Ingram Micro unveils Cloud Marketplace in UK

UK is just one of three launch countries across Europe to run the initiative that was first piloted in the US

Distribution giant Ingram Micro has rolled out its long-awaited Cloud Marketplace in three new territories, including the UK.

Initially launched in the US and Canada last April, the distributor announced the extension of the initiative to cover the UK, France and the Netherlands, at its first ever European Cloud Summit in Barcelona this week.

Ingram’s cloud ecosystem of buyers, sellers and solutions, offers resellers instant, online access to a range of cloud solutions and services from vendors such as Microsoft, Acronis, Nomadesk and Cirius. And CRN understands that Intel Security will also be part of the line-up in the very near future.

Speaking to CRN, Apay Obang-Oyway, general manager Northern Europe, Ingram Micro Cloud, said: “We have done something unique with the Cloud Marketplace in our ability to show real strength in developing technology solutions for our partners to help them move to the cloud with ease. We have integrated Office 365 and SkyKick into a bundle for partners as one of our first offerings, helping their customers move from their legacy systems.”

“We already have a number of leading solutions in the portfolio, but the plan is to ramp that up in terms of vendor numbers and we will be announcing more and more [vendor] partners,” he added.

Obang-Oyway explained that the Marketplace will also launch in other territories in Q2 – including Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain and Sweden. It currently offers English, French and Spanish language support with German set to be added in Q2, and it works in both GBP and EUR currency with others set to follow.

“This is an exciting time for us as an industry,” Obang-Oyway said, “We are seeing a new iteration in the industry and we need to understand partners even more and what changes they are facing. This is helping them connect even better with their customers.”

But this was not the only cloud-related announcement the distributor made at its inaugural European Summit event.

The Milton Keynes based behemoth also announced its Cloud Ignite Services, designed to help partners with any problems, technical or otherwise, when they are migrating their customers to the cloud.

Obang-Oyway added: “In the UK we are also launching level one support – which offers partners the ability to offer support as part of their own offering, allowing them to make their own margin and badge it as their own service.”

And to make it an announcement hat-trick, Ingram also unveiled its Cloud Elevate loyalty program, offering partners rewards and enablement services to help them accelerate cloud sales and profitability.

Resellers can join as either Elevate level – which simply requires registration on the Ingram Cloud Marketplace website, or Elevate Plus, which requires more commitment and investment on the part of the reseller.

“Any new partners joining Cloud Elevate by June 30 will receive a €150 credit which can be used against Markeplace purchases within 90 days of joining the programme,” Obang-Oyway said.

And he explained the Cloud Marketplace has been tried and tested in North America before launch in Europe.

“Partners have been giving us feedback through our Partner Advisory Councils – which we have in the UK and Europe as well - and all the features of the Marketplace are what our partners have told us they are looking for in the market,” he explained.

Ben Gower, CEO of VAR Perspicuity, welcomed the launch. “Ingram Micro’s investment in cloud is paying off for us in terms of greater profits,” he said. “The new Cloud Marketplace gives us the vendors, services and programs we need to grow our cloud business while better serving our customers.”