Protocol for Posiflex

In a twist of fate for the manufacturers of point-of-sale (POS) solution,
Posiflex Technologies has acquired a majority stake in its national distributor,
Protocol Solution. The company is now looking at expanding its business in
India.

This move might remind the channel industry of a similar acquisition that had
happened in 2008, where Avnet acquired the Mumbai based IBM partners, Ontrack
Solutions, to establish its presence in India.

Now, Protocol Solution, which has been an exclusive national distributor for
Posiflexs range of POS solutions, will restructure the entire channel
ecosystem, roping in new national and sub-distributors.

Owen Chen, CEO, Posiflex Technologies, reveales that this is a strategic
acquisition, which will not only bring them closer to the market and customers,
but will also help them broaden their market reach.

He says, "Protocol Solution have been our distributor for a long while. India
is an important market for us. We felt that in order to increase our strengths,
we need to have our presence in the country."

India is an important market for us. We felt that in order to increase our strengths, we need to have our presence in the country Owen Chan, CEO, Posiflex Technologies	Our team has engaged in providing successful solutions in bothindustrial automation and retail automation D Baskaramoorthy, director, Posiflex India

Chen hints that seeing the growth prospect and the market size, Posiflex
might also look at an opportunity for opening up its manufacturing unit in the
country.

D Baskaramoorthy, director, Posiflex India, informes that Posiflex is now
looking at sketching a channel ecosystem, where it will have around three to
four national distributors and twenty-five sub-distributors.

He says, "We are in advanced talks with a couple of distributors, and will
soon announce the names. Our criterion for selection is domain expertise and
market reach."

Protocol started its operation in India in April 1997 with its headquarters
in Bangalore. Today it has branch offices in Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New
Delhi, and Kolkata. It was also partners for Metrologic and Ring. Baskaramoorthy
says that the company will continue with its prior commitments, as every account
provides a complimenting solution to its existing range.

He adds, "Our team has engaged in providing successful solutions in
bothindustrial automation and retail automation. Some of our prestigious
clientle includes Ford India, IFB, Hindustan Motors, Schneider Electric,
Shoppers Stop, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway, Costa Coffee, Caf Coffee Day, Food
World, Music World, Monday to Sunday, etc."

Posiflex sees a huge opportunity in the unorganized retail sector, which
comprises around 95% of the existing market.

Chen says, "The Indian retail is fast in adopting technology. Unlike the USA,
the UK, China, and other countries, Indian retailers do not follow traditional
ways of business growth, from paper accounts to the electronic cash register(ECR)
system, and finally POS. They are ready to scale up to POS solutions that are
more affordable."

Akanksha Prasad/CIOL

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