HPE and Supply Chain News | B2X Global

What IT Solution Providers and Resellers Need To Know Now About HPE's Pointnext Channel

Written by B2X Global | Jul 06, 2022

Change is constant in enterprise IT. Daily innovations drive change, and business leaders must be ready for whatever is next. The way things were a year—or even a month ago—quickly evolves. Every new project comes with demands for greater efficiency, increased speed, and improved outcomes. Enter HPE's Pointnext channel.

Pointnext is the business unit that helps complete the full spectrum of HPE Solution Providers and Reseller needs. Here is what you should know about HPE Pointnext and how it can improve logistics and the supply chain for HPE Reseller Partners and their end user customers.   

What is the Pointnext Distribution Channel? 

Traditionally, Pointnext is HPE’s IT services group that “bridges the gap between your digital vision and reality with global technology services.” 

HPE Pointnext has three divisions:

1. Advisory and Professional Services
2. Education Services
3. Operational Services

Operational Services has a powerful but obscure resource: a distribution channel that provides mission-critical products to the market daily. It’s a system quickly gaining more recognition as an essential part of an organization’s supply chain. 

The Operational Services supply chain was originally thought of as exclusively for service and maintenance. However, that's not the case. B2X Global partnered with HPE in 2020 to bring this powerful resource to reseller partners to benefit their businesses. This new access to needed parts improved outcomes for customers immediately.  

Wait, I thought Pointnext was about digital transformation…? 

Absolutely. A significant element of achieving transformation is deploying the solutions that make it work, where Pointnext thrives.

Organizations must also operate within the realities of today’s marketplace to keep moving towards these important transformations. Pointnext does this by staying current with the demands of evolving hardware and a constantly changing supply chain. Pointnext’s agile nature supports organizations today while those organizations build towards a new tomorrow.

Speaking of transformation, how has Pointnext responded during COVID?

2020 taught all of us that the unexpected strikes at any time. The rise of remote work and social norms changed rapidly. That created unprecedented supply chain and distribution challenges for HPE's most popular products.

Pointnext responded by providing an additional avenue to its Partners to respond, adapt and thrive despite the challenges. We’re confident that Pointnext will continue to support success in this dynamic environment.

How is this different from my current distributor’s supply chain?

It is very similar. You're still dealing with HPE products delivered by HPE's Global Supply team. The difference is in the allocation and path to market.

In the default HPE supply chain (aka North American Channels), products are manufactured and allocated to their broadline general distributors. However, the broadline general distributors are still pulling from the same place and using the same forecasts. 

With Pointnext, the distribution channel feeds two paths: HPE Enterprise Parts Store and HPE Authorized Parts Distributors. B2X Global is one of these distributors and is currently the only one with a sole focus on servicing HPE IT Solution Providers and Reseller partners. 

Can’t I just access it on my own? 

You are welcome to try! But you'll quickly discover that the Parts store does not act or respond like a servicing distributor. There is no tech support, no discounts, and only limited visibility on the products in stock, which many partners have realized when they attempt to go solo. 

Filling the Gap

HPE has contracted B2X as an experienced and focused organization to bring the Pointnext channel to market. B2X does this while providing traditional distributor services that reseller partners are used to.  

B2X Global's team runs quantitative and qualitative analysis on the market for HPE products daily. Then they place large stocking orders to have those products available exactly when resellers need them. 

If you are a reseller that:

  • Prefers working with industry veterans who understand the channel
  • Wants easy access to answers and solutions from certified experts
  • Wants projects deployed as efficiently as possible

Then, B2X Global and the Pointnext supply chain is a must-have tool.

Okay, I’m sold on Pointnext as a valid channel. Why should I work with B2X and not another distributor?

B2X is the only distributor within Pointnext with a 100% focus on Reseller Partners and has decades of experience working with over 1,600 resellers in the HPE ecosystem.  

Our sales and engineering teams have deep experience servicing resellers and solutions providers. That gives B2X a thorough understanding of how to support the goals and aims of your business.

B2X is the North American Channel’s preferred Parts distributor. B2X works daily with HPE’s Channel Development and Support team. Don’t take our word for it, ask your iPBM who they would recommend as the best option for your business.