Samsung Enhances STEP Channel Partner Program

**Editor’s Note: Click here for our most recent list of important channel-program changes you should know.**

Samsung Electronics America (SEA) is giving its Samsung STEP Channel Partner Program a boost with the addition of enhanced training and certification, expansion of its Marketing Concierge support, and a new channel program to accelerate mobile first strategies.

The Samsung Team Empowered Partners (STEP) program is for the vendor’s mobility, professional display and SSD solutions partners.

Samsung’s Kevin Gilroy

“Our channel partners are a critical extension of Samsung’s salesforce and we continually invest in their enablement to drive growth,” said Kevin Gilroy, executive vice president and general manager with SEA. “Today’s advancements will raise our channel training, demand generation and mobility initiatives to a new level, providing partners with resources to gain deeper knowledge on Samsung solutions, and position themselves as go-to experts across vertical industries,” he added.

All STEP channel partners will have access to new Training and Certification Program tools, which are accessible via the Samsung Business Academy web portal. This program is tiered and includes: Sales Specialist, Expert and Master, and partners in all tiers are able to get certified on Samsung’s enterprise mobility, professional display and SSD solutions, including third-party accreditations,the vendor said.

A closer look at some components in the Training and Certification Program:

• Samsung Knox security reseller authorization through achievement of a Mobility Sales Specialist certification.
• Accreditation with third-party industry educational and trade associations, including InfoComm, which counts towards 1.5 CTS Certification renewal credits.
• Vertical training modules for building expertise in mobility and IT across industries.
• Ability to promote a partner’s business as a certified expert in Samsung products and solutions, upon training completion.

Samsung Marketing Concierge, a part of Samsung’s Marketing Hub, now includes all registered partners, regardless of size. This STEP channel partner program feature was previously only available to the vendor’s largest Gold and Platinum partners. The Marketing Concierge gives partners access to third-party marketing platforms that provide expertise for co-branded campaigns, reporting and access to automated tools for online and social media strategies.

The new Mobility Solution Provider Program (MSPP) sits under the STEP program umbrella, and is designed for partners who meet Samsung’s mobility solution provider strategy. That strategy includes: end-customer alignment, product alignment, service offerings, sales capabilities, marketing capabilities and partner performance.

Samsung is looking for partners capable of developing next-generation mobility solutions around Samsung devices, and reflect the vendor’s focus on building mobile expertise in the channel. Samsung noted that its commitment includes increasing channel team headcount to achieve this goal.