Ingram: Hybrid cloud VARs growing 5x faster than on-prem

Distribution behemoth plans for future cloud investment as its UK Cloud Marketplace hits 500 members

The number of partners signing up to Ingram Micro's Cloud Marketplace platform has smashed through the 500 barrier.

Cloud Marketplace first launched in the UK in April, and is a cloud ecosystem of buyers, sellers and solutions, offering VARs online access to a range of cloud solutions and services from vendors such as Microsoft, Acronis, Normadesk and Intel Security.

Apay Obang-Oyway (pictured), general manager northern Europe at Ingram Micro Cloud, said the opportunity in the UK cloud market is huge, with hybrid cloud partners experiencing significant growth.

"Our cloud marketplace [in the UK] is now the second-largest operation outside North America and there is a £3.6bn market opportunity," he said. "And those partners selling hybrid cloud solutions are outgrowing those selling just on-premise by five times. That is the reality of what we are seeing in our business today."

He added: "I would never say there is no place for on-premise, but it is a hybrid world. Some are saying it is cloud or nothing - I'm not sure I agree with that. But with the expansion of digital technologies, cloud is changing industries."

Obang-Oyway cited companies such as Tesla, Uber and Netflix as having "disruptive" change in their industries as they adopt the latest cloud-based technologies.

And he said the time was right for smaller players to experience significant growth.

"In the UK we have 5.2 million small businesses and they account for 49 per cent of GDP," he said. "They are the fastest-growing area of business and they are starting to challenge the big guys. Resellers understand these customers' need to release the promise of the technology and see how it helps them become more agile."

He said the distributor still had plans to grow membership further.

"We are exceeding our own expectations, but are we satisfied? No, of course not. We want to move it harder and faster."

Looking ahead, he said there is plenty more to come from Ingram Cloud.

"You are going to see us coming out with more integrated solutions. We have just launched a set of bundled solutions in North America - and those are coming to the UK. Clearly we are going to bring out more programmes, but it is business as usual as we continue to invest, drive and grow the opportunity that we see in the cloud."

He added: "We are trying to encourage partners to really embrace the opportunity and understand that there is an opportunity there and how they can accelerate their business to the next level. All partners have to do is look around them and see how technology is being used in their everyday lives.

"It is about being brave and bold, and having the forward-thinking DNA to evolve your business."