Apple claims that most every company in the Fortune 500 is either testing or deploying iPads. Now here’s some evidence from another party to back up that claim.
Executives from Tech Data, one of the world’s largest distributors of computer products, told attendees of Raymond James Technology & Supply Chain Conference that Apple products have become a significant portion of its business.
Specifically, Tech Data execs said that 12 percent of their revenue is Apple related, with the bulk generated by sales of Mac and iPad.
Not huge number, but certainly worth noting. Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt estimates Tech Data is selling about two million iPads into the corporate world per year. Tech Data is just one distributor, calculate including a few more, and the number could feasibly grow.
“If we presume other distributors are having similar success, then enterprise distribution may account for 5-10 million iPads annually,” McCourt writes. “We view [this] as impressive as this does not include BYOD iPads brought into the enterprise.”
So these numbers don’t even account for the “Bring Your Own Device” trend that’s quickly growing in the marketplace. Adding that to the mix, and it certainly shows Apple is extending its reach into corporate America.
