The emerald island, Sri Lanka, hosted Select Technologies’ Rishtey FAME 2007 from 4th to 6th July, 2007. For the first time in the history of the IT industry, more than 125 channel partners (security and storage partners) of Select Technologies (the largest value-added distributor for security), from the entire SAARC region, got together in an overseas location. The venue was hotel Cinnamon Grand, Colombo. And, the purpose was to make the channel partners and the principals interact and understand each other’s business better.
It was from the early morning of 4th July that the partners and principals started arriving in the hotel Cinnamon, Colombo, from different parts of India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. By around 5 o’clock in the evening, perhaps the last batch of the attendees had checked in the hotel.
The real red-carpet welcome extended to the guests by Select Technologies and a group of paparazzis was a spectacle to watch.
All the partners were transported from the airport by a fleet of specially branded Rishtey Fame – 2007 buses.
At around 7 o’clock in the evening, all the guests were taken to a seashore palace-turned-hotel named Lavanya to kick off the South Asia’s most-awaited Channel Partners’ Meet. It was a scintillating ambience to welcome the attendees comprising technical heads, CEOs, proprietors, Managing Directors and Marketing Managers of various organizations.
The welcome ceremony started with a couple of bikini-clad Hawaiian models along with traditionally dressed Sri Lankan dancers and musicians. As the evening progressed, the sea beach turned into an open theatre for Select Technologies’ Rishtey Fame – 2007, and every partner was treated as a celebrity.
With the introductory note given by an emcee about the Rishtey Fame – 2007 and Select Technologies, the logo of Rishtey Fame – 2007 was unveiled amidst light, music, dance and a massive firework, leaving every one spellbound. As the night deepened, the ambience became more lively and enjoyable for the attendees. There were dancers everywhere on the stage and off the stage. The guests had a full-throttle enjoyment of the live band, folk dances of Sri Lanka, Salsa and Samba of Brazil and dances on famous Bollywood numbers. With hit numbers playing in the background, the guests continued to enjoy themselves till midnight. They tried to match their feet with the professional dance troop. The guests not only had the gala time, but had the opportunity to network with each other sharing their experiences.
On 5th July, at around 9 o’clock in the morning, all the partners were present at the time of the welcome address delivered by Mr. R. N. Agarwal, CEO & MD, WeP Peripherals, and Mr. Sunil Pillai, GM, Select Technologies. It was followed by a gyan session (presentations-cum-interactive sessions from various principals on business outlooks and technology roadmap). The partners and principals enjoyed it thoroughly. Vendors including Websense, SonicWall, TippingPoint, Check Point, BigFix, RSA, IronPort and Ultimaco had presentations about their capabilities and go-to-market strategy along with Select Technologies and its partners. On the other side, in the technical roundup, SonicWall, WebSense, TippingPoint, IronPort, ISS and CheckPoint updated the partners about their technology road map and advantage over others.
In the technical session, the attendees were rewarded for their prompt replies to the questions asked by the vendors then and there.
In the evening, the guests joined another party. It was at the Casino Royale and again the scantily clad models handed over dollars to play casino. They romped the dance floor and enjoyed till midnight. Another day and another gyan session… and the presenters were Cisco, ISS, Aventail, EMC, Secure Computing and Crossbeam. On the technical track, it was Cisco, Trend Micro, RSA, Crossbeam and EMC.
Post the sessions, the partners had a very good time by having one-to-one interaction with the principals. Finally, Mr. Sandeep Panda had come on stage to announce the official closing of the gyan sessions, but the party was still to go on in the evening.
With the fall of the dusk, glittering ambience was set for another party. This time, it was to felicitate the performers – the partners and the principals–– of Select Technologies for their outstanding achievements. To make the closing party a memorable one, the company had arranged for dance troops from Russia and India.
By 7th July, all the partners had had their fill of both enjoyment and recognition, but nobody was ready for the party to end so soon. However, they were taken for shopping and sightseeing to the exotic places of Sri Lank.
Sunil Pillai, GM, Select Technologies, said. “We have been able to make Rishtey – 2007 a grand success. I am so happy that this became a platform for the partners from the entire SAARC region to learn from each other’s experience; otherwise, it would not have been possible. As our theme for the event we are able to make Rishtey’– 2007 a platform for–‘FAME’ - FORTUNE, ATTITUDE, MOTIVATE and EXCITE.” He added, “I am happy that the principals could interact with the partners in Security and Storage business. They could help the partners increase the mindshare for their products and brand.”
He further added, “On the other side, the partners could know about the market dynamics and direction as to how they can enhance their business and revenue stream by complementing their existing solutions.”
Finally, the criteria for the partners who qualified to the Select Rishtey – 2007 in Sri Lanka was purely based on their commitment and sustained business relationship with Select Technologies.
Sunil added, “It was wonderful to see the partners from all statures – big and small and from different A- and B-class cities getting together and being part of this wonderful opportunity to update them.”
