Ingram Micro, Tech Data Push Cloud Strategies Forward

Ingram Micro Inc. continues to make incremental progress with the Ingram Micro Cloud — a portal and cloud aggregation service that allows VARs and MSPs to leverage or resell SaaS applications and management tools. At the same time, sources say Tech Data is striving to recruit key ISVs (independent software vendors) for the Tech Data StreamOne Solutions Store, which essentially is a cloud app store under development now.

First, the official news. Ingram Micro, as expected, has released three new cloud services to the North America market. They include:

The announcement is no surprise; the three above companies were among the eight companies that vowed to support the Ingram Micro Cloud effort back in June 2011.

Ingram Micro Vice President of Managed Services and Cloud Computing Renee Bergeron said the announcement confirms what Ingram first reveiled at a June summit. “VMware [VSSP] was available immediately, and now Symantec, N-Able and Trend Micro solutions are available through the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace,” Bergeron said. “The next three [BMC Software, SherWeb and Siemens Enterprise Communications] will be rolling out in August, and Cisco will be available during Q4.”

Longer term, Ingram Micro plans to extend the Ingram Micro Cloud strategy globally. “We have a global strategy when it comes to the cloud,” Bergeron said. In fact, Bergeron met with Ingram Micro’s EMEA and Latin America teams this month to discuss reselling plans, and she said we can expect to see a global expansion during the 2011 calendar year.

Tech Data TDCloud

Meanwhile, multiple sources say Tech Data is working hard to recruit ISVs into the Tech Data StreamOne Solutions Store — part of Tech Data’s broader TDCloud effort. Still under development, the store is expected to promote a range of SaaS and cloud services that partners can either (A) leverage internally or (B) resell to end-customers. We’ve reached out to Tech Data requesting an update on the ISV effort.

Privately, some ISVs say multiple distributors are scrambling to plug SaaS applications into the cloud stores. But Bergeron says that’s not the case over at Ingram. Instead, Ingram is fully vetting ISVs before deciding which SaaS providers can appear in the Ingram Micro Cloud, she said. Her key point: It’s important to separate truly reliable SaaS providers from upstarts working out of their garages.

Looking ahead, the Ingram Micro Cloud is expected to gain cloud aggregation services late this year. The aggregation capability will allow VARs and MSPs to source a range of applications — while giving end-customers a single bill for multiple third-party cloud services. The Tech Data StreamOne Solutions Store is expected to offer similar capabilities.

Our best guess: Watch for incremental updates from both Tech Data and Ingram Micro in September 2011, with Ingram’s aggregation service going live sometime in Q4 2011.

Additional reporting and insights from Joe Panettieri.