Virtualisation and cloud infrastructure provider, VMware has unveiled multiple programme enhancements, new competencies and a simplified reward structure to drive greater consistency, predictability and profitability for its Solution Provider, Service Provider and Distribution partners.
"The enhancements we are making to our award-winning partner programme are designed to make it simple for partners to continue to grow their business with us in a way that is consistent, predictable and profitable," says Dave O'Callaghan, senior VP, Global Partner Organisation at VMware.
"The technologies we are bringing to market with our partners are driving the software-defined enterprise, built on the pillars of the software-defined data centre, hybrid cloud, management and end-user computing solutions," he adds.
Starting in May, partners will be able to join the VMware Partner Network without having to identify what specific programme they want to join, allowing greater flexibility for growth, the company says.
VMware is also introducing an Enrolled tier, which will allow new partners to join the VMware Partner Network, be trained on VMware solutions, and then select the best programme based on their business priorities. The Enrolled tier will replace the current Registered tier.
VMware is also rolling out the Elite Partner Initiative, which will provide an introductory market opportunity for qualified VMware partners capable of leading early adoption and investment in the newest VMware technologies and markets, such as VMware NSX and VMware Virtual SAN.
Elite partners will possess deep technical skills, an established solution practice, and highly advanced resources to engage closely with VMware on new product strategy, customer wins and deployments, the company says.
It also states that as organisations of all sizes continue to realise the value of virtualisation and cloud solutions, VMware is making it easy for partners to differentiate their expertise and build broader solution capabilities for customers.
Beginning in May, it notes, partners will be able to satisfy tier requirements by attaining any solution competency, reducing the partner's upfront investment cost, while better diversifying and differentiating their unique offerings and skill sets. With this change, VMware partners will now need to have two sales (VSP) and two pre-sales (VTSP) accreditations for all solution competencies.
In addition to these changes, beginning in May, VMware will offer a new Cloud Provider Solution Competency and VMware vCloud Hybrid Service SolutionCompetency.
Meanwhile, VMware has announced broad partner ecosystem support for VMware Virtual SAN, VMware's first software-defined storage product.
Currently available in public beta, VMware Virtual SAN will be certified with hardware servers and devices from Cisco, Dell, EMC, Fusion-io, HGST, a Western Digital company, HP, IBM, Intel, LSI, Samsung Electronics, SanDisk and Seagate at general availability - providing customers with a wide range of options on which to run VMware Virtual SAN. VMware Virtual SAN is expected to be generally available in Q1 2014.
"VMware Virtual SAN has received an enthusiastic response from the VMware community during its public beta - easily one of the most successful public beta programs at VMware to date with more than 10 000 registered participants," says John Gilmartin, VP and GM, SDDC Suite Business Unit at VMware.
"That enthusiasm extends to the broad support from our hardware and storage partner ecosystem. Their commitment to certifying their hardware and storage devices with VMware Virtual SAN will offer our joint customers extensive choice and flexibility for jump-starting their software-defined storage initiatives."
Share