Ingram Micro launches Microsoft Copilot readiness service

Ingram Micro has announced availability of its Microsoft Copilot readiness service in Australia and New Zealand.

The service caters to small and medium size businesses through the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Adoption Workshop for SMBs, developed for businesses with up to 300 Microsoft 365 seats "at the beginning of their Copilot journey". 

The workshop, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, combines "guidance, best practices, tips and useful resources." Ingram Micro's Centre of Excellence hosts the workshop and provides additional services such as security readiness assessments and end-customer adoption training.

Ingram Micro has a "five-step journey" for organisations it works with, including AI use case workshops, tenant content and security assessments, and ongoing utilisation support, to "ensure smooth and effective Copilot deployments".

“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,” stated Matt Bostwick, Channel Partner Director at Microsoft ANZ. 

More than 80 Ingram Micro clients attended the distributor's pre-launch and post-launch roundtables with Microsoft in November last year, to "understand the challenges and opportunities associated with AI and Copilot". Those roundtables revealed where those organisations need support, including technical enablement, services profitability and end-user adoption, according to the distributor.

Ingram Micro also has a monthly "community forum" that includes more than 260 clients.

In March and April, it launched Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Masters Sales and Technical Bootcamps, attracting more than 100 participants. These bootcamps focused on the intricacies of Copilot’s technical requirements and sales motions, preparing clients for their first deployments.

Ingram Micro and Microsoft also organised more than 20 end-customer events to help companies introduce Copilot to clients.

"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."

To build momentum for Copilot for Microsoft 365, Ingram Micro has introduced a launch offer for clients, including 30 days free usage and up to $2,500 in rewards. 

Ingram Micro's announcement today included a testimonial from IT support business Systima, which has been part of the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Proof of Concept (POC) Application program. “The POC on Copilot with Ingram Micro has given us the ability to convert customers to Copilot seamlessly," stated Systima’s Michael Skliros.

“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."

The distributor also quoted IT support company Cloud Made Simple which has "benefited from running several webinars with the support of Ingram Micro."

"Initially, our focus was on cybersecurity,” stated Deepti Morjaria, Sales Director at Cloud Made Simple. “But more recently, we have conducted webinars around Copilot for Microsoft 365. These webinars, part of the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider Briefings program, 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."