HP gets Smart with additional online tools
Vendor hails first three months of dedicated channel portal a success
Hewlett-Packard (HP) is planning to add more layers to its Smart Portal VAR resource after hailing the first three months a success.
Smart Portal was designed to allow resellers to see which products are in stock across distribution and provide additional sales and marketing mate-rial. It was launched last November, but suffered teething problems due to ‘unprecedented’ demand (CRN, 14 November).
However, the portal was working within a week and now has three distinct prongs: SmartSales, which checks stock availability among distributors; SmartQuote, which provides pricing information for HP’s volume products; and SmartChoice, a PC build option available to Preferred partners, which is due to launch in the next few months.
Lorna Bonthrone, solutions partner organisation operations manager for UK and Ireland at HP, claimed Smart Portal has gone from strength to strength.
“Initially we made some basic improvements, such as easier navigation and looping of content to make it easier to use. The feedback we have had from partners has been very good so far.
“However, it is an evolution.Work is ongoing to add another load of Smart Tools later in the year, and there will be continuing development and investment in the Portal by HP,” she said.
Sue Richards, managing director of VAR EBM, endorsed Bonthrone’s comments.
“It [Smart Portal] is really good at the moment. I would agree that HP is really doing a good job,” she said.
“As we are pointing things out, HP is actioning them. We are actually seeing action being done, rather than just putting in a request and then seeing nothing happen.
“HP is just bringing everything together now. I know that there are other things being brought on board that will be helpful to partners.”