Ingram Micro Adds E-Commerce Partners

Flashecom and Ingeniasoft join VARStreet in the Santa Ana, Calif.-based distributor's e-commerce portfolio, which gives solution providers access to a menu of e-commerce configurations, services and pricing to get a Web storefront up and running. The offerings range from low-maintenance, turnkey ASP setups to self-hosted solutions that offer full integration with a solution provider's existing back-office systems.

The storefronts can include product catalogs, multiple distributor pricing, reporting, alerts, tracking, order acceptance, cross-selling suggestions, interactive quotes that can be e-mailed, and front- and back-end customization. Solution provider costs may include onetime setup fees, monthly subscriptions and support upgrades, depending on the level of storefront, according to Ingram Micro.

Fullerton, Calif.-based Flashecom's eConnect solution offers a quick launch, low maintenance and unlimited internal licenses per store, Ingram Micro said. Automatic display of related products, multiple tax rates and order-status tracking and history are standard with eConnect packages. The solution is available to Ingram Micro resellers in a four-tier pricing structure with a $200 setup fee, which represents a $299 savings from the regular price, and starts with a $150 monthly subscription that allows up to 15,000 site visitors per month. It also includes a fraud-protection package.

Ingeniasoft's FourChain solution is available as an ASP service or a self-hosted enterprise license. The ASP service offers resellers online quoting, ordering and customer store-site building with minimal investment and a short ramp-up time, according to Ingram Micro. The hosted version is offered to Ingram Micro resellers at a 25 percent discount off the list price and has no setup fees.

Ingeniasoft, Irvine, Calif., also is providing up to three free months of service for resellers that convert from a non-Ingram Micro-certified ASP solution to the FourChain ASP service.

The FourChain enterprise license, compatible with Windows 2000 Server and SQL 2000, allows resellers to host their own storefronts and integrate them with all internal systems. It provides unlimited, concurrent end users and storefronts tailored to each customer's needs. Ingram Micro resellers can buy the enterprise application at an 8 percent discount off the list price plus get another $1,000 off installation or custom integration services.

Ingram Micro rolled out its e-commerce initiative in April 2004 and made it available to its entire customer base in phases during the remainder of the year. VARStreet, which was Ingram Micro's first certified e-commerce partner, is preparing to roll out a new entry-level solution designed to get resellers online quickly and at an attractive price point, the distributor said.

"Along with VARStreet, our two new partners deliver to VARs and their end users in the SMB, Gov-Ed and even the enterprise markets, a world-class flexibility and choice in how they can establish, enhance and maintain their online presence," said Justin Crotty, vice president of channel marketing at Ingram Micro, in a statement.