Global Technology Distributor Sees Continued Success in Helping Solution
Providers, Integrators and VARs Maximize Business Potential
SANTA ANA, Calif., Aug 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the world's largest technology distributor, today announced that more and more of its solution provider customers are taking advantage of the company's customer education, training and marketing resources.
As part of the company's ongoing strategy to build and maintain a healthy customer base, Ingram Micro also announced it will continue to introduce a wide range of new training, events, marketing tools and resources that give solution providers a solid strategy for growing their businesses, expanding their knowledge and gaining a competitive edge. These services and offerings include valuable information on new technology markets, industry trends and general business practices and provide access to business development, education, training and networking events.
"Over the last few years we've seen a substantial jump in the number of solution providers participating in our training and education seminars and events, and we've seen a renewed enthusiasm for building a better business model. The time is right to capture that excitement and help our customers grow," said Brian Wiser, vice president of marketing, Ingram Micro U.S. "Our programs help solution providers and manufacturers think differently, and offer tools to quickly identify new ways to partner, break into new markets, grow their core businesses and increase overall profitability."
Solution providers across the nation are taking advantage of Ingram Micro's in-depth technical certification, sales training and how-to focused business literacy courses on subjects such as human resource management, marketing and finance, to name a few. Hundreds of Ingram Micro partners also benefit from facilitated events and services including marketing seminars and Webinars, networking events, quick-learn technology boot camps, Solution Center training sessions and demonstrations, in addition to valuable online learning and sales assessment tools.
"Ingram Micro's Solution Center is a strategic asset to our company and a standard component within our sales process," says Joe Dicso, managing director, professional services, Wareforce in Irvine, Calif. "Having the ability to take your clients into a professional environment where they can have a first-hand experience, and in some cases test-drive high-end technology solutions before purchasing them, has proven invaluable to our sales teams."
Ingram Micro's educational tools and training also help manufacturers and solution providers drive demand in vertical markets such as healthcare, financial services and horizontal technologies including networking, mobility and storage. "We're focused on building a healthier, stronger, more business-savvy channel that benefits all of us," continues Wiser.
In addition, an increasing number of solution providers are leaning on Ingram Micro's pre-sale technical support teams, field sales engineers, customer communities and business development managers to assist them with a wide variety of responsibilities including creating business proposals and building tailored technology solutions. Ingram Micro also is helping customers identify new market opportunities, design growth strategies and close business deals.
"The support and expertise of Ingram Micro's information, training and education capabilities has played a pivotal role in helping us achieve increased sales," said Greg Starr, president, SEE-Comm. "Due to their commitment to solution providers and vendors alike, we have come to rely on Ingram Micro's technical expertise for an edge in identifying and capturing business opportunities with new and existing customers."
Ingram Micro's Education, Training and Marketing Programs at a Glance
MarketFocus Events -- These events bring solution providers and manufacturers closer together by creating a venue showcasing the latest technology advancements that comprise Ingram Micro's technology missions and target solution messages. The messages are relevant to various IT categories and help solution providers get educated on existing or emerging technologies. Held regionally throughout the United States, the one-day MarketFocus events also provide useful business clinics and live hands-on demos featuring multi-vendor solutions such as document management and surveillance. A technology pavilion allows participants to examine and, in some cases, demo technology in a hassle-free, yet informative environment.
Boot Camp Training -- Held at Ingram Micro's locations in Santa Ana, Calif., and Buffalo, N.Y., boot camps provide in-depth technical knowledge about emerging technologies. The boot camps also bring together various offerings from an elite group of manufacturers, giving solution providers hands-on experience with a range of offerings. The boot camps are one-day training sessions that drill down into the technology and discuss the various environments and applications best suited for the technology.
Ingram Micro Technology Training -- Understanding the time it takes to learn the ins and outs of a new technology and the need to help expedite the process, Ingram Micro has developed a Web-based, self-paced training tool that allows customers to learn the basics about a technology area in as little as 30 minutes. The training provides users with the necessary knowledge so they can quickly re-engage viable sales opportunities. Topics vary from digital imaging to advanced networking and wireless technology.
Assessment Tools -- Ingram Micro's Business Opportunity Executive Assessment Tools help solution providers quickly identify, gather and document the information they need to build a business case, present a proposal and close solution sales. These tools focus on the business issues that the technology addresses and emphasize the outcomes and benefits, rather than the technical minutiae and implementation of the solution itself. As an Ingram Micro partner, solution providers have access to forms, checklists, templates and streaming multimedia training to help them assess customers' needs in high-demand markets such as storage, networking, security and wireless, in addition to vertical marketing like healthcare and financial services.
Solution Center -- Designed to give solution providers and manufacturers a professional training, education and testing venue for their staff and customers, Ingram Micro's Solution Center is a hot bed for debuting and demonstrating new and in-demand technologies. The state-of-the-art training and demonstration facility allows manufacturer representatives or Ingram Micro's technical engineers to offer information about key market areas and the potential market impact of new technology. The Solution Center also creates the ideal setting to close or expand on sales opportunities, provide proof of concept demonstrations, product announcements, training from best-of-breed technology developers and employees and/or customer training in a live IT environment with videoconferencing capabilities.
Webinars and Webex Courses -- Held quarterly on a variety of topics ranging from business issues to emerging technologies, Webinars provide a quick and convenient way to keep on top of issues that can impact and improve their business. Webex courses also are held throughout the year and offer Ingram Micro customers and manufacturers a quick and inexpensive way to communicate valuable information to one another.
Knowledge is Power Events -- These half-day regional educational seminars are created to provide solution providers with valuable information on current technologies, legislative mandates and vertical market opportunities. To ensure attendees get personalized attention, these seminars are offered in two general formats -- reseller or end-user education -- and are limited to approximately 25 to 35 attendees. From manufacturers' perspective, these seminars offer a targeted forum for Ingram Micro partners to gain mind share and engage with resellers or end-users within a particular region.
Pricing and Availability
The company's education, marketing and training resources are available to all Ingram Micro solution providers and manufacturers throughout the United States. Many of the programs are held regionally, while others are held onsite at Ingram Micro's offices in Santa Ana, Calif., and Buffalo, N.Y. To find out how Ingram Micro can help positively impact your business, contact your Ingram Micro sales representative at (800) 456-8000 or visit www.ingrammicro.com. If you are interested in establishing a new relationship with Ingram Micro, contact our new accounts team at (800) 456-8000, ext. 41.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves 100 countries and is the only global IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.
04-31 (C) 2004 Ingram Micro Inc. All rights reserved. Ingram Micro and the registered Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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