TD SYNNEX has announced a strategic enhancement to its AI go-to-market approach, Destination: AI, with AI Pioneers, a specialized apprenticeship program in North America designed to address the AI skills gap by fostering emerging AI/ML talent and connecting partners with real-world AI use cases that empower them to scale confidently.

The first cohort kicked off earlier this year and included students specializing in AI/ML, computer science and data science. During the program, the AI Pioneers work closely with TD SYNNEX presales engineers, business mentors and NVIDIA technical experts to develop repeatable AI use cases leveraging NVIDIA AI Enterprise software including NVIDIA NIM microservices and use-case aligned NVIDIA Blueprints. The use cases illustrate tangible examples of how partners can implement AI and make it easier for them to develop their own proven, scalable AI solutions.

"Through AI Pioneers, we are investing in the next generation of innovators to address this knowledge gap, providing hands-on AI experience that will drive meaningful business impacts not just for us, but also for our vendors and our partners," said Reyna Thompson, president, North America, TD SYNNEX. "This initiative marks an evolution of our AI strategy, showcasing that going to market successfully with AI requires strong partnership across the entire technology ecosystem."

This year's class of AI Pioneers consisted of 16 students who have already developed use cases such as:

• Agentic Platform for Hospitality & Entertainment: A digital assistant that uses dynamic AI agents to deliver real-time, context-aware support, enhancing guest experiences and driving operational efficiency across hospitality, entertainment, tourism and events.
• Knowledge Knode: An AI-powered platform that integrates enterprise data and efficiently routes inquiries to the right knowledge source, streamlining accessibility and improving decision-making.
• Agent-based Emergency Response Platform: An adaptable, agent-based system that enhances situational awareness and accelerates incident response by coordinating resources and procedures in real time to protect lives and property.

"Participating in the AI Pioneers program at TD SYNNEX has been an incredible experience, providing the opportunity to translate my academic background into practical solutions with real-world impact," said Darla Valderrama, a TD SYNNEX AI Pioneer participant. "Leveraging NVIDIA's AI technology and collaborating with TD SYNNEX engineers has expanded my understanding of how AI can address complex challenges, and I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead in the industry because of it."

According to TD SYNNEX's most recent Direction of Technology report, 75% of partners recognize AI as essential to their future, yet nearly half struggle to implement solutions due to talent shortages. The AI Pioneers program addresses this challenge as an extension of TD SYNNEX's broader Destination AI initiative, which brings together OEMs, cloud providers and ISVs to deliver scalable, customized AI solutions that drive measurable outcomes. By working with TD SYNNEX Destination AI Champions and leveraging NVIDIA Blueprints, partners can tailor AI Pioneer use cases to their own data and regulatory needs, enabling faster deployment, new revenue opportunities and stronger positioning as leaders in enterprise AI.

"Empowering the next generation with the skills to lead in AI is essential for addressing real-world challenges," said Geoff Fancher, head of worldwide distribution, NVIDIA. "Together, NVIDIA and TD SYNNEX are equipping trailblazing young leaders to drive how AI transforms industries — ensuring both enterprises and startups can unlock their full potential."

"The collaboration between SHI's SPRK internship program and TD SYNNEX's AI Pioneers brings together the differentiated and fresh perspectives of young talent, crafting innovative AI use cases that showcase the power of NVIDIA Blueprints in tackling real-world business challenges," said Rami Douenias, head of AI solutions engineering, partnerships and business development, SHI, a TD SYNNEX partner. "By integrating the creative vision of our interns with the seasoned expertise of subject-matter experts, we are not only advancing technology, but also proudly serving as custodians of students' futures, inspiring them to shape the next era of AI innovation and strengthening our collective capabilities through this dynamic partnership."

The 2025 class of AI Pioneers presented their use cases at TD SYNNEX's 2025 Inspire conference in Greenville, South Carolina.

AI Pioneers are recruited through TD SYNNEX's Summer Internship Program, which provides undergraduate students with hands-on business and technical experience. Following the internship, participants have the opportunity to continue their career journey through programs such as the Technical Scholar Program, a nine- to 18-month part-time role for college juniors and seniors focused on technical training, or the Discovery Rep Program, a three- to six-month rotational program for recent graduates in sales, marketing and product management.

In other news, TD SYNNEX has introduced TD SYNNEX PartnerFirst, an evolution of the customer digital experience that will bring together platforms and capabilities through a unified global framework with regional customization. An important milestone in the TD SYNNEX omnichannel digital strategy, PartnerFirst is designed to simplify processes and support partners throughout their journeys by integrating people, platform, services and more.

"Digitalization is imperative to putting our partners first by leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI, automation and advanced analytics to enhance our operations and customer engagement," said Patrick Zammit, CEO, TD SYNNEX. "Through this omnichannel approach, we're able to accelerate growth and drive the critical business outcomes our partners expect. At our core, TD SYNNEX is a collection of specialists dedicated to helping our partners unlock unique opportunities — part of what we refer to as 'Making IT Personal.' That's precisely what PartnerFirst delivers."

That focus on specialization is exactly what channel partners and their end-user customers are increasingly coming to expect, according to the just-released TD SYNNEX Direction of Technology report. Specifically, "industry expertise and consultation" was the top priority valued most by end users of the reseller partners they rely on. Moreover, channel partners demonstrated the strongest growth characteristics when offering specialized services, which could include AI, analytics and vertical-specific solutions.

New modern and intuitive features are now available for partners in North America, with global functionality to come. In the newly redesigned digital experience, TD SYNNEX has combined hardware, cloud and renewals into a cohesive digital experience across not just commerce, but including education, enablement and communities. This unified approach will reduce friction and help expedite operations, making it easier for partners to not only manage, but also expand their business and use insights to react to customer needs and truly deliver outcomes.

"PartnerFirst will bring all of the best aspects of our business together, across all platforms, programs and of course, the power of our people," said Nate Herz, CIO, North America, TD SYNNEX. "Through this unified platform, we will remove complexity and improve efficiency for our partners, while continuing to provide the valuable specialized expertise required for the evolving market."

The platform includes comprehensive management and insights with features to streamline purchasing, such as a centralized dashboard, intelligent search functionality and actionable insights to assist partners in making quick decisions. In addition to the best-in-class commerce capabilities, PartnerFirst also provides access to solution exploration, training and enablement, partner health and fitness, community and loyalty programs. Artificial intelligence is used to offer personalized recommendations and identify opportunities. These features are intended to help partners work more efficiently and effectively in a competitive market.

More than 100 TD SYNNEX PartnerLINK members piloted PartnerFirst and have given critical input on the features and functionality that have shaped development.

"The digital services that TD SYNNEX provides to us are critically important," said Adam Sprague, CEO, BrunNet, solution provider and TD SYNNEX partner. "As we continue to grow and as technology continues to evolve, we are now asked to be everything to everyone. PartnerFirst allows us to bring everything we need into one platform. It's helping us do our jobs better, more efficiently. And that's what it's all about. If we are more efficient, we can make more money and we can grow."

To learn more and begin leveraging the new features of PartnerFirst, visit https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/en/partnerfirst.html.