Top Panasonic personnel, including high profile Japanese visitors, flew in for a reseller forum at Nimans to provide an insight into the manufacturer's future plans and latest technology developments.
Resellers travelled from all four corners of the country to discover more about Panasonic's evolving product portfolio including its NS1000 Sip-based UC platform.
Panasonic's channel strategy, partner programme and current promotions were all on the agenda, along with details of a new UK partnership with business intelligence reporting specialist CyTrack.
New and forthcoming telephones such as executive desk phones, smart desk phones (based on Android) and SIP DECT solutions were also highlighted along with a 'Tough DECT' phone in the pipeline. The event finished with a two-way Q&A session where key Nimans and Panasonic staff answered queries and also asked resellers for their own opinions on market trends and industry issues.
The initiative proved a worthwhile experience for an East Sussex-based dealer who made a marathon 600-mile round trip to attend.
"It's been a rewarding experience. Not just getting my own questions answered but sharing views with fellow resellers in such a refreshing forum. Looking at the roadmap and getting a good insight is crucial to where you want to take your business.
"To have so many leading people from Panasonic and Nimans in the same room was great. You get immediate answers. They know their stuff and when it is going to happen. I've only ever met the odd one here and there but to get a collective group together means I will walk away with so much more foresight and crucial information."
Paul Burn, Nimans' Head of System Sales was equally enthusiastic: "We were privileged to have so many leading Panasonic personalities with us in the same room, to share their knowledge and wisdom. It was a very rewarding experience for everyone that attended, as we combined formal presentations with lots of networking opportunities."