Ingram Micro Brings Office 365 to Australia

Ingram Micro (IM) will extend its influence in worldwide Office 365 distribution by taking a bite out of the Australian market when it begins selling the popular cloud-based software in April.
The wholesale technology distributor’s entrance into the Australian market is yet another example of Ingram’s growing momentum in the cloud software field, especially with Microsoft’s (MSFT) popular platform. Distribution in the Australian channel now means that Ingram has a steady foothold in several of the largest IT distribution channels in the world, including the North American market. Ingram Micro’s expansion to Australia is yet another sign of future opportunities for additional expansion in other markets, most notably Asia.
Ingram Micro will also be offering several initiatives for their newest partners to help them get up to speed on Microsoft Office 365, according to ARN. Some programs offered will include Office 365 demonstrations, a dedicated help desk for questions, and Licensing Academy programs specifically for Office 365 to help resellers build their licensing business.
News of Ingram’s expansion into the Australian market comes less than a year after word of the company’s successes in various European markets. According to Ingram Micro’s Jason Beal, senior director, advanced solutions and cloud service, the European market is currently only in the early stages of cloud integration, despite the fact that Ingram Micro now controls about 50 percent of the cloud market across the continent.
Cloud-based software systems are becoming increasingly more popular for companies with BYOD policies and widespread employee bases looking for an easy and convenient way to give users a standard set of programs for business. Arrow Electronics (ARW) recently signed into an agreement to sell independenceIT’s Cloud Workspace Suite to North American partners through the ArrowSphere marketplace.
Ingram Micro began distributing Office 365 several years ago across its North American channel and has quickly been able to gain footing in other regions looking for access to Microsoft’s popular Office Suite. According to Microsoft, The Office 365 program gives companies the software they need at the right price, with guaranteed access from virtually anywhere. Office 365’s inclusion in the Australian market also bodes well for Microsoft in light of the appointment of new CEO Satya Nadella and his proposed emphasis on cloud-based software for the company.