Top 12 IT Channel Associations of 2012

IT channel associations have grown to become centers of power that vendors, distributors and partners cannot afford to ignore. These associations have played a significant role in the evolution of the channel ecosystem. They have fought cases and won against governments, embargoed vendors and distributors, arbitrated channel disputes, run welfare schemes and have forced the largest IT vendors to alter their channel policies. DQ Channels identifies top 12 associations of 2012, on the basis of their performances and activities, being carried out, throughout the year.

All Delhi Computer Traders Association, Delhi
Delhi based All Delhi Computer Traders association has emerged as the most powerful association of 2012. The body's relentless efforts to protect parallel importers and asking the government to clear ambiguity on whether parallel import is legitimate in India, has put it at the center stage. However, ADCTA got a clarification from the government which provided protection for parallel imports.

Additionally, it is working hard to resolve services and warranty related issues. It had kick-started a unique Nehru Place carnival to boost the sales of Nehru Place dealers. The association announced winners of 150 lucky draw prizes, while the major attractions of the draw were the Tata Nano car (bumper prize) and Hero motor bike, the first prize, of the draw. Besides announcing the lucky draw winners, the association also gave away assured gifts to all coupon holders.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;;

Rajasthan Computer Traders Association, Jaipur
RCTA is an apex body representing Computer Traders in Rajasthan. The growing footprint of the organization has witnessed a significant growth of computer industry in the region. The association has been organizing various exhibitions, roadshows, seminars for the growth of its members.
Recently, RCTA had taken ‘First ever initiative' for a ‘Business Delegation tour' outside India. It took a group of prominent 32 computer dealers and members of Rajasthan Computer Traders Association to China for business promotion and cultural exchange, to understand the country's market.
Apart from this, the association is taking up trade issues with the local authorities on ambiguity and lack of clarity in Rajasthan VAT notification. It has been putting its efforts to streamline vendors service and warranty polices.

::::::::::::::::::::::;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::;;

Jammu Computers Dealers Association, Jammu
Another north based association from Jammu was in limelight last year, as it forced the state authorities to roll back the increased Value Added Tax (VAT). The association carried a two month long protest in J&K against this unfair stand of Sales Tax department.

The matter was ended when the state government, finance department, Civil Secretariat issued a fresh SRO 329, in which the government has amended the Value Added Tax Act 2005. As per the latest notification, all IT products and peripherals will attract 0% and 5% VAT, which was earlier increased from 5% to 13.5% due to the repercussions arising out of SRO 108 and 122 by finance department. On the flip side, the 0% VAT impacted the neighboring states like Punjab.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Computer & Media Dealers Association, Pune
Computer & Media Dealers Association, Pune, popularly known as CMDA, is one of the largest IT associations in Maharashtra. Founded in 1993, with the primary objective of working for the betterment of IT trading community, it also aims at increasing the IT awareness amongst the consumers. The association has been actively resolving trade related issues. It has also issued business guidelines for its channel partners.
The association shared the set of rules, aimed at facilitating better trade practices in the system. The guidelines are for issues like Dead on Arrival (DOA), physically damaged materials, warranty policy, financial guidelines, invoice policy, delivery policy, escalation matrix, and regional/sub distributors policyBesides this, the association follows its events calendar regularly. It recently concluded its annual mega expo. The four-day power-packed event panned across 4,000 sq m of exhibition area in Sinchan Bhavan, Shivaji Nagar, it will also have 10 business and 12 technical seminars, and is expecting a footfall of more than 42,000 people including CIOs and IT managers. An exclusive CIO conference has also been organized.

