RIS launches Apollo to help vendors identify channel partners

RIS, the leading authority on ICT channel data across Asia-Pacific, has unveiled a ground breaking new web portal that will enable ICT vendors to gain access to business critical partners and channels data. The new service, called Apollo, allows vendors to run their own searches on channel partners via the RIS portal-www.rishk.net.

RIS has developed a sophisticated, independently researched database which profiles over 6,500 of the top ICT channel partners across Asia-Pacific, who represent an estimated 85-90% of the 'indirect' ICT products and services supplied throughout the region. Apollo captures multiple data points within the individual channel partners, allowing vendors an almost infinite number of search options and data variables.

"Whether a vendor is already selling in Asia or wanting to sell here, Apollo can help them identify the most suitable partners to assist them in driving market coverage," said Gary Kinsley, MD, RIS. "With over 2,400 unique vendors delivering products to market through the ‘channel' in Asia-Pacific, the various channel partner types, classifications, services and market focuses can make it extremely difficult to identify, recruit, engage, enable and develop the optimal channels model.

With little or no economic growth anticipated for the USA or Europe in the near future, many companies are turning to Asia, particularly the developing markets of India, China and ASEAN, and a number are already using RIS's services to identify suitable channel partners.

"In addition to leveraging RIS's data and reviewing the profile of their existing partners, vendors are able to focus campaigns to increase the ‘wallet-share' of their existing channel partners. This process is now made easier with on-line access to our Apollo database," said Kinsley.

RIS already has a number of multi-national as well as small ICT Vendors using the Apollo service - but now the company is in a position to open the Apollo database to clients on a "self-serve" basis.

To ensure the RIS database contains the very latest information the service is free to ICT channel partners themselves, which will allow them to track and improve their own profiles and thereby attracting new, complimentary vendors.

"Channel partners are able to access Apollo through the www.rishk.net and-following a few security checks to ensure channel partners are only accessing their own profiles-edits and additions can be made, greatly improving the value of the RIS service to the channel partners themselves," said Kinsley.