Action packed products to help boost reseller success

Resellers are very often Microsoft`s only interface with the end customer. This is one of the reasons that Microsoft and distribution partners such as Axiz, go to great lengths to ensure that the right resources and tools are made available for resellers to successfully represent their products. According to Justin Agar, Microsoft product manager at Axiz, one of the most valuable of these is the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription.

Microsoft offers about R100 000 worth of software to resellers and system builders for R2 200*. This cost-effective product increases a resellers` ability to sell and implement Microsoft products and solutions.

"This is an invaluable programme, which aims to help channel resellers and system builders to improve their skill levels and ensure that they are receiving rebates for their DSP software purchased through an authorised distributor," comments Agar.

The pack is designed for partners that need essential, up-to-date Microsoft sales, marketing, and campaign tools and resources to get them on track quickly. The pack also provides core Microsoft products such as Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Microsoft Small Business Server 2000, Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, Microsoft Office XP, Microsoft Visio 2002.

The Microsoft Action Pack Subscription for South Africa includes partner guides, project guides and partner-to-customer marketing collateral and Not-for-Distribution (NFD) software.

Microsoft Partner Guides - a reseller will receive at least eight Microsoft Partner Guides during the course of the subscription year. A Partner Guide contains the tools and resources needed to get familiar with a Microsoft product or solution area, build readiness within the organisation, and sell more to customers. Each Partner Guide includes "time-bombed" evaluation software, product overviews, FAQs, customer-ready sales and marketing materials and technical white papers.

Microsoft Project Guides - these are an actionable collection of documents that organise information relevant to five specific roles within an organisation. Project Guides help build a project methodology for implementing Microsoft product-based solutions. They consolidate and present the information necessary for successful customer engagements. Project Guides, based on widely recognised best practices and procedures; identify a specific service offering that can be delivered to customers.

Partner-to-customer marketing collateral - proven marketing campaign materials that can be customised and printed to meet the needs and goals of any campaign strategy. The Partner-to-Customer Customisable Marketing Materials CD includes fax, letter, email templates, four-colour and two-colour campaign mailers, post cards.

Not for Distribution software - a collection of software with a retail value over R100 000. With your Action Pack Subscription, resellers receive will be licensed to use this software for internal business use, demonstration, testing, education, and evaluation purposes.

To purchase the Action Pack Subscription online, you must be a qualified reseller according to Microsoft`s specific guidelines. Registration and more information can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/southafrica/partner/.