1. The Big Merger

Dell and EMC partners spent most of 2016 in a state of uncertainty as the two companies prepared for the largest IT industry merger in history, the $58 billion blockbuster deal that closed in early September. Still, solution providers didn't let the unknowns slow them down.

Dell partners that hadn't previously worked with EMC were especially keen to bring that firm's storage and software products into the fold to create solutions that combine the best of both vendors and help customers accelerate into the future. The merger means a new leadership team for the combined company, as well as a new, unified channel program, which is expected to launch Feb. 1.

Chairman and CEO Michael Dell told CRN that the merged company has achieved scale and financial muscle that few in the market can compete with. "We are absolutely going to use our scale," he said. "Who wants to be with number three or number seven or number eight when you can be with number one?"