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Microsoft Strengthens System Builder and Distributor Channels

In recognition of the value system builders offer customers by providing the broadest range of customized solutions and services, Microsoft continued to outline investments in its system builder and distributor partner ecosystem, laying out three broad areas where the company continues to increase benefits to help its partners succeed. The benefits help system builders and distributors become more competitive in the marketplace by providing them with resources and tools based on their needs. The company highlighted successes with new programs such as a campaign to promote PC purchases from local system builders and a co-marketing program to assist system builders in marketing and advertising activities.

“System builders and distributors are under constant pressure from competition in the channel as well as from larger OEMs,” said Kurt Kolb, vice president of Worldwide System Builder Channel and License Compliance at Microsoft. “Over the past several months we’ve been working to create, tailor and extend benefits for system builders to address the unique needs of these companies, which are a critical component of not only our own sales channel, but also the overall health of the PC industry.”

The Buy Local campaign

Key to Microsoft’s focus on helping system builders better compete is the Buy Local campaign, which offers customers a promotional Buy Local Bonus Pack for each genuine copy of Microsoft Windows XP purchased from any U.S. system builder that in turn has purchased the software from a Microsoft authorized distributor. This exclusive channel offering has been revamped, and on March 15 the Buy Local site will offer a new Bonus Pack worth up to USD 1,200 in goods and services, including a free D-Link wireless router (after a USD 50 rebate), a 30-day T-Mobile HotSpot subscription, free movies from CinemaNow, and training from New Horizons Computer Learning Centers.

Since the campaign was launched in October, nearly 600,000 customers have visited the Buy Local site; thousands of system builders have downloaded the site’s marketing support materials, and more than 85,000 customers have used the locator tool to find a local system builder. Later this year, the Buy Local campaign will be expanding to 11 additional countries. System builders can find more information about Buy Local at http://www.localpcbuilder.com/partners.


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