Industry's Most Aggressive E-Commerce Program Delivers Build-To-Order Capabilities, Access to Ingram Micro's Vast Inventories, And Superior Reseller Service Through Easy-To-Use Online Storefronts
SANTA ANA, Calif. and AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
, the world's leading wholesale distributor of technology products and services, and pcOrder.com, Inc., a leading provider of electronic commerce technology and content for the computer industry, have formed a strategic partnership that allows Ingram Micro to license pcOrder technology and content to link -- for the first time -- buyers, sellers and assemblers of major brand-name PC manufacturers, including Compaq, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and private label PCs through a truly seamless electronic-commerce system. Using Ingram Micro's vast network of resellers, PC buyers now will be able to order custom-configured PCs from Ingram Micro's component inventory -- the world's largest -- more economically and efficiently.
The partnership will enable comprehensive electronic business
The multiyear, multimillion dollar licensing agreement gives Ingram Micro access to pcOrder's web-commerce and sales productivity applications and gives pcOrder access to Ingram Micro's global presence. Additionally, Ingram Micro has chosen pcOrder to provide its industry product data, including electronic datasheets and configuration specifications, for the complete Ingram Micro catalog -- the most comprehensive in the industry.
The agreement allows Ingram Micro to integrate pcOrder's e-commerce technology and product compatibility data into all of Ingram Micro's internal, reseller and end customer-focused e-commerce solutions, including ingrammicro.com, the company's Web site; SpeedSource, its Java(TM)-based transaction tool; and PrimeAccess, the reseller Web storefront product. Ingram Micro will also utilize components of pcOrder's technology for EDI and Inside Line, the company's real-time ordering link to its host inventory and ordering system. The agreement also places pcOrder's sales productivity and configuration tools on the desktops of Ingram Micro's internal sales force. The partnership will improve the channel's delivery time and build-to-order convenience.
"We believe an aggressive e-commerce strategy will solidify Ingram Micro's leading position in the channel," said Jerre L. Stead, chairman and CEO of Ingram Micro. "We are very excited about this strategic partnership because it accelerates the delivery of far more comprehensive and efficient electronic services to our reseller partners and customers, many of whom have already adopted pcOrder's industry-leading technology."
"Ingram Micro's vision drives the industry forward by establishing successful, revolutionary new business strategies," said Ross Cooley, chairman and CEO of pcOrder. "We're proud to be a part of the industry's most aggressive e-commerce initiatives."
PrimeAccess: Business efficiency for the reseller community
Ingram Micro also announced PrimeAccess, a comprehensive and customized e-commerce storefront for resellers that is seamlessly tied to Ingram Micro's inventory and order system, and allows Ingram Micro's resellers to provide their end users direct access to the largest inventory of information technology products and product information in the world. The PrimeAccess architecture will be based on pcOrder's web-commerce product suite and will use Internet transaction technology from Open Market, Inc. PrimeAccess will be in beta release in October, and a general launch is expected at the end of 1998.
With PrimeAccess, Ingram Micro expects the streamlining of PC order processing to speed up product delivery and allow resellers to focus their resources on sales, service and support, while dramatically lowering the cost of acquiring new technology.
Over the past 12 months, Ingram Micro transacted more than $3 billion in U.S. sales through electronic vehicles. These steps demonstrate Ingram Micro's initiative to provide solutions to partners and customers to continue to drive electronic business and new efficiencies in the channel.
About pcOrder.com, Inc.
pcOrder is a leading provider of Internet-based electronic commerce solutions that enable the computer industry's suppliers, resellers and end users to buy and sell computer products online. pcOrder's industry content and applications enable leading computer companies to create new revenue opportunities and efficiencies through e-commerce. Rapid e-commerce adoption by both consumers and businesses has translated into billions of dollars of orders generated through pcOrder-powered solutions. pcOrder: Moving the computer industry to the Web(TM). pcOrder is located at 5000 Plaza on the Lake, Austin, Texas 78746. Telephone: 512-684-1100. Fax: 512-684-1200. World Wide Web address: http://www.pcorder.com/.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
, headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., is the world's leading wholesale distributor of technology products and services, and a leading provider of assembly and integration services, with sales of $19.3 billion for the last four quarters. The company and its affiliates operate in 31 countries and distribute more than 145,000 products to more than 100,000 resellers in 120 countries. Ingram Micro can be found at http://www.ingrammicro.com/.
Source: Ingram Micro Inc.
Contact: Melissa Hawes, 512-684-1173, or melissa.hawes@pcorder.com, or
Deborah Roth, 650-463-8648, or droth@ca.webergroup.com, both for pcOrder; or
Kirsten Frosh of Ingram Micro, 714-382-2727, or fax, 714-566-7795, or
kirsten.frosh@ingrammicro.com
Website: http://www.pcorder.com/
http://www.ingrammicro.com/