Ingram Micro Cloud Partners Learn to Multitask
The Ingram Micro Cloud marketplace has offered procurement and provisioning services to selected VARs and MSPs since 2011. Those services typically support cloud-based email, storage, security and more. Fast forward to the present, and it sounds like Ingram’s cloud services channel partners are learning how to multitask.
Indeed, the typical VAR or MSP has activated two to four services using the Ingram Micro Cloud, according to VP Renee Bergeron, who oversees the distributor’s managed services and cloud services initiatives in North America. “This is going to be a big year for us,” said Bergeron. “We’re expecting to see massive adoption” of the Ingram Micro Cloud.
Bergeron offered those upbeat statements to Talkin’ Cloud in March. Now, there are rumblings that Ingram (symbol: IM) is set to announce more cloud milestones soon.
Ingram Micro Cloud: Simply Defined
At its core, the Ingram Micro Cloud is a cloud aggregation service. It allows channel partners to select, activate and bill end-customers for cloud services that Ingram Micro has vetted. Ingram has partnered up with everyone from Amazon.com (AMZN) to Salesforce.com (CRM) and VMware (VMW) on the cloud effort. And smaller, upstart companies such as Axcient have also surfaced within the Ingram Micro Cloud portfolio.
Ingram and its distribution rivals are working hard to differentiate from one another. But when you boil things down, it’s pretty clear that most of the major distributors — particularly Ingram, Tech Data (StreamOne and TDCloud) and Synnex (CloudSolv) — are building SaaS- and software-licensing marketplaces to help channel partners license on-premise software or tap into cloud services.
First To Market, Early in the Game
Generally speaking, Talkin’ Cloud believes Ingram Micro was first to market with such services in the distribution industry. Bergeron in early 2011 claimed Ingram Micro would emerge as the leading cloud aggregator. But Tech Data (TECD) and Synnex (SYNX) each started making more aggressive cloud moves of their own toward mid- and late-2o11.
“I’m still bold about Ingram being the leading cloud aggregator for the channel,” Bergeron told me in March. “Competitors have issued statements in the past six months that somewhat resemble what we’re doing so we think we’ve picked the right strategy. And Gartner studies validate the role of cloud aggregator and cloud broker. It’s refreshing. We don’t sit back and celebrate our wins. We still have fire in our belly. We’ll continue to drive the functionality for partners. My predecessors at Ingram really created the aggregator vision and we’ve executed on it.”
Indeed, Bergeron moved into her post in mid-2010, right around the time that Ingram was gearing up to unveil the Ingram Micro Cloud vision. Since that time, she’s been on the road nearly non-stop, speaking at cloud-oriented conferences and meeting with partners to learn what they’d like to see in the cloud marketplace.
So what could be next on Ingram Micro’s cloud agenda? It sounds like Ingram has been looking around for VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) solutions that MSPs and VARs can tap into. In 2011, I believe Ingram did “due diligence” on few VDI options, only to discover that the offerings weren’t quite ready for the Ingram Micro Cloud.
Competition Looms
Meanwhile, rival distributors are also planning competitive moves for their respective cloud marketplaces. In particular keep a close eye on two conferences:
- April 15-18: The Synnex Varnex Spring Conference in New Orleans
- May 2-4: The Tech Data TechSelect Partner Conference in Palm Springs, Calif.
It’s safe to expect cloud services updates at both events. Plus, Ingram Micro is set to host its third-annual Ingram Micro Cloud Summit June 4-7 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
