Ingram Micro launches AI readiness service for SMBs in ANZ

Ingram Micro has announced the rollout of its Microsoft Copilot readiness service across Australia and New Zealand. The initiative seeks to equip participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in order to transform their businesses. The service will particularly target small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) through the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Adoption Workshop.

The Copilot for Microsoft 365 Adoption Workshop is designed for organisations with up to 300 Microsoft 365 seats that are new to the Copilot system. The programme includes a variety of resources such as guidance, best practices, tips, and useful materials. Ingram Micro's Centre of Excellence will host these workshops and offer additional services like security readiness assessments and end-customer adoption training.

A five-step journey has been implemented by Ingram Micro to ensure smooth and effective deployments of Copilot. This journey includes AI use case workshops, tenant content and security assessments, and ongoing utilisation support. "Empowering businesses to harness the full potential of Copilot for Microsoft 365 is essential for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving AI landscape," stated Matt Bostwick, Channel Partner Director at Microsoft ANZ. "This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing AI capabilities in the region, enabling partners to harness the power of Microsoft Copilot and drive innovation across industries."

Ingram Micro has also organised pre-launch and post-launch roundtables with Microsoft, engaging over 80 clients across three major cities. These sessions aimed to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with AI and Copilot, revealing key areas where support is necessary, such as technical enablement, service profitability, and end-user adoption. "We are committed to supporting our partners through every stage of their AI journey," said Trent Gomersall, Director, Cloud Services ANZ at Ingram Micro. "Our collaboration with Microsoft on Copilot has enabled us to provide valuable resources and insights, ensuring our partners are well-prepared to deliver innovative AI solutions to their customers."

Ingram Micro has established a monthly community forum with over 260 clients as an interactive channel for updates, questions, and feedback integration. In March and April, the company launched Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Masters Sales and Technical Bootcamps, which saw participation from more than 100 clients. These bootcamps covered the technical requirements and sales motions of Copilot, preparing clients for their initial deployments. In conjunction with Microsoft, Ingram Micro hosted over 20 end-customer events, both in-person and digital, to introduce Copilot to companies.

The company has also introduced a launch offer to build momentum for Copilot for Microsoft 365. This offer includes 30 days of free usage and rewards of up to AUD $2,500. IT support service Systima is among the organisations participating in the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Proof of Concept (POC) Application programme. "The POC on Copilot with Ingram Micro has given us the ability to convert customers to Copilot seamlessly," said Michael Skliros from Systima. "This program allows us to see firsthand how Copilot performs in the field, enabling us to fine-tune client adoption strategies and technical setups to ensure optimal deployment and satisfaction."

Another IT support company, Cloud Made Simple, has also benefited from conducting webinars with support from Ingram Micro. Deepti Morjaria, Sales Director at Cloud Made Simple, noted, "Initially, our focus was on cybersecurity. But more recently, we have conducted webinars around Copilot for Microsoft 365. These webinars, part of the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider Briefings programme, have been instrumental in educating our clients and driving engagement in the SMB sector. The collaboration has allowed us to effectively communicate the value and practical applications of Copilot, ensuring our partners are well-prepared to leverage this innovative tool."

The training and support programmes offered by Ingram Micro have been tailored using feedback from client roundtables held before and after Copilot's general availability. This ensures that training materials remain relevant and practical. "Feedback from our roundtables, community calls, and technical bootcamps and readiness workshops and assessments has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the enthusiasm and readiness of our partners to embrace AI," concluded Gomersall.