Tech Data Connects Vendors and Resellers to End-User Technology Demand

CLEARWATER, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ: TECD) has unveiled a closed-loop, end-user lead-generation system unlike any other available in the IT channel. At its 2009 Vendor Partner Summit in Orlando today, Tech Data announced that its TDAgency marketing services team will work with leading hardware and software vendors to identify, qualify, distribute and manage end-user sales leads; assign leads to the right resellers; and work with resellers step-by-step to convert those leads into sales. Each custom lead campaign will be managed through MyLeadTracker^™, the channel’s premier lead-generation portal on www.techdata.com.

“However, MyLeadTracker does not stop there. After we’ve identified the right resellers and qualified all the leads, TDAgency will work with each reseller to ensure they convert those leads into sales. We’re not just handing off leads. We’re helping vendors and resellers drive new sales every step of the way.”

“The first stage of MyLeadTracker was to mine Tech Data’s immense transaction history for actionable sales leads like software license and hardware warranty renewals,” said Tech Data Vice President, Marketing Services Katie Dumala. “MyLeadTracker has already delivered more than a million sales leads to our customers. Now, TDAgency is further enhancing Tech Data’s lead-delivery capabilities by working with vendor partners to proactively identify end-user sales leads and directly pass them on to our reseller customers. We’ve expanded MyLeadTracker to serve as the platform for this innovative closed-loop, end-user lead-generation system, which is the first of its kind in the channel.”

Closing The Loop

MyLeadTracker has been enhanced to address the three main challenges facing lead generation in the channel: qualifying leads, selecting the right resellers to pursue them and strengthening conversion rates.

TDAgency and participating vendors will leverage Tech Data’s leading market intelligence capabilities. Tech Data will combine its extensive transaction history and data warehouse with vendor-generated and third-party sales leads to identify opportunities for IT solutions sales nationwide and develop custom marketing campaigns to pursue to them. Campaign objectives determine which resellers are best suited to act on each lead. Lead recipients will be based on several factors, including resellers’ geographic reach, technology specialties and vertical market expertise.

Participating resellers will log on to www.techdata.com and open MyLeadTracker to access their leads. All leads will be pre-screened and qualified by TDAgency and its call center services before they are loaded into MyLeadTracker. Leads will include all necessary information, including end-user name, point-of-contact information for the technology purchase decision maker and details from a recent conversation with the end user related to the solutions promoted through the campaign.

“Resellers will open MyLeadTracker to find specific and timely information they can use to call that end user already knowing exactly what technology solutions they are interested in purchasing,” added Dumala. “However, MyLeadTracker does not stop there. After we’ve identified the right resellers and qualified all the leads, TDAgency will work with each reseller to ensure they convert those leads into sales. We’re not just handing off leads. We’re helping vendors and resellers drive new sales every step of the way.”

MyLeadTracker will provide resellers with e-mail notifications of new leads and reminders for follow-up, action items and updates provided by the TDAgency team. In addition to the sales leads, MyLeadTracker serves as a repository for campaign-specific marketing materials such as pamphlets, fliers and white papers. TDAgency will work closely with resellers through the entire sales process, ensuring they have support from vendors, Tech Data Sales and Product Marketing divisions, and access to market development funds if available.

Each reseller receiving sales leads will have a pre-determined amount of time to follow-up on the lead and close the sale. Leads will be assigned to another Tech Data customer if the first lead recipient chooses not to pursue the opportunity or does not do so in time. To learn more, vendors and resellers can send e-mail to tdagency@techdata.com or visit www.techdata.com/tdagency.

Innovative Channel Marketing Services

TDAgency is Tech Data’s full-service, in-house advertising and marketing agency dedicated to helping channel companies create and implement innovative marketing strategies. Its team of experienced marketing professionals includes dedicated account executives, and writers and graphic designers. TDAgency helps vendors and resellers execute comprehensive marketing initiatives, including brand management, Web design, messaging and content creation, e-marketing, call-center services, event planning and developing print collateral like direct mail, advertisements, white papers and brochures.

About Tech Data

Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ GS: TECD) is one of the world's largest distributors of technology products from leading IT hardware and software producers. Tech Data serves more than 125,000 IT solution providers in over 100 countries. Every day, these value-added resellers depend on Tech Data to cost-effectively support the technology needs of end users, including small and medium businesses (SMB), large enterprises and government agencies. Ranked 102nd on the FORTUNE 500(R), Tech Data generated $24.1 billion in net sales for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2009. To learn more, visit www.techdata.com.