Ingram Hooks Up Partners with IBM Professional Services
Ingram Micro has widened its two-month old IM Link online professional services network to include offerings from IBM channel partner providers, the first of several vendor-specific specialty services the distributor intends to add in the next few months.
Ingram Micro (IM) has widened its two-month-old IM Link online professional services network to include offerings from IBM (IBM) services providers, the first of several vendor-specific specialty services the distributor intends to add in the next few months.
The idea behind IM Link, a rebranding and reconstituting of the distributor’s longstanding Ingram Micro Services Network (IMSN) and IM Onsite, is to supply channel partners with service providers with which to team and insource skillsets in a non-competitive setting. The IM network is segmented into four categories—planning, implementation, management and support—covering services such as software application and development, integration and data migration, assessment, remote delivery, and traditional break/fix and installation.
Membership is free and gains partners access to networks in public sector, health care, high performance computing and virtualization, and specializations in Websense, DataCore, McAfee Web Security and Pro/AV Digital Signage.
In Ingram’s deal with IBM, the vendor’s software service providers command knowledge and skills in business analytics, storage, content management, security, mobility and collaboration software that enable channel partners to expand their repertoire to land and execute new business. Ingram said it will add IBM specializations and professional services for Power Systems, PureSystems, System x and Smarter Storage later this year.
“Specialization is key to meeting the needs of today’s diverse marketplace, but not every partner can afford to go wide and deep across a broad portfolio of solutions and services,” said John Redman, Ingram services division professional services manager.
“That’s why we’ve invested in IM Link and are teaming with vendors such as IBM to introduce specialists into the mix that are willing to partner vs. compete for, or decline to pursue, the business opportunity,” he said.
Ingram said that channel partners typically use IM Link to fulfill specific projects, deploy regional or national rollouts and facilitate ongoing service agreements with no risk, brand confusion or pricing issues.
“The immixGroup is excited to take advantage of IM Link’s new IBM specialization to expand our business and IBM expertise within key focus areas such as security, mobility and analytics,” said Vaughn Harman, immixGroup Enterprise Solutions Technology sales director.
