FARGO, N.D., July 1, 2002 — Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions today announced that Ingram Micro Inc, the largest global wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain management services, will be responsible for distribution of Microsoft® Great Plains® Small Business Manager 6.2, a software suite of integrated financial, banking, payroll, sales, purchasing and reporting capabilities designed for small, growing businesses. Ingram Micro will distribute the software application to customers who purchase Small Business Manager 6.2 through Microsoft’s traditional sales channels, such as value-added resellers in the Small Business Manager Reseller Partner Program.
Added Partner Benefits From Distribution Agreement
Ingram Micro also will provide customers of Microsoft’s Consultant Partner Program with flexible financing and product fulfillment options through Ingram Micro’s Preferred Source program. This two-tiered financing model frees Small Business Manager partners to develop complementary products and increase presales customer support and service. The Consultant Partner Program represents a new sales channel and partner type recently added to the Microsoft Great Plains Small Business Manager Partner Program.
“Distributing Small Business Manager 6.2 through Ingram Micro allows Microsoft to better serve our Small Business Manager partners, utilizing the strength of Ingram Micro’s dedicated sales and support teams,”
said Dave Waldrop, channel sales manager for Microsoft Great Plains’ Business Solutions Division.
“In addition, Ingram Micro offers Microsoft access to a large base of resellers, has experience distributing other Microsoft products, and provides a strong relationship approach.”
“Ingram Micro and Microsoft share a common vision to empower solution providers with the technology and services small and midsize businesses are demanding today,”
said Bob Stegner, vice president of channel and U.S. marketing for Ingram Micro.
“We are excited to enter into this premier opportunity with Microsoft to offer its Great Plains Small Business Manager software solution for the first time through distribution to the IT channel.”
Supporting Channel Program Enhancements
The new Consultant Partner Program is one of several enhancements to the Small Business Manager Partner Program. Previously Small Business Manager was available exclusively through value-added resellers. The new Consultant Partner Program expands availability to include consultants, generating commissions for product referrals that result in application sales of Small Business Manager 6.2.
To participate in the traditional Reseller Partner Program sales channel or the new Consultant Partner Program, partners are required to complete stringent training courses and pass certification exams in addition to submitting the appropriate annual service fees. These requirements help ensure that only qualified partners are benefiting from the program. Microsoft partners authorized to sell other Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions products such as Dynamics™ , Solomon® and eEnterprise™
also need to complete the Small Business Manager certification training and pass the associated exam. Service fees associated with selling Small Business Manager 6.2 are included in the annual fees paid by these multiproduct reselling partners, which will retain their direct purchasing relationship with Microsoft.
Microsoft Great Plains also announced other changes to the Small Business Manager Partner Program. Although the program’s premium benefits package has been discontinued, all partners will receive a 60-day trial CD of Small Business Manager 6.2 as part of the standard benefits package. After partners pass certification and receive a registration key, the trial CD will become a fully functional, not-for-resale version of Small Business Manager that they can use for internal purposes, demonstrations and training.
About Small Business Manager 6.2
Microsoft Great Plains Small Business Manager 6.2 is an affordable, integrated software application that enables businesses to perform tasks more efficiently, easily access information and improve business performance. Designed for companies that are outgrowing basic accounting software, Small Business Manager 6.2 offers all-in-one financial, banking, payroll, sales and purchasing capabilities as well as tools that make reporting and analysis quick and easy.
About Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions
Microsoft Great Plains provides business applications that help small businesses, midmarket companies and midsize enterprises become more agile in today’s interconnected economy by extending specific information and procedures to employees, customers, vendors and partners. The business applications automate end-to-end business processes across financials, distribution, project accounting, electronic commerce, human resources and payroll, manufacturing, supply chain management, business analytics, sales and marketing management, and customer service and
support. More information about the solutions offered by Microsoft Great Plains can be found at http://www.greatplains.com/ or at http://www.microsoft.com/greatplains/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Great Plains, Dynamics, Solomon and eEnterprise are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Great Plains Software Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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