Acequote boosts channel community spirit

Business-to-business online exchange Acequote.com claims to have developed a strong business community focus among buyers and resellers.

Business-to-business online exchange Acequote.com claims to have developed a strong business community focus among buyers and resellers.

On accessing the website, members of both groups are asked which business community they belong to and supply. The company said this approach is intended to ensure appropriate delivery, and claimed the site is an ideal meeting point for IT buyers and sellers whose identity remains secret until an introduction is made.

Helga St Blaize, communications director at Ace quote, said: "We provide business buyers with a reverse auction facility and allow them to post up a request on the site. Suppliers then respond through Acequote and tender for these qualified leads."

"According to our customers, a qualified lead is worth between £200 and £3000 and customers get up to 10 leads per week," she added.

The service provides a sales lead alert for resellers, where those who match customer preferences are sent bulletins of customer requests. A profile of the supplier's business is stored and when an IT buyer requests a product that fits into the supplier's portfolio they will be sent the profile direct.

"The resellers will get qualified leads straight through to them and we also send a microsite to the customer as free advertising. The customer can then contact the reseller independently of Ace-quote.com," said St Blaize.

The site is a provider of leads and does not get involved with transactions. There is no commission, but there is a subscription charge.