Nutanix, which sells entirely through channel partners, is moving away from emphasizing pure volume of sales to allow them to reward smaller partners with deep Nutanix practices.
Plantronics reworks its channel program to give greater emphasis to implementing their SaaS management solution, and to selling their hardware within broader solutions rather than simply as peripherals.
The changes include better definition of tiers and requirements to advance, new competencies in all the Dell Boomi solution areas, and much better partner accessibility to resources.
The McAfee integration with IBM Resilient IRP is available now, and will soon be complemented by full certification of interoperability, which will provider customers and partners with even more value.
Veritas remakes its partner program to add additional support for its 360 data management portfolio beyond their two core backup products.
Talend is looking to make it easier for their Big Data and cloud-focused partners to build the new and complex integrations now required when delivering Talend in projects.
Another new certification, for IoT, is being developed but not yet ready. DigiCert is also looking to manage possible channel conflict issues through a new automated deal registration system, which is still in the process of being rolled out.
Two of the new certifications, which also add a new Master level to the Dell EMC Proven Professional program, are available now, with the others coming in April and June. While partners will be eligible to complete them when they roll out, they will not immediately become part of the company’s partner program.
2017 saw the largest AWS re:Invent event, and as a consequence, the largest ramping up of AWS’s training efforts there.
AWS’ Global Partner Summit was chock full of news, including a redo of the partner program, new competencies in machine learning and networking, with more on the way, and major changes to AWS Marketplace.
Trustwave is aggressively trying to build out partner skillsets as they move to more of an MSSP model, and try to build up their percentage of channel sales. A new online training system and partner portal are two tools in this effort.
HP Canada president and CEO Mary Ann Yule offers four important thoughts on how partners can get the education they need to succeed in today’s market.
DigiCert, which inherited Symantec’s problems with Google and its potential impact on brand credibility, says it is ahead of the December 1 schedule for the reissuance of Symantec certifications.
The new Avast Business Antivirus integrates elements from both the legacy Avast and AVG anti-virus solutions, and is integrated into their Managed Workplace and CloudCare offerings.
Pivot3 has a large channel, and the changes are designed to both provide increased support for go-to partners while ensuring the large majority of partners receive necessary protection and support to close deals.
The Dell EMC channels team was extremely happy with the results of the first quarter of its new unified partner program.
Nine competencies are available, although some key issues, like how they will fit into Party Ready tiering, have still to be determined.
Riverbed provided an update to partners on where they are in enhancing their services and partner competencies, and also promised a new partner portal is on the way.
Tintri is looking to increase the number of go-to cloud partners in a cloud business the company views as increasingly strategic.
Lenovo is preparing new incent programs to stimulate activity in these areas, believing that as areas where Lenovo lags the market, they represent relatively easy opportunities to grow against the market.
