ARN

Will Ingram Micro’s new financing options make it to Australia?

Distributor launches technology-as-a-service program, but it remains to be seen if it will make its way down under

Ingram Micro has launched a new series of financing options aimed at influencing the buying decision, speeding the sales and technology refresh cycle around IT hardware, software, and solutions.

The so-called “Technology as a Service” program includes new short and long-term financing, such as flexible leasing options that bundle IT services and solutions into a consolidated monthly invoice; hardware-as-a-service and hardware-as-a-rental on new and refurbished technologies; full or partial funding for recurring revenue model engagements; and end of life options, according to the distributor.

Ingram Micro said the program is open to qualifying partners, but did not disclose the metrics by which it will measure partners wishing to opt in to the new program. 

At this stage the program is available in the United States and a select number of other markets, but the company’s Australian arm could not confirm at the time of publication if the program would make it to Australia and New Zealand.

“Today’s businesses are looking to consume technology as a service and they need flexible options,” Ingram Micro Financial Services executive director, Kelly Carter, said. “Our new Technology as a Service options are designed to allow our channel partners to sell an entire technology solution including their own managed services for one monthly fee.”

“Our program speeds the sales cycle by removing any barriers to entry, simplifying the math and offering our channel partners a better and more profitable way to market, sell and support technology solutions and services.”

The company said that over the past 14 months it has extended more than US$1.1 billion dollars in credit to channel partners in the US, and seen interest in alternative financing spike. 

Ingram Micro Financial Services also recently extended terms for its Trust X Alliance members, a community of its highest transacting partners which includes 350 members in the US, Canada, United Kingdom and Brazil.

Ingram Micro is seemingly targeting the new offering to its top-tier partners in North America leaving only a small number of partners eligible locally if it is in fact rolled out to A/NZ.

“Ingram Micro senior vice president go to market,Kirk Robinson, said the company was helping partners understand the time to consumption, change the conversation and win more customers.

“This new fleet of financial services is an incredible differentiator for us and our channel partners, and will enable businesses of all sizes to realise the promise of technology, benefit from a lower cost of ownership and realize a much faster time to value,” he added.

Local partners contacted by ARN indicated that they were not currently aware of any changes to financing in A/NZ.