The association will also be getting a new office address as it has acquired a 2,200 sq ft space in KK Market, Pune and will shift to the new venue soon.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Jalandhar Computer Dealer Association, Jalandhar

Jalandhar Computer Dealer Association since inception, has become a nodal agency responsible for the growth and development of IT industry in its region. It has emerged as the most important IT forum of Punjab. Last year, the association proved its strength by banning Microsoft across Punjab. The association strongly condemned the raids action taken by Microsoft and stated that such incidents are similar to blackmailing and extortion by foreign companies on Indian small businesses. This move also forced 10 other Punjab IT associations to come together, and later fomed Punjab Association of Computer Traders (PACT).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

North Bengal IT Traders Organization (NITO)
The North Bengal IT Traders Organization, an association of the Information Technology dealers of entire North Bengal, has been actively working for the betterment of IT channel partners. Presently, the total strength of the organization reached to 110 members from Siliguri itself. It hope to make it to 150 very soon.

NITO has been seeking IT vendors from the other parts of North Bengal to join the forum. This association has developed market potentiality, conflict management, encouraging and educating new vendors and society by organizing various activities like anti- piracy campaign, road shows, IT fairs and so on.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;

Association of System Integrators & Retail in Technology
Most recently, Mumbai based Association of System Integrators & Retail in Technology (ASIRT) has come into being and gets its office bearers. The formation of this body was primarily for partnering and collaboration of SI and retail industry partners, so that they can grab IT business opportunities and form a proper ecosystem.

In the governing body of the association, Kshitij Kotak from the Mumbai-based Fortune Grecells has been appointed as the president, and Chetan Shah from the Mumbai-based Xpress Computers as the chairman of the association.

In a short span of time, this association has conducted several seminars for the betterment of its members. It conducted its engagement program called 1st Techday-skills improvement event. Moreover, it has launched its partnering and collaboration portal ASIRT-CONNECT (http://connect.asirt.in). With this portal, ASIRT aims to help its members and partners to seamlessly create winning business partnerships.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Computer Association of Eastern India (COMPASS), Kolkata
For Kolkata based COMPASS, it was a normal year with the association holding its AGM and elections on time. This year, COMPASS relied much on the use of new and social media and networks for the of its expo. In this venture, the association created a website; www.compassfair.com, dedicated to the event.

:::::::::::::::::;

Trade Association of Information Technology (TAIT), Mumbai
For IT trade association of Mumbai, Trade Association of Information Technology (TAIT), the year gone by was full of events and seminars. Recently, it concluded its fifth International IT Exhibition and Conference, COM-IT Expo 2012, which was held from December 13 to 16, 2012, in Mumbai. In line with the festive season, it had organized a major channel engagement event for its members- Diwali Extravaganza 2012. This annual get together witnessed a huge turnout of channel partners and their family members.

::::::::::::::::::::::::;;

All Kerala IT Dealers Association (AKITDA), Kochi
All Kerala IT Dealers Association (AKITDA) is a strong organization of IT resellers in Kerala. IT recently appointed new office bearers that were elected in a summit conducted by the association recently. James Joseph from Pathanamthitta elected as the president along with other office bearer
This association has been fighting for the interest of their members, after resolving the long pending Intel's issue. Now, the association is looking into service issue with ASUS. Recently, it had a meeting with the top ASUS officials over the same.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Association for Information Technology (AIT), Bengaluru
Association for Information Technology, Bengaluru (AIT), was formed in 1997, to bring together dealers, distributors, manufacturers and ancillary units. Although the association remained quite, but it raised the issue of freight charges, imposed by the national distributors for delivering the materials. According to AIT, the materials worth up to `1 lakh including taxes, amount to `75 as the freight charge, and anything above `1 lakh amounts the resellers in the range of `150-200 as the freight charge. It also conducted seminars and workshops for its members.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Confederation of Information Technology Associations (Confed-ITA), Puducherry
Confed-ITA, is a consortium of 24 IT traders' associations from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The confederation has more than 1200 members, with operations in 40 plus cities. The association has always been innovative in terms of introducing several projects like insurance policy , welfare funds and SOUL. Some of its important events include annual summit, GT2GT and executive meet. The association is likely to have a special cell to hear the complaints and issues related to service faced by their members. The forum will have a set of members which will listen to the issues of the members across the state.