SoftwareOne and Crayon have completed the integration of their channel businesses across Asia Pacific (APAC), uniting two established technology organisations under the SoftwareOne brand. Announced on 12 October 2026 from Sydney and Singapore, the move creates a single, more connected channel business that puts more expertise, services and opportunities within reach of partners across the region.
Together, SoftwareOne and Crayon bring complementary strengths, from partner and vendor relationships to capabilities in software asset management, cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI, and managed and technical services. Importantly, partners keep the relationships and customer ownership that both organisations have long championed.
Why SoftwareOne and Crayon Are Joining Forces Now
Technology customers are managing increasingly interconnected requirements across cloud, software, cybersecurity, data and AI, and budgets are climbing fast. IDC expects ICT spending in the region to reach US$647 billion in 2026, while spending on AI and generative AI is projected to hit US$370 billion by 2029, a 38.4% compound annual growth rate.
As enterprises move from AI experimentation to scaled deployment, a trend also seen as Malaysia’s AI growth shifts towards real-world applications, partners are expected to deliver more than access to technology. They need the expertise, services and commercial models that turn ambition into business value. This shift is what drove SoftwareOne and Crayon to combine their channel operations.
For us, the measure of success is not simply the scale of the combined business. It is whether we can create more services opportunities for our partners, help them respond to their customers and support them as they grow.
Varun Paliwal, President of APAC, SoftwareOne
5 Powerful Gains for SoftwareOne and Crayon Partners
1. Specialist Expertise on Demand
Partners can draw on a larger pool of specialist resources as customer needs become more complex. This includes solution architects, security and vendor specialists, bid support, practice development and technical expertise across cloud, security, AI and productivity. Rather than building every capability in-house, partners can bring these resources into deals and practices when extra depth is needed.
2. Flexible Delivery To, Through and With Partners
SoftwareOne’s services model supports delivery under a partner’s own brand, as well as collaborative delivery on larger or more complex engagements. The model is designed to complement the partner’s own business. The partner retains ownership of the customer relationship, while SoftwareOne adds capability where it creates value.
3. A Wider Global Ecosystem
SoftwareOne operates in more than 70 countries with around 12,000 professionals and offers access to more than 7,500 software vendors through its global marketplace. Its Partner Connections programme links resellers with specialist delivery partners for opportunities that are difficult to pursue alone, while the ISV Innovation Hub helps partners commercialise their own intellectual property through vendor marketplaces, incentives and development support.
4. Ongoing Partner Enablement
The unified SoftwareOne and Crayon channel will continue to offer market insight, vendor programme guidance, certifications and practice development, helping partners turn new technology and changing customer requirements into sustainable business opportunities.
5. Simpler Operations With Cloud-iQ
Partners can also tap SoftwareOne’s Cloud-iQ platform, which reduces the operational complexity of managing cloud and software subscriptions through subscription management, automated billing, usage intelligence and business insights.
SoftwareOne and Crayon Pair Global Scale With Local Know-How
APAC spans markets with different levels of technology maturity, regulatory requirements, customer needs and routes to market. A single channel organisation can provide global capabilities and resources while still working through local teams that understand the markets and partners they serve.
APAC is a region where local context matters. Partners need access to global technology and expertise, but they also need people who understand their market, their customers and the way they operate.
Varun Paliwal, President of APAC, SoftwareOne
A Partner-First Model Beyond the Rebrand
SoftwareOne’s broader approach to distribution puts partner growth at the centre of the relationship, rather than focusing solely on individual transactions. That means understanding each partner’s business, growth objectives, target markets and services, then aligning the right sales, technical and advisory resources to those goals.
The most important thing is that the combination creates more possibilities for our partners. We can bring more expertise into their opportunities, more services into their portfolio and more connections into their ecosystem.
Vikas Bhonsle, Head of Channel, APAC, SoftwareOne
For partners, the message from SoftwareOne and Crayon is clear: the brand may have changed, but the partner’s role has not. They keep their customer relationships while gaining broader expertise, services and technology capabilities to grow their businesses. To learn more, visit the official SoftwareOne website.
