Building the Nation 2025 – Lucknow Chapter: Partner

The Building the Nation – Lucknow Edition brought together a distinguished gathering of channel partners, technology leaders, and industry experts to explore the vast opportunities emerging from India’s rapidly growing Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. Organised by Express Computer, in partnership with Dell Technologies and Intel, the event served as a strategic platform to discuss how the evolving technology landscape can enable channel partners to drive smarter business outcomes, foster innovation, and build stronger, long-term customer relationships.

As part of Dell’s broader initiative to engage more deeply with India’s diverse partner community, this event was specially curated for Lucknow’s thriving channel partner ecosystem, a network that has been pivotal in driving digital adoption across commercial, education, public sector, and SME segments.

The session began with Praveen Kumar, Director & Founder, Qbic Catalyst Partners Pvt. Ltd., representing Dell Technologies, who highlighted how AI-powered PCs are set to redefine the future of work. He introduced the concept of Neural Processing Units (NPUs), which allow devices to handle real-time transcription, image processing, predictive modeling, and on-device inferencing without relying on the cloud. This innovation, he emphasised, is a major step forward for sectors like healthcare, education, and government, where low latency and enhanced data security are critical. He outlined the company’s leadership in AI PCs and customer support. He explained how Dell’s latest Pro, Pro Max, and Pro Essential devices, powered by NPUs, are designed for AI-driven workloads.

Also the highlight was the new Dell Pro Essential series, which is business-ready and affordable, starting at ₹31,999. It is designed for everyday business needs. Despite its affordability, Essentials doesn’t compromise on performance. It offers robust security, Full HD+ displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio, up to 10 hours of battery life, and MIL-STD-810G military-grade durability, ideal for the Gen Z workforce and SMEs alike. Plus, it supports open standards, ensuring compatibility with all peripherals, monitors, headsets, and more.

These newly launched AI-powered PC portfolio is designed with built-in NPUs (Neural Processing Units) to handle AI workloads directly on the device. These next-generation PCs enable faster, more secure, and energy-efficient execution of tasks like transcription, content creation, and data analysis without always relying on the cloud. Positioned as a game-changer for MSMEs, the AI PCs combine enterprise-grade performance with user-friendly design, helping businesses improve productivity, strengthen data privacy, and reduce operational costs while staying future-ready.

A key focus of his session was the Dell Partner Incentive Program (RISE), designed to reward and motivate partners. The program provides automatic point tracking, eliminating the need for manual reporting.

The second session, led by Raja Pratap Singh, Program Manager- GSI, Intel, explored the expanding role of AI across industries such as banking, retail, healthcare, and education. The session detailed how Intel’s CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs form the backbone of modern AI PCs, delivering powerful performance and scalability to support a wide range of business needs. Intel also introduced the Intel Partner Alliance (IPA) program, which provides partners with access to training, certifications, design support, and marketing tools. Through this platform, partners can earn Intel Points by purchasing eligible Intel-powered products from authorised distributors, redeeming them for vouchers and other rewards.

“Our new structure makes it easier for even smaller partners to move up the ladder and unlock premium benefits,” the Intel representative shared, highlighting the company’s commitment to empowering partners across all levels.

The event concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where participants discussed AI PC readiness, lifecycle services, sales enablement tools, and evolving market trends. Dell and Intel experts addressed these queries with practical insights and encouraged partners to co-invest in go-to-market initiatives, ensuring mutual growth and success.

The Building the Nation – Lucknow Edition highlighted that the next phase of growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities like Lucknow will be driven by partners, centered on solutions, and powered by AI. With Dell and Intel providing continuous support through innovation, tools, and flexible programs, local partners are now better equipped to deliver greater value to customers and accelerate their business growth. The event saw strong participation from over 60+ regional partners, reaffirming Dell and Intel’s shared commitment to nurturing a future-ready partner ecosystem across India’s emerging markets.