Leading distributor, Ingram Micro, has signed an agreement with Telecom New Zealand, the country's largest telecommunications and IT service provider, to provide third-party logistics and supply chain optimisation services.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ingram Micro will manage the warehousing and distribution of mobile devices and customer-fixed line hardware from device and hardware suppliers to all Telecom channels and channel partners.
“Telecom and Ingram Micro have a long and successful history of partnership with Gen-i, Telecom’s ICT division,” Ingram Micro NZ managing director, Gary Bigwood, said, in a statement.
“As one of our largest reseller partners, we’ve worked closely with Gen-i on both third-party logistics services and the integration of our respective back-office systems. This agreement is a logical extension of that work and will support Telecom’s strategic objectives to deliver continuous supply chain improvement and efficiency, as a major player in the New Zealand mobility market.”
Bigwood said the agreement also aligns with Ingram Micro’s long-term growth strategy to expand the company's business in high growth markets, while increasing its services and solutions capabilities.
In October 2012, Ingram Micro completed its acquisition of Brightpoint Inc. (for $US870m), a leading provider of device lifecycle services – with the ability to provide complete lifecycle capabilities from basic warehousing to software loading, order and accounts receivable management, end-user fulfilment and reverse logistics, which include services from repair to refurbishment and recycling of wireless devices.
“Ingram Micro is currently assembling a dedicated team preparatory to services commencing later this year,” Bigwood added. “We are very excited about this project. It is strategically very important to Ingram Micro.”
Telecom retail chief executive, Chris Quin, said Telecom is always looking at how it could operate more efficiently and deliver better value and service to its customers. The new partnership with Ingram Micro was a win for both organisations.
“This partnership will bring significant efficiencies to our mobile business and moving the strategic sourcing of devices in-house will allow us to streamline our relationships with vendors and maximise any added value that we can pass on to our customers," he said.
Quin said the change would help further Telecom’s determination to become effortless for its customers to do business with. As well, the partnership provides Telecom with a competitive edge. "We will be in the game quickly," he said, as new mobile devices are rolled out in the market.