Dell is making some changes to its PartnerDirect program by introducing four software competencies, plus new service and referral programs, to bring different specialties under one umbrella.
It’s possible for mixed hardware-software Dell partners to get Premier status through a mixed competency, and an advanced competency makes Premier available for partners who are in one line of business. Legacy North America and EMEA partners will now be rolled in from other, separate programs into PartnerDirect, as Kace, AppAssure and SonicWall were earlier.
Dell software partners can grab benefits through PartnerDirect with new paths to Premier status, as well as rewards for training and sales achievement and the usual tools like marketing tools to generate future leads.
Now security, systems management, data protection, and information management will all be rolled into the PartnerDirect program as a series of different competencies.
Dell’s director of Worldwide Channels and Alliances for Dell Software, Marvin Blough, asserted the importance of well trained partners, and noted that being part of a single program with a range of different offerings should help the company and partners.
The convergence is reminiscent of HP’s recent channel decision to reform the company through less disparate and bureaucratic channels, and streamline different segments under a single program.
