IBM has announced a refresh of its Business Partner programme in a move the tech giant says will give partners greater flexibility and help develop new revenue streams as businesses continue to shift to the cloud.
Announced at the firm’s Think Digital conference, the PartnerWorld programme now features two new tailored, specialised tracks – Build and Service – alongside its existing Sell pathway. IBM says the addition of these new tracks aligns the company with the growing trend of partners shifting and expanding their models to better compete in a market driven by cloud adoption.
As it continues to enhance its Systems portfolio with IBM Cloud, the company’s multi-cloud approach will also deliver greater overall agility, it added, as well as the ability to bridge mission-critical applications on IBM Z, Power and Storage systems.
Ultimately designed to co-create growth for both IBM and its partners, the reshuffled initiative features a refreshed incentive structure, a new Partner Support Desk, as well as new IBM Partner Packages that bundle Cloud and Cognitive benefits to enable partners to learn, develop and test solutions on IBM Cloud.
The framework also features new offers and resources to help partners develop and go to market in new ways, with IBM extending the PartnerWorld revalidation grace period, expanding select 0% financing offers, and offering free Cloud and AI SaaS resources for 90 days.
The firm is also reimbursing 100% of approved digital co-marketing activities, as well as launching a free My Digital Marketing platform to help businesses shift to digital marketing.
"The world looks drastically different than it did just months ago, and our current business environment has only advanced the trend toward business model flexibility," commented David La Rose, general manager of IBM Partner Ecosystem. "During this time, our Business Partners continue to adopt cloud business models and strengthen their digital skills to serve clients, who are also facing new challenges.
“Our partners' success is dependent on their adaptability and ingenuity when it comes to helping clients overcome these challenges, now more than ever. We're counting on them to use IBM's open, hybrid cloud approach to help clients discover new ways to solve problems during these uncertain times."
