Microsoft adds distributor to roster

PSD will be tasked with expanding the tech giants’ device, service sales

The Ho Chi Minh City-based company has already forged partnerships with global giants in telecom, Samsung; computers, HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo; and accessories, Kingston, Huawei, Adata, Genius, ZyXEL. Its next step after being authorised to distribute Microsoft solutions will be supplying Microsoft devices and services to Laos and Vietnam, where the US giant is aiming for robust expansion.

Outlining the new project, Microsoft Vietnam CEO Vu Minh Tri said the company is not only a software giant, but also a device and service company that provides end-to-end solutions to customers. Towards higher sales and usage of these products, Microsoft must expand its partnerships, and PSD is part of that strategy.

He added that PSD had diverse experience in distributing hardware products and devices with an established network throughout both countries, with 11 regional warehouses and 1,500 resellers in Vietnam. Most importantly, PSD has extensive experience working with major technology brands.

“From now, PSD is an extension of Microsoft, and its duty is to help us improve in remote areas where we have little coverage,” said Tri.

He went on to say that the selection process for the new distributor was originally cut down to three final candidates, and PSD was selected based on their vision and competence. “Once we identified PSD as our ideal partner, we trained one of their teams to educate them on the uses and strengths of our products and services. We are eager to see breakthoughs.”

PSD CEO Huynh Van Thi said his company’s goal was to become Vietnam’s principal distributor of quality products. Established in 2007 as a member of PertoVietnam General Services Co. (Petrosetco), PSD became an official distributor for Nokia in Vietnam the same year and was named Samsung’s sole distributor in July 2012. It curently ranks 75th on the VNR list of the 500 biggest companies in Vietnam.

Tri explained that the new partnership was expected to contribute to Vietnam’s IT sector as a whole, and would support the country in becoming an IT leader in Southeast Asia. 

PSD anticipates $15 million in sales for the first year with annual growth of around 30-40 per cent. They will have to work hard to catch up with already established distributors FPT and Wintech.

Microsoft has been operating in Vietnam for more than 16 years and employs around 100 people and maintains 500 local partners. The company has invested $80 million in the country thus far into several projects and programmes including Worldwide Appathon, BizSpark, and Dreamspark

Early this month, Microsoft Asia Pacific president Cesar Cernuda told VIR that Vietnam has the potential to have the highest IT market growth rate in all South East Asia. He noted skilled and competitive software developers, major foreign-invested IT projects, and the development of 3G as strengths that Vietnam should capitalise on. Accordingly, Microsoft is exploring many avenues for partnerships that can bolster awareness and boost sales of its products.

Cernuda said Microsoft had a strategic plan that aligns with Vietnam’s ICT 2020 master plan in key areas such as ICT infrastructure and security, SME productivity, human resources, and education and training.