Partners flock to Ingram Cloud Marketplace
Distribution giant shares numbers at its largest ever UK cloud event and explains why cloud is changing the rules of the game
More than 1,500 UK resellers have joined the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace since its launch in the UK last year as the distribution giant continues to plough resources into its cloud strategy.
The Milton Keynes-based firm held its biggest ever UK cloud event at the Woburn Forest Center Parcs today, as it continues in its quest to become a ‘master cloud service provider'.
Apay Obang-Oyway (pictured) Director for Cloud in Northern Europe, Ingram Micro Cloud, told CRN: "There is a transformation happening in our world, specifically with cloud. In the cloud we are not a distributor, we are a master cloud service provider and a solution aggregator. Since acquiring Odin [from Parallels], we now own our own IP. It is important that we differentiate ourselves when it comes to cloud.
"Cloud has turned everything on its head. It is no longer about big corporations eating small businesses; now it is small eating the big because with Cloud, small can be so much more innovative and agile."
He added that the number of partners joining the marketplace continues to grow and has surpassed 1,500 in the UK.
"The Marketplace continues to surprise us in terms of the pace at which the business is growing. We are continuing to accelerate our investment and the value we are bringing to the channel," he said.
During the event, attendees were given an insight into Ingram's global and cloud strategies and how it plans to help its customers accelerate their cloud adoption strategy.
Keynote speakers included Alex Hilton from the Cloud Industry Forum, Dave Coplin, Microsoft's chief envisioning officer, and Karl Roe, sales director of the Odin platform.
Ingram also used to the event to new initiatives, including how partners can increase margins with the Microsoft CSP program and access to a new migration service for those partners that lack cloud migration expertise and don't have the funds to invest in migration experts.
One announcement, a free digital marketing assessment service, was built specifically after partner feedback, Oyway explained.
"Today at the pace of change partners are facing, one of their biggest concerns is how to get new customers, and many don't have the marketing capabilities to do that," he said. "That is why we have announced our marketing service through Agency Ingram Micro to put some cloud specific marketing packages together and help those partners win new business."