Ingram touts centre with free configuration offer

Ingram Micro is offering resellers free hardware and software configuration on HP's ML and DL series of ProLiant servers during October.

The promotion is designed to increase use of the distributor's configuration centre.

It was also part of a plan to raise the level of value-added services the distributor offered, HP ProLiant product manager, Denise Plessas, said.

"We feel we can offer a quicker turnaround time," she said. "It takes resellers 5-10 days to configure a server but we can turn it around in two or three days."

With configuration typically costing between $100 and $180 per unit, the initiative would also increase reseller margins on the server range, Plessas said. "ProLiant sales have been healthy but this is more something we are running internally as a way to add value to our sales," she said.

Increased use of the company's configuration facility would also be a way for the distributor to combat hardware margin squeeze, Plessas said.

"Resellers can continue to use our configuration service after the promotion finishes," she said. "It just may not be for free."

Plessas would not be drawn on the projected increase in use of the service and growth in HP server sales.

"Our configuration centre is equipped for any immediate growth," she said. "It is scalable."