Distributor Ingram Micro is furthering Microsoft’s decision to enable channel partners to resell Office on their own paper by now offering an electronic service delivery (ESD) for select Microsoft Office products including Office 2013 and Windows 8 Pro Pack.
At last year’s Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, the software giant removed a major reseller pain point by announcing two new business models for solution providers called Office 365 Open and Office 365 Advisors Program. With Office 365 Open solution providers will own all top line revenue while being able to bill customers one time; directly. The other aspect of the model is that solution providers can present it as a single packaged solution with their own value added services.
In line with Microsoft’s channel developments, Ingram Micro has established an ESD model for Office products. This model will be available as part of Ingram Micro North America’s new, proprietary Digital Locker, a secure online software activation portal for channel partners to download and deploy select Microsoft software to end-users.
Jodi Honore, Ingram Micro’s executive director of vendor management, said adoption of the ESD model demonstrates that the distributor is advancing its global relationship with Microsoft and simplifying and streamlining sales for partners. The Ingram Micro Digital Locker is one of many services Ingram Micro will make to its Software Licensing Desk in 2013.
She added that the new Digital Locker, combined with Ingram’s Licensing Desk and partner enablement resources, gives North American channel partners a way to sell more efficiently, and build business growth.
Ingram is targeting managed service providers and cloud integrators along with its network of solution providers with Digital Locker.
Todd Francis, GM of Softwaremedia.com, said ESD for Microsoft Office products is a way for the channel to deliver same-day customer service to clients.
“In this new era of electronic software delivery, there’s no waiting for a box to ship, which saves us thousands of dollars in hard costs, and Ingram Micro’s Digital Locker makes it so easy for us and our customers to manage licenses. It’s great news all around.”