In a period of intense application renewal the traditional suppliers of hardware appliances are being forced to re-evaluate strategies for growth. On the one hand mega technology vendors such as IBM, Oracle, and HP are consolidating solutions across all aspects of information, applications and technology stacks. This shift is forcing channel partners and value added resellers to become proficient in true solution style engagements where they may have previously only been specialists in one point solution. For example as IBM moves ahead with its Information on Demand agenda incorporating information strategy, business intelligence, analytics, content management, and master data management it is no longer enough for an IBM BI channel partner to simply offer point solutions in Cognos. At the same time, the as-a-service phenomenon continues to grow at pace, fuelled by end-user demands for everything from system performance improvements through to virtualisation, remote worker, and mobility enablement. As the available as-a-service offerings become more prevalent and wide-ranging to address these needs the fact is that any supplier of technology that is currently standing still with regards to as-a-service offerings will not meet the demands of their traditional client markets over the coming years. Change is required. However in the rush towards the cloud-based services only agenda that is sweeping the industry it is important that organisations not forget the role of infrastructure in the mix, even if it is only a transitory one. In this regards the on premise appliance is proving to be a significant change catalyst and is by no means dead. Instead the on-premise appliance may yet help to redefine the success of both the vendor channel and the end-user market in the current technology cycle.