Ingram Opens Cisco-Dedicated Technology Center for Channel Partners, Customers

Ingram Micro Inc. today debuted a new technology showcase and demonstration facility dedicated to Cisco System Inc.’s technology solutions, including the vendor’s data center portfolio, Telepresence video products, Borderless Network and collaboration offerings.

The new 1,000 square-foot facility, which Ingram is calling its Experience Center, is housed in the distributor’s Solution Center in Buffalo, NY. It includes Cisco’s Unified Computing System B-series blade servers and C-series rack mount servers, Nexus 7000, 5000, 2000 and 1000 switches, TelePresence, video surveillance, digital signage and unified communications solutions.

In addition, the center offers interactive demonstrations of the vendor’s mobile user, home user and remote user solutions. The center is equipped with about $2 million worth of new equipment.

Ingram did not disclose its investment in the facility nor reveal Cisco’s financial involvement in the effort.

“Ingram Micro is constantly innovating to find new and cost-effective ways to empower our channel partners to be more successful across the board in all they do,” said Ken Bast, Ingram general manager and vice president, Advanced Technologies Division.

“By investing in the Experience Center and delivering access to many of the advanced technologies that businesses are hungry for, we’re offering our channel partners the solutions, resources and support they need to further specialize, move up market and gain a competitive edge,” he said.

Ingram is positioning the technology and demo center as a tool for channel partners to engage customers and prospects using an examination of Cisco’s technology in practice.

Training labs and hands-on education classrooms for channel partners selling Cisco solutions are available at the facility. Ingram said that it plans to offer an array of technical and sales-focused Cisco-based training classes at the center in the next 18 months.

Bast was joined at the opening ceremony by a number of Cisco and Ingram executives, including Mario Leone, Ingram executive vice president and chief information officer; Paul Bay, Ingram executive vice president; Peter Gambino, Ingram vice president, Cisco business unit; Julie Hens, Cisco vice president, North American distribution; and, Matt Jonson, Cisco director, systems engineering. Marc Sherman, APC vice president, marketing, also attended the event.

“The Experience Center will help channel partners understand the importance of approaching their custom business needs and opportunities from an architectural perspective,” Hens said.

“Together, Ingram Micro and Cisco have built a state-of-the-art facility that will enable our channel partners and mutual customers to deepen their understanding of the business value delivered through Cisco technologies,” she said. “Ultimately, Ingram Micro’s Experience Center will make training, education and sales much more effective.”

Ingram and Cisco have worked together for some 15 years. Cisco recently bestowed on Ingram its Worldwide Distributor of the Year Award and also presented it with its Services Innovation Award.