Starting this week solution providers, especially those who list Ingram Micro (NYSE: IM) as its primary distributor, will hear more on the broadliner’s cloud strategy.
Last year Ingram launched Cloud Conduit to much fanfare and positive reseller feedback. The Cloud Conduit program encompasses cloud-specific resources and services such as Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), educational tools, business development templates, sales training and webinars. Cloud Conduit will be part of Ingram’s Seismic unit for managed services.
This week, Ingram will announce more investment and commitment to channel partners who embrace the cloud at its annual Spring Systems ArchiTECHS Invitational conference at Huntington Beach, Calif.
According to show lead Holly Garcia, who is also the senior director of Components Business Unit at Ingram, IT system builders want to diversify and expand their solutions portfolios to include technology categories such as networking, mobility and security, as well as cloud computing and managed services.
It is Ingram’s intent at this show to show how system builders can evolve their businesses to better support the needs of their existing customers especially those who are demanding for different consumption models.
Guest speakers at this year’s Systems ArchiTECHS Invitational include Renee Bergeron, vice president of cloud computing and managed services as well as keynote presentations from from Intel, Kingston and Microsoft.
Meanwhile in Canada, Ingram will be hosting solution providers at its annual SMB Alliance Workshop on April 6. at Toronto’s InterContinental Hotel. The workshop will include seminars by manufacturers, a technology fair and a networking event at the Air Canada Centre watch the Toronto Raptor’s vs. Cleveland Cavaliers minus LeBron James and Chris Bosh. But you can’t hold that against Ingram Canada.
Synnex numbers
Synnex will be announcing its financials later on today so stay tuned for that.
Arrow helps out in Japan
Responding to the devastation caused by the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, Arrow Electronics Inc. (NYSE: ARW) has joined with its employees to support disaster recovery and relief operations in that region. The company pledged to match the first $100,000 in employee donations to designated crisis-recovery charities.
“We are grateful that our employees in Japan have been confirmed safe, and we are committed to doing what we can to help others affected by the catastrophic events in that area,” said Michael J. Long, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Arrow Electronics.
The designated agencies for which Arrow will match employee donations, dollar-for-dollar, include the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Mercy Corps and Doctors Without Borders.
On the business side, Arrow has signed a distribution agreement with Exosite, a machine-to-machine application and cloud computing software company.
