MPower News

Improving Sales Productivity in the Midmarket

Now is the time for sales organizations to assess and improve the important presales activities amidst the economic downturn.  In order to enhance this ability to be successful in a challenging economic environment, companies must realize the importance of lead generation. The article below from IDC “Improving Sales Productivity: Letting Sales Professionals Sell” provides an overview of why companies need to take a proactive sales and marketing approach. Arrow takes a similar approach to this thinking with our demand generation marketing campaigns. If you are an Arrow Midmarket MPower Partner, please see the MPower SmartCart for the most up to date campaigns and marketing tools available. Not a partner, please go to www.arrowmpower.com for additional information.


To see article- Download IDC- Improving Sales Productivity- Letting Sales Professionals Sell

Press Release for the New Arrow MPower SmartCart

 Link to the press release: http://www.arrowecs.com/news/shopping_cart.html

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (Feb. 11, 2008) – Faster and easier access to marketing campaigns for North American resellers targeting midsize businesses is now available through new online shopping capabilities launched by Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions, a business segment of Arrow Electronics Inc. [NYSE: ARW].

Called “MPower SmartCart” and available to resellers in Arrow ECS’ MPower Midmarket Partner Program, the newly launched application makes a variety of marketing materials developed by Arrow ECS available for purchase online by resellers. The materials include complete lead generation campaigns and marketing services for promoting a variety of hardware, software and storage solutions to midsized companies. Designing and producing marketing campaigns is completely automated for resellers through SmartCart, and all of the materials can be customized to reflect each reseller’s unique brand identity and positioning.

“As a beta tester of the MPower SmartCart, I found the tool to be user-friendly and intuitive,” said Blake Johnson, director of sales for reseller NCell Systems Inc. “It makes the marketing process much simpler.”

The materials can be purchased either by credit card, invoice or with marketing development funds (MDF) that resellers receive from suppliers. SmartCart integrates MDF account information so resellers can complete the transaction instantaneously. It tracks the balance of those accounts and uses a fund management dashboard featuring charts and transaction data that provide resellers with a clear view of where they are spending MDF money and how much of the funds remain.

“SmartCart enables resellers to more effectively manage and execute their marketing programs to increase sales and develop new markets,” said Robert Spee, director of marketing for Arrow ECS’ Midmarket Group. “Also, SmartCart supports a system for tracking the response rates on lead generation campaigns and provides reports that resellers can use to demonstrate proof of performance when requesting additional funding from suppliers for future campaigns.”

Through SmartCart, resellers can upload their own target distribution lists, or they can indicate geographic regions, vertical industries or information technology markets they would like to reach, and Arrow ECS will compile mailing lists that meet those parameters using the distributor’s comprehensive business intelligence tools and processes.

2/ARROW ECS LAUNCHES SMARTCART

“SmartCart enables resellers to more effectively target new markets while simultaneously saving them time so they can focus on other aspects of their business,” said Spee. “Providing resources and support to enable resellers to grow their business is the core of our business, and we are investing in innovative tools like SmartCart to continue meeting the needs of our resellers for years to come.”

Arrow ECS is developing several other programs and resources to support resellers today and in the future. An e-business platform with solutions and services available for resellers in Germany and their customers is being developed by Arrow ECS' DNS Arrow group and will launch in the coming weeks.

Further information about SmartCart and the MPower Midmarket Partner Program for resellers serving midsize companies is available at www.arrowmpower.com.

ABOUT ARROW ENTERPRISE COMPUTING SOLUTIONS

Arrow ECS, a business segment of Arrow Electronics Inc. [NYSE: ARW], provides enterprise and midrange computing products, services and solutions to value-added resellers, system integrators, and independent software vendors. Based in Englewood, Colo., Arrow ECS connects its customers to the world’s foremost technology suppliers, including HP, IBM, Sun Microsystems, EMC, NetApp, Hitachi Data Systems, and other leading storage networking, software, and security suppliers. Arrow ECS reported $5.4 billion in global enterprise computing solution sales in 2008. Visit www.arrowecs.com for more information.

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Introducing the Arrow ECS Midmarket MPower SmartCart

You already know about the extensive list of marketing material hosted on the MPower Portal - the sales tools, the collateral, the support - but until now, there hasn't been an interactive way for you to bring those elements together into a customized and comprehensive marketing campaign. With the MPower SmartCart, that's about to change.

A powerful new tool you can leverage to quickly initiate, develop and execute comprehensive marketing campaigns right through our MPower portal, the SmartCart is just one more way the Arrow ECS Midmarket Partner Program helps you drive more sales and create a competitive advantage.

Building a multi-tiered marketing campaign - and tracking its success - has never been easier!Want sales tools? Drop them in the SmartCart. How about a multi-touch demand gen campaign? Into the SmartCart it goes. And with complete integration with your MDF balances, applications and forms, the SmartCart automates all backend administration and fulfillment - all you have to do is check out and you're on your way!

1. The right campaigns - right now
   Download strategically sound, timely and creative campaigns that leverage the experience, expertise and market presence of Arrow ECS and our vendor partners.
2. Greatly reduced administration
   Complete integration of MDF balances, applications and forms from various vendors, reduces the administrative management of initiating and planning a campaign.
3. Fast click-to-ship
   Speedy campaign execution accelerates time-to-market and helps improve time-to-value on each campaign.
4. Lead management
   An online lead generation and tracking tool helps you stay on top of your campaigns and ensure you're getting the most bang for your marketing buck.
5. Marketing services
   Event program packages for live events, webinars and trade shows include an integrated combination of outbound calling, direct mail, email and inbound response management, helping ensure that your function attracts numerous attendees.

If the hardest part of producing marketing campaigns and materials is just getting started - then Arrow ECS Midmarket Group has the answer. Click here  to learn more about the Arrow MPower SmartCart and how you can leverage it to streamline your marketing efforts - and reach a new level of sales success.

Sign Up for a SmartCart Training Session

Are you excited about the marketing potential of the Arrow MPower SmartCart, but have questions about how to best utilize its new features? Click here to sign up for a free training session and learn how you can get the most out of the MPower Portal's powerful new tool.