Arrow ECS IBM Group Newsletter

Nominations for the 2012 IBM Beacon Awards

Nominations for the 2012 IBM Beacon Awards will be opening in mid-September. Winning a Beacon Award puts your firm in the spotlight for industry recognition and on a path to greater opportunity through increased visibility. More than 25 awards will be available that recognize achievement across a wide-range of solution areas, including Smarter Industries, Smarter Computing and Smarter Solutions. All Advanced and Premier Business Partners are eligible to nominate a solution.

Visit ParnterWorld to view the 2011 winning solutions and past awards.

Infoboom's Online Event Series

Ken Tacelli, Americas Sales Executive for IBM Smart Business, tells how IBM Smart Business Sales is a force-multiplier for business partners. IBM enables partners to extend their reach and speed by leveraging the strength of the IBM brand and support organization to bring cutting edge solutions to the market.

Antony Satyadas (left), Solution Portfolio Strategist for IBM Smart Business, tells how IBM's Virtual Desktop for Smart Business helps small business owners use whatever devices they prefer to access a virtual desktop running on data center servers. IBM has done the required pre-integration and configuration to automate backup and management in order to minimize complexity and confusion. Disconnected users get maximum flexibility to reach their vital applications and files. The result is lower cost and risk that enables mid-market organizations to drive new growth.

IBM 2011 Midmarket CIO Survey

on June 10 at 11 EDT, IBM will reveal the results of its 2011 Midmarket CIO survey of 622 CIOs and outline how small and medium businesses are increasingly contributing to the strength of the American economy. The survey looks at CIOs' top technology priorities for the immediate future. There's a live event and a live video stream. Details on how to tune in are here.

IBM Reaches an Important Milestone!

On June 15, IBM will reach an important milestone - our 100th year as a corporation.  As you’d expect, this is highly meaningful for the more than 400,000 women and men around the world who call themselves “IBMers.”. It also is a time to reflect on the contribution of Business Partners to our success. You are the face of IBM to many of our customers. We sincerely appreciate all your efforts to provide our joint customers with the solutions they need in order to optimize and grow their business.

See the Midmarket Asset Gallery in action

Find out how easy it is to see what marketing assets and enablement materials are available to help drive midmarket demand for your solutions. Take a couple of minutes to watch a short demo of the new IBM Midmarket Asset Gallery, then link over to the Gallery and see what you can use to start driving midmarket demand today!

View the demo.

Let’s Partner to Close IBM Opportunities!! 2011 Business Partner Summits

Let’s Partner to Close IBM Opportunities!! We would like to invite you to join IBM for the Business Partner Summits. In these sessions, IBM Executives and extended team will cover a variety of hot topics, and we’ll conclude the meeting with a networking reception for attendees to make connections to close more business. Discussion Topics: 2011 Strategy IBM’s 2015 Roadmap IBM Centennial Events Competitive selling tips for sales teams Marketing and sales plays all partners can utilize Seating for this event is limited! Pre-Registration is required, so please register ASAP. We look forward to seeing you there.   2011 Business Partner Summits: Atlanta – March 8 : https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=8A5U3GES&locale=en_US Ft. Lauderdale – March 10: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=669UENES&locale=en_US     San Francisco – March 10: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=732CJUES&locale=en_US St. Louis – March 15: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=594D67ES&locale=en_US Boston – March 15: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=D95UB6ES&locale=en_US       Houston – March 21: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=DAZMYRES&locale=en_US

“Inside the Midmarket: A 2011 Perspective”

As economies around the world continue their steady recovery, midsize firms face a new set of challenges and opportunities to position themselves for success. Midsize companies have been the engines driving economic growth and fueling a smarter planet for some time now. They realize they must constantly adjust to a rapidly changing global marketplace and "new normal" financial environment. And they are.

Download Inside_the_Midmarket__Global_Report

2011 IBM Retail Store Solutions Conference Call Series

IBM Retail Store Solutions announces the 2011 Business Partner Conference Call Series. These calls are designed to provide the latest information on key industry and product initiatives, and will cover current programs and promotions, customer references and product availability updates.  We are reducing the frequency of the calls for 2011 to five (5) calls on the dates listed below.

The call-in number and passcode will be the same every month unless otherwise communicated:

Toll free:         1-800-857-3076
Passcode:        1129962

You are invited to join us at the IBM Business Partner Summit

In March, IBM mid-market team will be hosting Business Partner summits across the US to share information and drive connections to close business.  In the sessions, IBM Executives and extended teams will cover a variety of hot topics, and will conclude each session with a networking lunch/reception.  Listed below are the regional session dates.  Please encourage your solution providers to register for the appropriate BP Summit via the link below. 

Phoenix - March 3, 2011     Register
Bethesda - March 3, 2011     Register
Atlanta - March 8, 2011     Register
Ft. Lauderdale - March 10, 2011     Register
San Francisco - March 10, 2011     Register
St. Louis - March 15, 2011     Register
Boston - March 15, 2011      Register
Houston - March 21, 2011     Register

Save the date: 2011 North America Business Partner and Mid-Market Kickoff Jan 20

Save this important date on your calendar. Wilfredo Sotolongo, vice president, Business Partners and Mid-Market, invites you to a year beginning Kickoff call on Thursday January 20, 2011 at 12:00 Noon ET. Learn about our 2010 performance highlights, the strategic direction for 2011 and your role in making the upcoming year a success for the Business Partner and Mid-Market team.

Title: 2011 Business Partner Kickoff call
Date: Thursday, January 20, 2011
Time: 12:00 Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET

Stay tuned for call details and chart access information. Coordinator is Claire Colle at ccolle@ca.ibm.com.