SANTA ANA, Calif., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
, the world's largest wholesale provider of technology products and services, continues to be recognized for its fulfillment and logistics expertise by being selected as the fulfillment engine for 3Com Corp.'s business-to-consumer e-commerce Web site, Buy Direct. 3Com joins an extensive list of top-tier and progressive technology companies who have selected Ingram Micro to deploy its e-business capabilities.
"Ingram Micro provides unique, comprehensive back-room solutions for our business partners," said Bryan Moynahan, vice president, sales and marketing for Ingram Micro's Global Partner Services division. "We have been the leader in inventing new ways of bringing technology to the marketplace, so it makes sense that we would be the natural choice to help our partners power their e-business strategies. With an accuracy rate of better than 99 percent in the area of product fulfillment, our track record speaks for itself."
Ingram Micro's suite of services designed for its reseller customers and vendor partners, draws on an impressive history in product-order fulfillment and logistics serving multiple marketplaces. This arrangement links Buy Direct with Ingram Micro's industry-leading resources to handle 3Com's order fulfillment, distribution and customer returns.
"3Com has been very pleased with the service levels provided by Ingram Micro for our Buy Direct site," said Ralph Godfrey, senior vice president of E-Commerce, 3Com. "We look forward to working with Ingram Micro's world-class team to continue to provide excellent delivery, service and satisfaction for Buy Direct customers."
In 1999, 3Com streamlined its supply chain by consolidating the number of distributors it used from 11 to four, to include Ingram Micro. The selection of Ingram Micro as the fulfillment partner for Buy Direct further positions Ingram Micro's integral role in the technology supply chain as the industry continues to evolve.
Ingram Micro has become the back room to leading companies throughout the technology industry. In November 1999, the company launched the Global Partner Services division to help manufacturers increase their profitability by outsourcing standard business functions, such as product fulfillment, asset management and configuration services.
3Com chose leading technology companies, including Ingram Micro, to create a best-of-class web site that complements the company's e-business goals to expand and enhance customer relationships, streamline operations and simplify the process of conducting business.
Ingram Micro is also a leading business-to-business e-commerce company. Named the eighth largest Internet company by Interactive Week magazine in 1999, the company has dedicated significant resources to constantly update its Internet capabilities. In addition to supporting customer interactions, these Web-based capabilities support global vendor and customer outsourcing agreements by electronically linking Ingram Micro's systems to the systems of outsourcing customers.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
Operating in 34 countries, Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
is the world's largest wholesale provider of technology products and services, with sales exceeding $28 billion in 1999. Ingram Micro's key business units deliver fulfillment and distribution, product acquisition and selection, supply-chain automation and programs, as well as eProcurement to more than 175,000 technology solution providers, manufacturers and businesses located in more than 100 countries. Ingram Micro is driving the evolution of wholesale distribution for the information technology industry and is the operations engine behind leading global e-businesses today. Ingram Micro can be found at www.ingrammicro.com.
About 3Com Corporation
With more than 300 million customer connections worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people and organizations to information and each other in more innovative, simple and reliable ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers Web-enabled solutions to consumers, small- to medium- sized business locations and network service providers. For more information, visit 3Com's Web site at http://www.3com.com/pressbox.
3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
Source: Ingram Micro Inc.
Contact: Carrie Brooks, carrie_brooks@benjamingroup.com, or Lisa Landry,
lisa_landry@benjamingroup.com, both of Benjamin Group/BSMG Worldwide for
Ingram Micro Inc., 714-245-7500 ext. 223 or 225
Website: http://www.ingrammicro.com/