We are here to stay and grow even further

Tech Data Schweiz is one of the largest information and communication technology companies in Switzerland, yet to many who live here in central Switzerland this it remains largely unknown.

In short, the company the ICT retailer buys in hard and software from manufacturers such as IBM, HP of Cisco and then sells it on to specialised dealers such as ARP, Digitec or Leuchter Informatik.

The origins of Test Data Schweiz date back to 1983, when German entrepreneur Axel Schultze (who incidentally has been living in Lucerne for some years now) set up Computer 2000, which merged with the US Tech Data company in 1998.

“I realise we are one of the largest yet widely unknown companies in the region,” admitted Gabriele Meinhard (second photograph) who has been the managing director of Tech Data Schweiz since May of 2013. “One reason for this,” he explained, “is that, as a retailer we have no direct contact with end-users.”

It is thought that last year the firm’s turnover amounted to just under CHF 1 billion, the double of what it was five years ago. This means it is turning over roughly the same amount as its main rival company, Also, whose headquarters are in Emmen in the canton of Lucerne. Meinhard declined to cite any precise figures but did admit there was great rivalry between his company and Also. “However, according to the Context market research company, we are the market leaders in Europe,” he added.

What has helped Data Tech Schweiz has been the acquisition of the US company Avnet Technology Solutions, which meant that some 60 members of staff of this company moved from its Swiss subsidiary in Rüschlikon in the canton of Zurich to Tech Data here in Rotkreuz. What is interesting to note, too, is that Tech Data enjoys cooperation with the School of IT of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, whose premises, also in Rotkreuz, are not far away. While the company helps in various projects, it benefits, too, by making talented students aware of its presence. As Meinhard admitted, in Zug and Zurich there are many IT companies vying to recruit talented staff.

The managing director, who himself grew up in Zug and now lives in Cham, mentioned how Tech Data Schweiz currently employs some 200 people in Rotkreuz, with a further 24 in French-speaking Switzerland, not to mention between15 and 20 employees working at a Galliker company logistics centre in the canton of Lucerne. While on Galliker, the US Ingram Micro IT distributing company, which also cooperates with Tech Data Schweiz, also rents storage space at the same location. What is of note is that the Chinese parent company of this Ingram Micro company, HNA, has its Swiss headquarters in Cham.

Meinhard admitted that while Tech Data Schweiz is currently very much a heavyweight in this sector, he is only too aware of how things can suddenly change. “Our profit margins are under continual pressure,” he confessed. “This is why we are continually on the look-out for further areas of businesses, such as in services,” adding how they were also continually looking at how to increase efficiency, too. Nevertheless, the 55-year-old said he was confident the company would continue to grow, citing the ideal framework conditions which prevailed in Rotkreuz. “We are not thinking of moving away. On the contrary, we want to stay here and grow even further,” he concluded.