Oracle and Tech Data Corporation announced a strategic initiative to extend access to Oracle Database and Oracle Fusion Middleware technology throughout the small to midsize business (SMB) marketplace. Oracle will leverage the distributor’s extensive logistics expertise, innovative marketing resources and broad customer base to drive sales of its technology products among SMB resellers.
As part of the distribution agreement, Tech Data will begin recruiting incremental resellers of Oracle technology providing solutions to SMB customers. Tech Data will offer resellers Oracle’s award-winning Oracle Database and Oracle Fusion Middleware, the company’s newly branded complete middleware suite. Oracle and Tech Data each will invest dedicated staff and marketing resources to ensure a successful collaboration on support for new resellers.
“Leading vendors like Oracle rely on Tech Data to efficiently and cost-effectively reach a broad array of SMB solution providers,” said Tech Data’s Senior Vice President of U.S. Marketing, Bob O’Malley. “Our ability to tailor technical training, logistics management and product offerings for particular market segments positions both vendors and resellers to capitalize on the latest industry trends and generate incremental business opportunities.”
Tech Data’s dedicated team of Oracle specialists will provide new and existing Oracle resellers with an array of pre- and post-sales and technical support including authorization assistance; quote and bid preparation; order entry; and part number retrieval. Initially, authorization fees for Oracle’s SMB products sold through Tech Data will be waived.
“We understand that the key to success in the SMB marketplace lies in building strong relationships and strategic partnerships throughout the channel,” said Oracle Vice President of Worldwide Channels and Alliances, Doug Kennedy. “Tech Data has an exceptional track record of helping vendors successfully engage resellers of all sizes, especially in the SMB market. This agreement enables us to reach a diverse group of solution providers and broaden our presence in the SMB space.”
SMB resellers were among the solution providers that recently named Tech Data their preferred source of IT products for the third consecutive year, according to the 2005 CRN Sourcing Study. The study asks solution providers to rate their preferred source of IT products including distributors, manufacturers and online retailers on a variety of criteria including breadth of line card, technical expertise, logistics capabilities and pricing.
