The alliance with Ingram Micro is a key step in Unisys strategy to focus on high-value-add services and technologies for customers.
The Web-based solution, created for Unisys by Direct Alliance Corporation (DAC), a leading global provider of direct sales-channel solutions, places Unisys at the forefront of managed services providers in adopting this type of procurement model. It will provide Unisys customers a flexible and economical channel to select networking equipment, PCs, peripherals and related products from a wide range of vendors, with deployment coordinated through a single, integrated source.
Kevin Murai, president, Ingram Micro U.S., said, Unisys can rely on Ingram Micro’s proven supply chain management and world-class technology product procurement expertise, adding a new dimension to the services it provides its customers. This relationship opens new opportunities for Ingram Micro and Unisys to better serve customer needs and focus on core competencies.
Initially Unisys and Ingram Micro will concentrate on serving customers in the United States. The companies will work toward expanding this offering to additional countries.
The Unisys procurement service will give customers access to Ingram Micro’s inventory of over 280,000 products from some 1,700 vendor partners. The Unisys defined Web-based ordering system being developed by DAC will interface directly to Ingram Micro’s fulfillment, supply-chain and logistics management systems via Ingram Micro’s proprietary InsideLine e-commerce technology.
Powered by DAC’s technology, the procurement Web site will provide a portal (www.UnisysOneSource.com) capable of supporting multiple languages and currencies. It will offer an inclusive product catalogue, and will also enable customers to build catalogues customized to their specific requirements. In addition, the solution includes a comprehensive price quotation system, a hotline for customer assistance, and reporting and product return management capabilities. An interface to Unisys internal services management and reporting systems will provide for end-to-end process integration.
Ingram Micro will deliver ordered products directly to the customer location, with Unisys furnishing deployment, support and managed services. Ingram Micro can also provide configuration and staging services, such as assembling standardized hardware configurations and loading application software images chosen by the customer. This will enable customers to build, deploy and maintain an enterprise computing and networking environment specifically tailored to their business needs quickly and economically.
