Ingram boosts SME channel credit

Broadliner determined to keep cash flowing to smaller resellers by opening up more credit lines

Ingram Micro EMEA has given struggling SME resellers a much-needed cash injection by opening up more credit lines.

The distribution giant has unveiled plans to beat the economic downturn and switch a large number of its SME VARs from a pre-payment arrangement to a credit line system, enabling cash to flow to the areas it is most needed.

Johannes Kamleitner, European manager for SMB channel marketing, said: "SMB resellers have tremendous strategic value to us, and in Europe they represent a third of the total IT distribution market. They are the lifeblood of the channel and as the market leader we have a responsibility to this segment and to the industry as a whole to work through these challenging times together.

“Country by country we are now screening our pre-payment customers who are in scope for additional credit. If our analysis confirms they meet our criteria, then we move them away from pre-payment and make credit lines available to them,” added Kamleitner. “It is a straightforward, yet cautious measure that gives us competitive advantage while securing long term relationships with our SMB reseller partners.”