7 Trends Impacting Ingram Micro Partners: Marriage of AI, Data Looms Large

Ingram Micro partners say artificial intelligence (AI) is driving customer conversations and projects in 2023. Moreover, those AI conversations are invariably leading into the topic of data.

The distribution giant hosted its Ingram Micro One event in Nashville last week, drawing a crowd of suppliers and channel partners. That meeting of the minds helped paint a picture of the challenges and opportunities that that channel partners face.

The opportunity that dominated conversations was generative AI, which McKinsey estimates will turn into a multitrillion market by 2032. Popular large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are helping drive intrigue in the enterprise IT world.

However, a key message came loud and clear out of Ingram Micro One that improved data is helping create this market.

IBM’s Madison Gooch

“Remember the story that everybody told about 15 years ago, where you went into every client and people were like, ‘Data is your competitive advantage. You need more data. You need to get your data estate in motion.’ Well, we have reached it, folks,” said Madison Gooch, director of Watson applications and solutions at IBM. “We’re at the frontier. Data is going to be people’s competitive advantage.”

Partners shared how they’re engaging with customers to prepare their data for artificial intelligence. They also shared their insights on automating their processes and the lengthening of the sales cycle. In addition, Ingram Micro CEO Paul Bay fielded the question of whether or not the distributors and cloud hyperscalers are getting along with one another.

In the slideshow above, view observations from Ingram Micro partners who attended the recent event about technology, sales and distribution.