Wireless device charging vendor Chargifi Ltd. has signed a distribution agreement with Ingram Micro Inc.
The deal makes Irvine, Calif.-based Ingram the first authorized distributor of Chargifi’s wireless charging solutions for mobile hardware in the U.S. and Latin America.
“Ingram Micro channel partners are constantly looking for innovative wireless technology solutions that meet the needs of the rapidly changing technology environment,” said Kevin Prewett, director of ProAV and digital signage at Ingram Micro, in prepared remarks. “The need for smart wireless charging solutions continues to grow and we are pleased to welcome Chargifi and its cloud-based charging solution to our growing portfolio.”
Chargifi’s technology gives channel pros an easy way to get in early on what will soon be an enormous market, according to Helen Attia, the company’s head of sales and marketing.
“This technology is going to be ubiquitous,” she says. “Every business everywhere is going to need to provide wireless charging in some capacity.”
Founded five years ago and headquartered in the U.K., Chargifi makes an end-to-end wireless charging solution that combines locally-deployed hardware and software with a centralized, cloud-based management platform. Drawing on the system’s built-in analytics, users can track usage patterns and measure ROI. Bar and restaurant operators within the company’s customer base, for example, have used the product’s business intelligence functionality to determine that patrons stay longer when free wireless charging for their smartphones and tablets is available.
“They’re also therefore spending more money,” Attia says. “We can tell that because of the analytics.”
In addition to the hospitality industry, Chargifi targets the still nascent “smart office” market as well.
“Wireless charging will be an integral part of the technology that’s in place in an office environment,” Attia says. “Put your device in a charging station in the meeting room and it unlocks the screen automatically or it authenticates you as the user of that room for a period of time.”
Office space provider WeWork, hotelier Grand Hyatt, and quick service restaurant chain Pret A Manger are among Chargifi’s clientele. Intel Corp. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are among its leading technology partners. The company sells exclusively through channel partners.
“As one of the longest-standing managed service providers in the Las Vegas area, we’ve helped our clients adopt the latest technologies necessary to grow their businesses for 34 years,” said Lester Keizer, CEO of Las Vegas-based MSP Business Continuity Technologies, in a press statement. “What’s so unique and valuable about Chargifi is its smart platform. The Chargifi offer moved from CIOs to customer-centric departments like marketing and sales. Chargifi not only provides a very-needed and innovative wireless power solution, but it also gives businesses insights into customer behavior, creating new loyalty initiatives and revenue opportunities.”
Ingram’s ProAv and digital signage unit introduced new reseller services this week as well.
