IBM Invites Global Business Partners To Software Lab
Big Blue is doing something a little different, and a little new. IBM is opening their software labs to global business partners in effort to help partners drive growth. The announcement was made at the IMPACT 2010 conference in Last Vegas, as IBM looks to make moves to stay fresh in the partner arena.
Here’s how it works: IBM will provide authorized business partners with direct access to technical and industry leaders inside IBM Software Labs across the world. Designed to help partners grasp IBM software an strategy faster, it’s also a ploy to help create more business applications for “a smarter planet based on IBM technology and services.”
With that comes the plethora of resources that the open-door lab policy provides:
- Social networking communities on PartnerWorld to gain new sales and marketing skills
- Industry framework validations for the banking industry
- Incentives for partners that sell IBM software to government clients
- Availability of cloud computing certifications to provide IBM credibility to verified partner applications and services.
IBM’s Sandy Carter, VP of IBM Software Business Partners noted that the goal is to provide fuel for innovation and sell custom solutions that IBM Partners’ customers will love. IBM’s press release also broke down the new initiative into sections, heavily detailing what they provide.
IBM Technical and Industry Advocates
Advocates offers partners direct access to an IBM advocate. The idea is to help them develop a lasting partnership with IBM brands by helping them bolster both understanding and working relationship about IBM’s with tech staff, leaders, and experts on the line. Personal relationship are a big part of this new strategy, along with boosting knowledge-base about offerings software and portfolio of products.
New Social Networking Resources
Again, playing on the relationship theme, partners can now use an “access industry-focused social networking groups online through PartnerWorld Communities.” Network, network, network is the idea, with partners being able to chat with sales leaders, tech leaders and yet again, gain skills and explore more business opportunities. Interesting to note, IBM launched their ParterWorld Communities in 2009 as a special community for IBM’s partners, but now extends into 250 Linked In groups, 400 Facebook groups and 500 industry blogs. IBM is really trying to get their hands in as many places as possible, especially with 10,00 partners already on board. The social community also lets partners create meetings and attend virtual summits.
IBM Industry Framework Validation, Incentives and Education
IBM also upped the ante with industry-specific solutions: Partners can now utilize frameworks to develop more custom solutions that will work smoothly with IBM systems. Expanding now is the IBM Banking Industry Framework that provides validation program to test solutions on a framework before deployment. ISVs will find it easier to create pre-integrated programs, with less issues. Plus, IBM also launched their “Value Advantage Plus for Government Sales” which is a partner incentive providing “authorized resellers with experience and expertise in sales to government clients…” What’s more, rebates for value-added sales to the government are available at any partner level.
IBM Cloud Computing Certifications
Now, IBM Software business partners can obtain a coveted IBM Cloud Computing Architecture certifications” with IBM’s new cloud initiative. Designed to provide a level of mastery on public and privte cloud design, partners will also learn how to structure contracts on IBM’s cloud-business models. The Las Vegas IMPACT summit for IBM partners also provided partners with cloud-education sessions on finding opportunities and how to develop new business from them.
Ready to jump on the IBM bandwagon or float in their cloud? Check it all out.
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