Tech Data Beefs Up Online Tools

Tech Data has added 14 more vendors and expanded the functionality of its MyOpportunity Tracker online tool, helping VARs recoup revenue from lost or forgotten software renewal licenses and warranties.

MyOpportunity Tracker, which is part of the distributor’s MyTools online services for VARs, tracks software license renewals, warranties and services updates, and notifies the VAR up to 120 days before they expire at the end user.

Tech Data today also announced that it has added Avocent, Brocade, Brother, Canon, Diskkeeper, Eaton, EMC, Kodak, Lenovo, QLogic, SolarWinds SonicWALL, Toshiba, and WYSE Technology to the system. "In the six months since we launched this site we have gone from zero to having 30 vendors on board," Doug Riccardi, director e-business at Tech Data, told Channel insider.

The distributor has also expanded the tool so that VARs can add in their own renewal opportunities, even if the software or equipment was not originally purchased through Tech Data.

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Riccardi said the process is all form-driven and that means that VARs can add in any renewal opportunities they may have even if the kit was bought from a rival distributor. "Of course we would like the resellers to then purchase the renewals through us, but this is not a requirement–it is not exclusive or restrictive," he said.

The aim is to help VARs open doors into the customer and provide other sales alongside the renewals. When an end user’s license or warranty is nearly expired the VAR receives an e-mail notifying them of what the customer bought. "The e-mail will also include up sales ideas; for example, if customer x bought this laptop last time, he may need this external hard drive or additional battery pack to go with it," Riccardi said.

VARs can sort their renewals by manufacturer, expiration date and end user, and MyOpportunity Tracker also has a quote-building function so that VARs can build a sales proposal and send it directly to the end user.