Dell Unveils New Online Solutions Configurator, Talks Up SMB Study

In selling environments where speedy responses count, Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) has a new tool designed to help partners quickly craft custom, enterprise solutions for customers.

The Dell Online Solutions Configurator allows partners to build multifaceted, tailored enterprise solutions for customers, according to the company. The tool, which is part of Dell’s deal registration setup, is housed in the vendor’s PartnerDirect channel program, and includes preconfigured solutions and training videos to augment partners’ ability to present customers with solutions to meet their specific needs.

“The new Solution Configurator for Partners is based on their direct feedback and provides an efficient, collaborative sales tool to make it easier to configure Dell’s enterprise solutions,” said Kathy Schneider, Dell Gobal Channel Marketing and Programs executive director. “We are excited to add this to our current suite of resources designed to enable our channel partners to grow their business with Dell.”

Dell has backed the Solution Configurator with dedicated sales support around its full complement of enterprise solutions, including storage, servers, networking and converged infrastructure portfolio entries. Partners can consult with Dell specialists to help prepare quotes for customers and facilitate pricing deals with collaborating solution providers.

The configurator is available now in North America, the United Kingdom and Germany, and will be offered in the Netherlands and France later this month.

SMB Optimism Abounds

Meanwhile, Dell and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) teamed to commission a study to investigate SMBs’ sales outlook, for which the PC maker conducted an SMB-centric “Think Tank” Tour over the last 12 months to engage with entrepreneurs, small-business owners and local leaders in nine cities in discussions over their prospects and priorities. The tours were held in Atlanta, Miami, the San Francisco Bay area, Chicago, the Los Angeles and Orange County area, Austin, Philadelphia, Seattle and Boston. According to the company, those cities were selected because each houses a significant number of small businesses. 

The effort resulted in a report, “Understanding the State of Local Startups and Small Businesses,” which examines the condition of U.S.-based SMBs and entrepreneurship and identifying measures that can be undertaken to address challenges and growth hurdles.

Key findings include:

“While possessing a bright outlook overall, entrepreneurs and small-business owners remain uncertain about the future ahead,” said Ingrid Vanderveldt, Dell Entrepreneur in Residence and a contributor to the report. “To compete in today’s global landscape, they need technology to innovate, but it’s not the only thing they need. Turning a great idea into a successful business also requires access to financing, networking and knowledge.”

The yearlong study was conducted by Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) and spanned 941 interviews among small-business decision-makers in companies with one to 99 employees.