Sato's focus on channel presents opportunity for European VARs

Following the launch of its Prestige Partner Programme, Sato International Europe, the bar-coding, labelling, Data Collection and AIDC solutions provider, is now calling for new business partners with specific expertise to strengthen its network of VAR partners across Europe.

According to Sato International Europe's managing director, Brian Lang, the forecast for growth in 2011 in the channel across Europe is slightly more optimistic than it has been in previous years and Sato's channel strategy provides VARS with just the right conditions to grow their business by developing within the niche AIDC sector.

"For Sato, we have always thought of our offering to end customers being less about simply providing them with a product and more about delivering an entire integrated solution specifically designed to suit their application. Within the three tiers of the European Sato Prestige Partner Programme we are looking for business partners that have market specialisation within our key sectors, and the specific expertise and technical skill required to build and deliver these solutions as part of their overall package.

"In return, we can offer VARS a partnership with a company that has a respectable market share and continued sales growth, an extensive range of products and services that can add significant value and attractive margin opportunities for their business, and high-quality support on a local level due to the fact that we have people across Europe delivering sales and technical support and advice".

Sato's Prestige Partner Programme is segmented into three levels (Affiliate, Champion and Premier), with each level representing a partner's level of capabilities, available resources, and AIDC knowledge. The programme is designed to increase a partner's opportunity for business growth and return on investment when selling Sato products and will aid in strengthening Sato's current development strategy for the channel in Europe.

Sato provides an extensive range of easy-to-integrate thermal barcode and RFID printers, hand labelling systems, consumables, software and connectivity solutions for key sectors including retail, industrial and manufacturing, healthcare, transportation & logistics and government.