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Avaya on Wednesday unveiled a tighter focus on helping its Edge partners offer UC and contact-center applications as a cloud-based service (UCaaS, CCaaS) to business customers.

A key part of the 2018 Avaya Edge program strategy is enabling cloud delivery, integration and management. This means partners will be ready to take advantage of the growing demand for UCaaS and CCaaS by developing their cloud competency and benefiting from the rewards, the company said.

Avaya is expected to emerge from chapter 11 bankruptcy by the end of the year.

Avaya’s Gary Levy

Gary Levy, Avaya’s vice president of U.S. channels, tells Channel Partners the 2018 Edge program updates are a continuation of the previous program, and the enhanced benefits will support the partners as they drive cloud services.

“The goals of the Avaya Edge program are consistent from year to year and that is to reward our partners to grow their business,” he said. “The introduction of the Cloud Integrator track opens up a higher-level rebate program for partners who achieve this coveted designation. For our partners who meet the requirements set forth in our Cloud Specialization and Avaya Delivery Partner programs, they receive a special badging certificate that will allow them to differentiate and promote these higher levels of achievement.”

The Cloud Integrator track makes it possible for partners to achieve Emerald, Sapphire or Diamond status as revenue streams become more OpEx-driven, and access the benefits associated with each of the gem levels, according to Avaya.

The Edge program enhances existing benefits and adds new ones, such as cloud loyalty rebates, new customer registration and strategic development funds to support partner success in a fast-changing market.

“The 2018 enhancements to the Edge program (were) effective Oct. 1,” Levy said. “Partners are able to join the program immediately, and existing partners will receive notification as to their status on Nov. 1.”

Avaya has a number of cloud-based platforms and applications offered through partners, such as the recently announced Avaya Equinox Meetings Online, a cloud-based video conferencing and collaboration service that is available globally exclusively through Edge partners.

ConvergeOne, Avaya’s largest global VAR, sells and services the full Avaya suite of products, software and services.

“Expanding the Avaya Edge program demonstrates Avaya’s commitment to providing the channel community the best tools to capitalize on growing market demands for cloud solutions empowering customers to easily integrate cloud services in a way that best meets their strategic objectives,” said Scott Clark, ConvergeOne’s vice president of marketing. “The new cloud tracks and specializations, along with the associated benefits, help us move our business from a CapEx model to OpEx by reducing many of the gaps that would otherwise exist in the transition. We’re excited about the numerous market opportunities … “