Based in the center of Milan, the team has always pursued an innovation-driven approach to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. In June 2022, the Milan-based MSP VAD distributor Achab (founded in 1994) became part of the Elovade Group. In 2021, we acquired the Würzburg-based VAD distributor 8Soft and integrated both the portfolio and the employees into Elovade.
With 30 years of experience, we help IT providers grow, evolve, and meet tomorrow’s demands. In March 2026, Elovade acquired Rochdale-based Zen Software, further strengthening its presence across UK & Ireland. Since April 2025, security VAD Brigantia has been part of the Elovade Group. In January 2025, the Elovade Group acquired the Italian security VAD Avangate.
A channel intermediary that purchases products from vendors in bulk and resells them to resellers, dealers, or other partners. And the VAD’s credit programs make the vendor’s products accessible to smaller resellers who could not purchase at the vendor’s minimum order quantities. Technology vendors use VADs to scale channel reach without proportionally scaling their own team or logistics infrastructure. A value-added distributor (VAD) is a distribution company that goes beyond the traditional logistics and fulfillment role to provide technical expertise, pre-sales support, partner enablement, and demand generation services.
- The terms VAD and value-added reseller (VAR) are often used in the IT channel, and while they share the goal of adding value, their roles are distinct.
- The discipline of overseeing vendor-distributor relationships, including performance tracking, incentive programs, and joint planning.
- A value-added distributor (VAD) is a wholesale channel intermediary that combines traditional distribution logistics — volume purchasing, inventory management, credit facilitation, and reseller network supply — with technical services, training programs, pre-sales engineering support, and enablement resources that help downstream resellers sell complex technology solutions they would otherwise lack the capability to position and deploy.
- A reseller that enhances a vendor’s product with additional services, customization, or complementary solutions before selling to end customers.
- Since April 2025, security VAD Brigantia has been part of the Elovade Group.
- A value-added distributor occupies a commercially important position in the channel ecosystem precisely because it solves a problem that neither the vendor nor the reseller can solve alone.
Common Misconceptions about Value-Added Distribution
- However, prior to executing a M&A deal, VAD’s must consider a multitude of factors as completing a merger or acquisition can’t be justified as simply forming a partnership as a way to grow your business.
- He has made numerous television appearances to give his views and expertise on technology trends and companies that affect and shape our lives.
- The role of the VAD has undergone a significant transformation, driven by major shifts in the technology landscape.
- Technology vendors use VADs to scale channel reach without proportionally scaling their own team or logistics infrastructure.
- They also support resellers and ensure their end-users receive vendor products or services with the necessary tailored support.
Namely, they add value through channel support, enabling downstream partners, rather than focusing purely on product enhancement for end-users. Value-added distributors have a similar role to value-added resellers (VARs), but they operate at a different stage of the supply chain. This evolution has also seen VADs deepen their expertise in high-growth areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Modern VADs have become “cloud aggregators,” offering platforms and marketplaces where partners can procure, manage, and bill for a wide range of cloud services.
How does ZINFI support vendors managing value-added distributors?
In truth, businesses of all sizes can leverage the services offered by value-added distributors to enhance their offerings and improve customer satisfaction. Unlike traditional distribution models, where products are simply passed from manufacturer to end-user, value-added distribution adds extra value at each step https://logotype.dev/articles/the-importance-of-the-youtube-logo-like-subscribe-feature-for-your-content-marketing-strategy of the supply chain. Rene Millman is a freelance writer and broadcaster who covers cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and the cloud. They are no longer just intermediaries but have become strategic partners that help organizations navigate digital transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Industry
- In September 2022, the Stockholm-based MSP distributor Innosoft AB became part of the Elovade Group.
- Accelerate engagement and profitability at every stage of the partner lifecycle with Impartner, the top-rated partner management solution on G2.
- Before the cloud era, the VAD’s value was heavily tied to the physical distribution of hardware and software.
- The vendor cannot individually recruit, train, and support the hundreds of smaller resellers who collectively represent a meaningful share of the addressable market — the per-partner cost would be prohibitive.
- Unlike traditional distribution models, where products are simply passed from manufacturer to end-user, value-added distribution adds extra value at each step of the supply chain.
The reseller gets training, technical support, and demand generation assistance that would otherwise require significant in-house investment. For resellers, VADs reduce the cost of entering a new market or adding a new vendor to their portfolio. Elovade Sweden supports around 350 partners across the Nordics. As Elovade Sverige AB, the team specializes in software solutions for MSPs and system integrators in the Nordics.
We’re passionate about IT – and about making a difference.
The Inuit team specializes in the focus areas of IT security and infrastructure software. With expertise, close partnerships, and innovative technology, our Swedish team supports https://cialisfurr.com/hotel-management-in-dubai-key-features-to-look-for-in-a-hotel-management-system.html its partners in becoming more efficient and, as a result, more profitable. In reality, these distributors provide additional services and expertise, making them indispensable partners in the supply chain. They also support resellers and ensure their end-users receive vendor products or services with the necessary tailored support. The VAD provides the VAR with the products, training, and support necessary to serve their end customers effectively. Their services can include pre-sales technical support, product configuration, marketing assistance, and comprehensive training for channel partners.