Ingram Micro's Auckland HQ ramps up recruitment drive

Ingram Micro's Auckland HQ is on a recruitment drive as the company prepares for a new growth phase - and increased demand for IT that meets the 'modern way of working'.

According to managing director Jason Langley, lockdowns drove demand for solutions that can provide better work-from home experiences. Other IT booms have also translated to better sales for resellers nationwide.

He says that Ingram Micro is constantly scanning the vendor landscape for products that meet the changing needs of end users. After all, the company wants to provide its resellers reliable access to tech solutions.

"Making the necessary investments is essential when taking on any vendor and that includes adding dedicated personnel for sales and product management. We've seen this approach pay off where we've had vendors go from dual or multi-distributor strategies, to consolidating with Ingram Micro as sole distributor. Certainly, that's behind at least some of the new positions we're adding.

Six of the new vacancies are brand new roles, while others fill maternity leave positions and vacancies created by employees who have moved on.

Langley notes that while it's hard to predict where the market is heading, there's always an appetite for remote working products like PCs and laptops, monitors, keyboards, mice, headsets - and yes, even printers.

 "On the software side, velocity has concentrated on video collaboration and productivity solutions, with an expectation that in the short-to-mid-term a return to broad infrastructure spending is likely, particularly as face to face engagements between resellers and their customers continues to gather pace at Alert Level 1.

He adds that there will be a new wave of 'remedial action' in which organisations try to bold down IT security and IT architecture flaws that could have become apparent during lockdowns and remote working situations.

"Decisions which were made in the interest of immediate practicality rather than best practice do need review, so we are investing in solution architects who can support such initiatives.

The company recently expanded its South Auckland distribution centre, increasing its footprint by 35%. Langley adds that the lockdowns demonstrated the lasting value of holding inventory, particularly as just-in-time logistics was strained by unexpected pressure.

"By covering the breezeway where vehicles enter the building, we have more space to move around regardless of the weather, allowing for faster goods handling as it is processed in the driveway. Furthermore, we have introduced new shelving and racking solutions which stack higher; the vertical expansion substantially increases warehouse capacity," Langley concludes.