”. In his report D. Bozhkov told of the partner program Imaging & Printing, its main objectives and advantages for MERLION partners.

Anastasiya Gruzd, manager for development of Lenovo sales channel, made the presentation “Lenovo Share vision - share success” to the partners in which she announces the company’s new products and partner program IdeaPad & ThinkPad. At individual meetings A. Gruzd demonstrated trendy Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 netbooks. MERLION is a sole distributor of Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 netbooks.

Nikolay Mukhanov, D-Link Partner Relationship Manager, closed the presentations block with the report “New В-Link Opportunities under Crisis Conditions” In his speech N. Mukhanov made a short review of the market and introduced a new concept of the term “goods” in IT business to the partners.

After the official part of the event partners, vendors’ representatives and top managers of MERLION met at individual meetings at which they could communicate informally and discuss actual matters of business cooperation and plans for future.

The daily routine was successfully combined with an intensive sport program for partners. All members were divided into 8 teams with the names of the vendors participating in the conference. The main objective of the program was to search special keys in the old Riga. The competitors had not only to show wonderful skills and speed but also to watch the time. The winners were determined by the time and collected points. Visitors of the conference got an energy boost and positive emotions!

At the end of the event the wonderful gala-dinner and show program awaited the members of the forum in the famous “Dzintary” concert hall in Yurmala where large international festivals such as “New wave”, “Yurmalina”, Club of the Funny and Inventive are held and world-famous celebrities make their performances.