Stories by: Brian Corrigan

As the world’s largest distributor of IT products, Ingram Micro is something of a dichotomy. It reported global annual revenues of more than $US35 billion for its last financial year but despite its size – due largely to the low average margins of its broad-based business model – it is often more susceptible to changes in the economy than its smaller rivals.

As Optima’s administrators recommend the company be liquidated, I can’t help but think that repercussions for the local whitebox industry are going to be much deeper than I first feared. The reason why, in a word, is warranties.

I recently found a new website called vendorrate.com that invites IT users to rate their vendors (including channel organisations). Companies, or particular product categories such as IBM server & systems, are rated out of 10 across a list of 10 qualities including budget, communication, customer service, expertise, integrity, reliability and usability.

Why set up a business unit focused specifically on Internet security?

Escalating freight costs and a slowing market are forcing leading hardware distributors to put their cost structures under the microscope.

About a month ago, I used this column to warn of difficult times ahead and suggested that companies already under pressure would find the going particularly tough.

Dicker Data is considering the introduction of early settlement discounts and late payment fees.

Although there hasn't been a mandate from its US parent company, Ingram Micro's local boss has admitted the distributor is considering the introduction of freight and handling charges. Its Australian resellers are likely to be notified within the next month.

In the past 18 months or so, EMC has been talking to partners about its Velocity Partner Program in an attempt to identify the parts that work and those that don’t. What have been the key findings?

Do it for the money. If you still think you know better than some of the brightest scientific and economic minds in the world, and the overwhelming majority of researchers who have spent more time on the climate change issue than anyone else, then at least save yourself and your clients some coin.

Where did you get the idea for Data Centre City?