Avaya, the unified communications software and hardware provider, has launched two initiatives to help empower channel partners. Avaya One Source seeks to speed partner quotes and orders, and three Avaya Aura suites for UC, contact center, networking and small-midsize business (SMB) solutions. Will channel partners plug in?

Let’s start with what Avaya said. One Source, the company claims, “speeds quoting and ordering of all Avaya solutions through more efficient pricing, processes and tools. New automation capabilities, real-time access to standardized pricing, and an integrated and centralized Web-based system reduces order cycle times by as much as 50%, enabling channel partners to deliver quicker responses to customers. Avaya One Source will be available to all 9,000 Avaya Connect channel partners.”

Avaya says One Source includes a landing page that consolidates all catalogs and pricing capabilities for partners. The company has reduced 1,400 price groups to 13, and converged 200 separate pricing catalogs into a single system.

“Everything a partner needs to speed responses to customers is in a single Web-based location, backed by an e-business model driven by efficient flow and simplified access,” said Tom Mitchell, senior VP, Avaya Global Sales, in a prepared statement.

The catch: The full global One Source rollout won’t be completed until Q4 2013.

1. Foundation: Delivers rich, scalable enterprise-wide architecture for communications, including SIP-enabled clients, core telephony, messaging, instant messaging/presence and desktop video clients.

2. Mobility: In addition to Foundation features, adds capabilities for remote, mobile and traveling workers anywhere. Includes single number access, BYOD features and secure remote access.

3. Collaboration: Builds upon Foundation and Mobility suites with power collaboration capabilities such as video and multi-modal conferencing. Scalable to tens of thousands of users, and uses distributed media and a Œvideo routing¹ architecture.

The VAR Guy does not have a feel for pricing for the three suites. But it sounds like One Source will be the go-to place for partners to find such information.

Easier Engagements

The Avaya One Source initiative, coupled with recent Avaya Learning Virtual Campus enhancements, shows evidence that Avaya is committed to speeding and simplifying partner and customer engagements.

That’s good news for Avaya channel partners. But some of the goals — such as offering a single, simplified portal to source products — seem long overdue.