Ingram improves website to aid resellers

Ingram Micro has improved its reseller website to include localised product information and personalised content for VARs.

Ingram Micro has improved its reseller website to include localised product information and personalised content for VARs.

The distributor will provide access to a database that holds information on more than 600,000 IT products worldwide.

The site, which receives over 10,000 product enquiries in the UK each day, will be updated daily to ensure that product availability caters to reseller demand.

Ken Jordan, vice-president of information technology and ecommerce at Ingram Europe, said: "The more data we can provide on the site about products, the easier it is for resellers to cross- or up-sell."

The company is planning to personalise its reseller relationships via the website with variables such as specific targeted promotions and individual pricing. "We do not have personalisation at the moment, but this is something we are reviewing now. We have it in the US and are looking at migrating it to the UK," Jordan said.

Meanwhile, Ideal Hardware has upgraded its Boris Dealer e-service in response to feedback from resellers. The site enables VARs to manage their entire relationship with Ideal.

A major enhancement will offer alternative stock when products become unavailable. This is designed to prevent frustration caused when resellers select products then discover the line has been discontinued.

Alex Tatham, commercial director at Ideal, said: "We are now encouraging our partners to use Boris to suggest up- and cross-sales for them.

"There is more business with resellers being transacted online every single day, and it also shows buying trends."

Also published in Computer Reseller News