Nikolaos Makris, the CEO at 2X Software, talks about his company, his company’s marketing plans and the channel strategies for 2014.
Tell us something about 2X Software.
2X Software is a global leader in virtual desktop and application delivery, remote access and cloud computing solutions. Thousands of enterprises worldwide trust in the reliability and scalability of 2X products. 2X offers a range of solutions to make every company’s shift to cloud computing simple and affordable.
2X Software is a privately held company, with offices in the USA, Germany, UK, Australia, Japan and Malta. 2X holds a Microsoft Gold Competency certification, and partners with IBM, Novell, VMware and many others. Notable 2X customers include Fox News, Harvard University, H&B Foods, McKesson, Advance Auto Parts, Mazda and more.
What products and services does it offer?
2X Software’s product line includes the award winning 2X ApplicationServer XG providing platform independent virtual desktop, application delivery and integrated thin client management from a single software package; 2XOS for converting desktops PCs into thin clients and the 2X RDP / Remote Desktop Clients for remote access to Windows virtual desktops & applications available for Android, iOS, Chrome OS, BlackBerry and more.
2X Software is the first company to offer integrated thin client management for virtual desktop & application delivery with the 2X ClientManager module for 2X ApplicationServer XG and also the first to provide users with on-demand, proactive protection against both known and unknown attacks through remote desktop connections, ultimately securing access to their home Windows desktop or laptop with 2X SecureRemoteDesktop.
What is your target audience? Which industry verticals do you focus upon?
2X Software targets a wide range of customers, covering anywhere from Small and Medium sized businesses to Large Enterprises. There is no specific industry vertical of focus, however, 2X Software has found that Banking, Healthcare, Retail and Education are strong areas of success. This is predominantly due to the security and mobility aspects of the businesses within these verticals.
How important is the Middle East market for you?
2X Software has experienced healthy growth in 2013 and the Middle East remains our top priority among the emerging markets this year. This growth came from the fact that we are a cost effective alternative for application and desktop virtualization, and the increased demand from the market for Private Cloud & BYOD solutions. 2013 brought us success stories with the education, healthcare and non-profit organizations in the region.
What sort of channel partners do you work with in the Middle East region?
2X Software works closely with a number of partners that are in the Virtualization space and that have the technical knowledge and expertise in Network infrastructure. We also work with a number of service providers that use our product to deliver Software as a Service (SaaS) to their customers.
What is marketing strategy for the Middle East region?
2X Software is dedicated to improving brand awareness in the Middle East region through various strategic partnerships with the top media agencies. This includes engaging in press releases, online and print advertising, whitepapers and much more.
The objective is to provide companies with the visibility into 2X Software solutions which can enable their businesses to be more IT efficient through desktop virtualization and application delivery strategies.
Which products and solutions are your star products for Middle East region?
2X ApplicationServer XG is our flagship product in the Middle East region. 2X ApplicationServer XG allows the delivery of virtual desktops and applications from a central location, providing continuous availability, resource-based load balancing and complete end-to-end network transparency for administrators.
This enables vendor independent virtual desktops & application delivery to users on any device, accessible from anywhere. The results are significant savings on administration and support.
What are your channel strategies for Middle East region?
The 2X Software channel strategy for the Middle East region is to work with the existing partner base and help them grow their 2X business, by running joint campaigns or activities to maintain our existing customers, as well as finding new customers.
At the same time, we are aiming to increase our partner base in the rest of the Middle East. We will continue supporting our new partners via our 2Xpert training, as well as joining them in customer meetings, assisting them with POC’s, deal registrations and much more.
How do you see the cloud computing market in the Middle East region evolving?
Cloud computing in the Middle East region is on the right track and is here to stay for a substantial amount of time. Large companies are adopting cloud technology in both private, as well as public sectors, implementing their own Private Cloud in certain scenarios. This is where 2X comes into play – we provide a cost-effective solution to easily implement and manage a Private Cloud infrastructure!
