Distributor Ingram Micro announced plans this week for a community of system builder customers, built on the model of its VentureTech program for VARs and integrators, to deliver support and encourage collaboration.

System ArchiTECHS will provide Ingram component customers with access to resources, support, training, marketing and alliances, Ingram said.

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Ingram is recruiting 700 components customers for System ArchiTECHS' initial class, sources said.

In addition to direct resources from Ingram, System ArchiTECHS designers expect the community to encourage closer ties between component customers and the vendor community and introduce white-box builders to additional revenue opportunities in the mainstream commercial and vertical markets.

"Our vendors, especially Intel, see the value in our System ArchiTECHS community," said Mike Beyersdoerfer, Ingram's director of its U.S. components business. "In their eyes it's about targeting the right customers with the right product solutions. System ArchiTECHS will provide and recognize a pool of prequalified system builders that can expand and grow a vendor's market reach. Ingram Micro is improving our support to partners on both sides of the system building fence."

Beyond Intel, vendors Advanced Micro Devices, Western Digital, Kingston Technology, Hitachi GST, Microsoft, Antec, Adaptec and Supermicro have endorsed System ArchiTECHS, Ingram said in a prepared statement.

Specific ArchiTECHS benefits include preferred pricing on identified components, additional manufacturer discounts, sales and technical support focused on white-box builders, leasing and financing programs, and quarterly sales growth rewards.