Training

Channel Programs

Sage gears up for major Business Partner program redo

July 30, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Sage gears up for major Business Partner program redo
Mistakes were made in the last five years in terms of channel strategy, Sage admits. The vendor says it has learned from those mistakes, is now led by senior executives committed to a partner-driven strategy, and that VARs and consultants will soon see this by their deeds, not just by their words.

Cloud

SAP makes new partner initiatives in Business ByDesign

July 7, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on SAP makes new partner initiatives in Business ByDesign
With a view to both expanding the number of skilled ByDesign people available to partners, and sharpening partners’ ability to use and extend the solution, SAP has launched several ByDesign initiatives, including a partner enablement portal and collaborative tool, and a certification program through Open SAP.

Channel Programs

How to build a successful channel organization

June 25, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on How to build a successful channel organization
Dell’s channel chief offers some suggestions how companies can effectively build or improve their channel programs.

Channel Programs

Dell reports solid channel growth in Q1

June 8, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell reports solid channel growth in Q1
Dell indicated good progress on their green fields discount initiative, overall commercial business, and partner education efforts. While the number of partners using Dell financing jumped considerably in Q1, the company wants more participation there. Plus, still no firm date on when Dell will team up with SYNNEX in Canada.

Channel Programs

Pure Storage targets top partners with channel program changes

May 19, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Pure Storage targets top partners with channel program changes
Notable changes include funding a dedicated resource for Platinum partners, enhancing the Demo program with six months of free support and the ability to resell Demo units, and a fourfold increase in MDF funds.

Channel Programs

Connected Data unveils partner program to support Transporter appliances

May 5, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Connected Data unveils partner program to support Transporter appliances
While the sync and share market is hot, cloud-based offerings have limited revenue potential for the channel, something that the Transporter private cloud appliances are designed to address.

Channel Programs

Salesforce consulting partner revamp finishing up

April 23, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce consulting partner revamp finishing up
The now-implemented changes to requirements for consulting partners within Salesforce’s partner program place more emphasis on customer satisfaction and training, and will allow smaller partners to advance more easily in the program.

Channel Programs

Barracuda restructures, rebalances partner program

April 9, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Barracuda restructures, rebalances partner program
The changes include increased revenue requirements for all tiers, which break up what had become a top-heavy distribution of partners in a program where advancement was too easy, and permit proper incents of Barracuda’s most valuable partners.

Distribution

Arrow to take Violin to North American channel

April 7, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Arrow to take Violin to North American channel
Violin has never been a serious North American channel player before, but having remade the company with a channel-friendly product and channel-centric go-to-market platform, it has selected Arrow as its first North American distributor

Channel Programs

Nimble adds net-new benefits to partners with first formal partner program

March 18, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nimble adds net-new benefits to partners with first formal partner program
The three new partner tiers all have revenue and certification requirements, and most partners will not qualify, but all partners, including those not in a tier, will receive the benefits Nimble has been providing until now, as all the new benefits to the tiers are net-new.