Ingram First U.S. Distributor for BMC's Cloud Solutions

Ingram Micro Inc. said that it has signed a distribution agreement with BMC Software Inc., a provider of business service management software, making it the first distributor to handle the vendor’s products in the U.S.

Under terms of the agreement, Ingram’s Advanced Computing Division (ACD) will provide BMC channel partners with dedicated technical and sales support for the vendor’s cloud-based Remedyforce Service Desk product and its BladeLogic Application Release Automation, Network Automation, Client Automation and Atrium Orchestrator, officials said.

“Earning the BMC business is a significant win for Ingram Micro and a valuable testimony to the expertise and execution that lies within our new Advanced Computing Division,” says Scott Zahl, Ingram ACD vice president and general manager.

Ingram said that it intends to include BMC in its Solution Center, located in Buffalo, NY, a facility that offers concept, testing and training free of charge to the distributor’s channel partners.

BMC and Ingram will combine to offer channel partners enablement resources such as technical and sales training offered through the vendor’s channel partner program, market dynamics information, and marketing, sales and support best practices.

BMC officials said that Ingram’s managed services and cloud computing practices positively influenced the vendor’s decision to sign the distribution agreement.

“As the world’s largest provider of technology products and services, Ingram Micro has the global footprint, industry alliances, longstanding partnerships and internal expertise to help BMC expand its reach into the market through channel partnerships,” said Jason Andrew, BMC vice president, indirect channels.

An International Data Corp. (IDC) analyst praised the distribution agreement for its potential to help channel partners meet customers’ evolving requirements.

“As organizations embrace virtualization and cloud computing, IDC expects automation and service management will be required to effectively manage and control these highly dynamic environments,” said Mary Johnston Turner, IDC research vice president, enterprise system management software.

“BMC’s alliance with Ingram Micro will strengthen the distributor’s ability to help channel partners address these emerging requirements while enabling BMC to connect with new sets of customers,” Turner said.