Ingram launches next-gen cloud marketplace

Distributor unveils latest version of cloud ecosystem with new vendor partners, products and support offerings

Ingram Micro today took the wraps off the next iteration of its Cloud Marketplace which is scheduled for rollout in Europe in Q4.

Initially set to roll out in the US and Canada in Q2, the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace will offer a complete ecosystem of buyers, sellers and solutions that the distributor claims will enable simple and rapid cloud adoption.

Powered by Parallels, the Marketplace is designed to enable Ingram's partners to manage the complete end-customer subscription life cycle from one portal and ramp up a customer's cloud offerings, while reducing cost.

It is also unveiling several new Micro-hosted cloud solutions, powered by Cisco: Ingram Micro Hosted Exchange, Ingram Micro Virtual Private Servers and Ingram Micro Web Hosting.

On top of that, the distributor is launching a range of "White Glove" services to offer additional help to resellers and their customers. Offered in the form of services, these include technical sales engineering, migration and onboarding, remote infrastructure management and service desk.

Finally, the distributor is expanding its Cloud Channel Programme to include three options, which it insists will allow resellers to choose how they want to engage with Ingram.

Due to be launched in Q2, the options are: Cloud Referral Programme, which compensates resellers with an upfront commission and/or an ongoing percentage of the revenue; Cloud Resale Programme, which enables resellers to actively resell Ingram Micro Cloud Services and solutions to customers and take advantage of the services mentioned above; and finally the Cloud Private Label Programme - reserved for select Ingram channel partners. This tier will allow VARs and MSPs to rebrand the ingram Micro Cloud marketplace and its White Glove services as their own.

Alain Monie, chief executive of Ingram Micro, said: "It is important for any company to aggregate the amount of solutions being brought to market. That is where we can play a role of aggregator to bring everything together in a packaged way.

"When the cloud first appeared people worried that distribution was doomed. Be we see the opportunity being even better for us to create a new role."