In a recent strategy meeting held at the conclusion of NetApp's fiscal year, high-level executives from both NetApp and SHD convened to discuss the future of their collaboration in data infrastructure innovation.
Toralf Lips and Marco Graef, SHD's Managing Directors, alongside Udo Böhm, Head of Business Development and NetApp Alliance Manager, exchanged views to enhance their partnership. Their discussion revolved around exploiting market opportunities and advancing their joint strategic initiatives in the sector.
Leveraging market opportunities
NetApp, a pioneer IT manufacturer headquartered in San Jose with over 12,000 employees, anticipates substantial growth in the coming fiscal year, beginning in May.
According to Statista, the storage solutions industry is projected to generate around €60.1 billion globally by 2025, with Germany contributing approximately €2.5 billion. Henning Rahe, Senior Director Partner Sales in Germany, underscores that the commercial sector in Germany is a crucial area for expansion. Marco Graef notes SHD's position as a prominent partner due to its consistent investment in training and services related to NetApp's storage and cloud solutions.
Data infrastructure solutions
Toralf Lips highlights the significance of SHD's experienced IT professionals
Toralf Lips highlights the significance of SHD's experienced IT professionals and new talent in driving success. He remarks on SHD's strong foundation within the SME sector, emphasizing the mutual benefits of their collaboration with NetApp.
The partnership leverages NetApp's innovative data infrastructure solutions, which play a critical role in supporting commercial clients. NetApp's focus on areas such as data security, compliance, hybrid cloud services, and intelligent infrastructure aligns well with SHD’s capabilities, promising further growth for both companies. Udo Böhm adds that this alignment allows SHD to provide comprehensive data management and a reliable 24/7 service package to their clientele.
Comprehensive data management solution
Ulrike Zacheiß, who assumed responsibility for strategic partner management in late 2024, expresses her support for SHD, acknowledging the company's expertise and enduring partnership with NetApp.
This relationship, established in 1998, has been instrumental in delivering consistent, high-quality solutions to NetApp's long-standing customers. SHD’s collaboration with NetApp continues to be reinforced by a shared commitment to innovation and customer-focused service delivery.
At the end of NetApp's fiscal year, high-ranking representatives from NetApp and SHD met for a strategy meeting. SHD's Managing Directors Toralf Lips and Marco Graef, together with Udo Böhm, Head of Business Development and NetApp Alliance Manager, contributed their perspective as a long-standing partner. The focus was on their shared goal of driving innovation, leveraging market opportunities, and strategically developing their collaboration.
Henning Rahe, Senior Director Partner Sales Germany, has set new goals for the upcoming fiscal year: "NetApp sees the commercial sector in Germany, among other places, as a key focus for growth."
Leveraging market opportunities
The IT manufacturer, headquartered in San Jose, currently employs over 12,000 people. The storage giant's new fiscal year begins in May. According to Statista, global revenue in the storage solutions market will reach approximately €60.1 billion in 2025, with around €2.5 billion of that coming from Germany.
“Through years of continuous investment in excellent training for consulting, technical certifications, installations, and support and professional services for NetApp storage and cloud solutions, SHD is among the leading partners,” emphasizes Marco Graef.
Data infrastructure solutions
Toralf Lips adds: “The experience and expertise of our long-standing IT professionals, as well as the fresh impetus brought by up-and-coming talent, are key to our success. SHD has a strong tradition in the SME sector and, together with NetApp, pursues the clear goal of consistently realizing growth potential there – to the mutual benefit of both parties. Accordingly, SHD relies on the broad innovation portfolio of the Californian company, whose intelligent data infrastructure solutions provide optimal support for customers in the commercial environment.”
"NetApp's strategic focus on growth areas such as data security, data compliance, hybrid cloud services, and intelligent data infrastructure is an excellent fit for SHD as a systems integrator and guarantees further joint growth. Our solution and service portfolio aligns with many of NetApp's top technology partners. This enables us to offer our customers not only a comprehensive data management solution but also a worry-free, all-inclusive package with our 24/7 support services," says Udo Böhm.
Comprehensive data management solution
He has overseen SHD's strategic NetApp partnership from the outset and understands what long-standing NetApp customers value.
“As Partner Manager, I am delighted to be supporting SHD. This partner possesses excellent technical expertise and, with over 25 years of experience, is one of the oldest NetApp business partners in Germany,” said Ulrike Zacheiß. She only took over the strategic management of the partner in the fall of 2024. SHD has relied on NetApp’s high-quality, reliable solutions since 1998.
