CrowdStrike has also announced the CrowdStrike Store, which is very similar to the Salesforce AppExchange, and also extended to broaden their routes to market.
Zebra sells its solutions predominantly to major verticals like retail and manufacturing, where most of their partners play, but for the first time they have announced a specialization for what will be a fairly small minority of partners with a deep focus in an area.
NetApp has presented an impressive array of new commitments to partners, but in return in for reciprocal commitment in return, specifically selling NetApp’s newer solution areas.
SAS executives say the company is moving towards the channel — and how it’s building out its Internet of Things business may show what that movement looks like.
Last year’s refocus on the channel saw Splunk more than double the size of their partner base. This year they are looking to drive further by enhancing the existing partner tracks and formalizing two new ones.
Avaya’s restructuring issues in 2017 had an impact in the midmarket in Canada which is served by the channel. Those problems have disappeared, and Avaya is bullish about its Canadian channel business moving forward.
The invitation-only specialization is designed to create a relatively small nucleus of focused Crisis Communication experts within the BlackBerry Enterprise Partner Program.
The BlackBerry channel back in its mobile device heyday was mainly telcos. Now, as they move broadly into security software they are expanding their channel, but also trying to focus it squarely on BlackBerry’s vision of the future.
Cisco announces a reduction in the complexity of its partner programs, while pivoting profitability towards software and recurring revenues.
Nine competencies are available, although some key issues, like how they will fit into Party Ready tiering, have still to be determined.
The promotion for Canada’s long-time channel chief means that a replacement will be named – but no decision there has yet been reached.
Salesforce looks to improve its support of partners, as it looks to grow its consultant base tenfold over the next several years to meet projected demand.
Other important changes include the integration of programs for other groups which used to be outside the old umbrella program and the integration of the Aruba PartnerEdge and HPE Networking channel programs into the new Partner Ready for Networking program.
Avnet Technology Solutions’ Sergio Farache on the distributor’s new Specialist Business Unit go-to-market focus and what it means for solution providers.
Avnet Technology Solutions vice president Alex Ryals discusses the distributor’s new business unit and how the company is helping enable solution providers.
Distributor Avnet introduces new global specialization areas as it seeks to help partners focus on software, subscription, and as-a-Service sales.
Extreme Networks has announced a series of significant revisions to its channel program, with more to be announced at their partner event in October.
New partner initiatives the company is working on include deepening technical and product training in their face-to-face training programs, and developing the concept of being trusted advisors together with partners to their joint clients.
Extreme’s new channel chief is overseeing the rollout by early summer of programs the company first announced at last October’s partner event, with the first one being a wireless specialization being announced this week.
While Kaspersky is emphasizing the enterprise in its strategic objectives this year, it is also providing more segmented assistance to partners focusing on different parts of the market. This includes a new specialization which will see small business leads limited to partners who have secured it.
