The Cloud Partner Forum just wrapped up – and wow, did it deliver!

We brought together the best minds in the IT channel to share the latest and greatest insights, trends, and solutions in cloud computing and digital workspaces.

But for now, get ready to dive into the Cloud Partner Forum highlights. Whether you’re here to catch up on what you missed, looking for ways to supercharge your operations, or just curious about the future of cloud, you’re in the right place.

Let’s set the scene

The Cloud Partner Forum 2024 marked the first collaborative event between DataSolutions and Climb Channel Solutions, and together we highlighted our robust cloud and digital workspace vendor portfolio. This forum was a unique opportunity for our channel partners to meet vendors in our expanded portfolio, and learn more from our team of experts about how to integrate these technologies into their ecosystems, opening up new commercial opportunities and setting the stage for future growth.

The day kicked off with a compelling welcome address from Gerard Brophy, Chief Revenue Officer, Climb Channel Solutions. Gerard set the tone by highlighting the business’s mission: our dedication to growth, our rapid market response, and our unwavering commitment to a people-first culture. This moment was pivotal in bringing together the identities of Climb and DataSolutions, underscoring our unified vision to our partners, and setting the stage for our rebranding later this year.

Francis O’Haire, Chief Technology Officer, DataSolutions, a Climb Company, led a session on key trends for 2024, sparking discussions on future technologies and innovations in AI, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. We’ll have a full run-down of Francis’ trends to share with you soon.

In the following sessions, our Diamond Sponsors took to the stage. Adam Cooperman, Chief Revenue Officer, Flexxible, outlined a transformative approach to digital workspaces. Adam stressed that simply inundating an already overwhelmed team with more technology is destined to fail, and instead, he advocated for why DEX should be viewed more holistically, helping to bring about a cultural shift towards meaningful workplace change – where employees are empowered, effective, and satisfied.

Justin Thorogood, Director Channel Sales Emerging & UKI, IGEL, led a session on recycling innovations, emphasising the importance of rethinking our approach to technology lifecycle management. Justin drove home the message that if a global apparel giant like Adidas can pioneer environmental stewardship, the IT channel too can lead by example and transform sustainability challenges into opportunities for innovation.

These presentations were complemented by fireside chats and panel discussions on cloud adoption and profitability strategies. AI was a key theme that dominated the day’s conversations – and the panel discussion ‘Artificial Intelligence: What Happens after the Hype?’ was a highlight, where we were joined by Apay Obang-Oyway, Partner Sales Director, Microsoft, Steve Jones, Sales Engineer, Seagate, and Simon Townsend, Field CTO, ControlUp, to discuss AI’s role in reshaping the IT industry. This conversation reinforced an important message: AI is a tool that can fundamentally reshape the IT channel. If we understand AI’s capabilities, recognise its boundaries, and deploy it responsibly, we’ll unlock a wealth of opportunities for the partners and customers ready to adapt and explore the vast potential it offers.

Beyond the discussions and sessions, the forum was a vibrant space for networking, where vendors, partners, and channel experts shared insights and made new connections.

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

We owe a huge thank you to all our Cloud Partner Forum sponsors. You all made this inaugural event a success.

Diamond Sponsors

Flexxible | IGEL Technology

Gold Sponsors

Asigra | UltrArmor | Wasabi | Microsoft | Scale Computing

Silver Sponsors

CoreView | LG Business Solutions

Lunch Sponsors

Seagate Technology

Other vendors featured on the day

Citrix | ControlUp

Check out some of the photos from the day:

That’s a wrap on our dive into the Cloud Partner Forum highlights! A massive thank you also to our partners, speakers, and all attendees for their participation.  We’ve only scratched the surface here, but over the next few weeks and months, we’ll continue to unpack all the insights and knowledge shared at the forum – there’s a lot more to come. 

So, stay tuned and keep an eye on our updates. And if you’re eager to learn more about how to stay ahead in the cloud game, and help elevate your customers’ operations, then please get in contact via our website here, where we can talk more about our cloud and digital workspace solutions with you.