Sage has launched a new simplified global channel programme that promises more benefits and incentives for partners.
The new Global Partner Programme offers a simplified four-tiered engagement model for all partners. The levels – Authorised, Silver, Gold and Platinum – are now consistent for partners worldwide, whereas previously countries used their own individual models.
“We want our partners to benefit from one Sage. This means a simplified structure where partners connected with our global products – Sage One, Sage Live, Sage Impact and Sage X3 – will have a consistent relationship with Sage no matter where they are in the world,” Jim Scott, VP of the global partner programme tells Channel Pro.
“The new structure is also designed to support significant growth for our partners and attract new partners as well.”
Sage is also adding ongoing support to partners as they adapt from on-premises to cloud.
“We want to provide choice for our customers for life, as they evolve their businesses at different paces. To achieve this we’ve found that it’s incredibly valuable for partners to be able to offer Sage applications through the cloud, installed on the customer’s premises or as a hybrid service that keeps some parts on-site and delivers others from the cloud,” says Scott. “There’s no one solution that works for every customer, and this is where the choice of mixed delivery methods is really strong. No other vendor in our sector can do this.”
He adds: “We understand that some partners and customers are still comfortable with on-premise, so this programme is designed to support partners as they continue to adapt from on-premises sales strategies to cloud at the right pace for them and their customers. For partners, annuity sales - subscriptions – is sometimes new territory, and fitting it into their business model is sometimes not easy or straightforward. It is, however, a challenge that can be overcome, and we will help.”
Scott describes the opportunity as “tremendous”. He explains: “There will be a lot of customers that buy cloud services direct from vendors or CSPs, but there’s not a huge opportunity to add integration, fuller solutions or other value-add at that end of the market. We see our partners significantly further up the value chain from there.
“The scope for both Partner and Sage derived services for cloud based solutions, as well as ISV application differentiation is quickly creating a different ecosystem and valuable new business model for our partners and customers.”
The launch of the new programme follows several recent partnership announcements for the vendor, including Microsoft, PwC and Deloitte. Earlier this year, the vendor also announced a strategic partnership with Salesforce, enabling the development of Sage Live, which is built on the Salesforce1 platform.
Update
18/02/16
Sage has launched Sage Marketplace, a new global distribution platform for ISVs to showcase their Sage developer add-ons.
The marketplace showcases all apps developed for Sage products and will allow ISVs to sell add-on components which are integrated with the vendor’s global products including Sage One and Sage Live. It can be viewed by all Sage customers, who can buy directly from the developing partner.
Examples of add-ons already on the Marketplace include cashflow support from Fundbox to eCommerce extensions from Magento and Prestashop.
