Workgroup appointed GoldMine distributor

VAR recruitment programme launched by Workgroup for GoldMine 5.5 by FrontRange Solutions, and is soon to launch a reseller drive to recruit business-focused VARs to sell the product into small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the small office home office (SoHo) market.

GoldMine 5.5 allows smaller companies, which do not have the financial muscle of corporates, to automate their sales and marketing functions, with full details of every prospect and customer being centrally accessible. It integrates into numerous standard Microsoft packages, such as Outlook, as well as Windows CE and Palm PDAs, and allows businesses to make use of the Web in their marketing and sales efforts.

Stephen Buchalter, FrontRange business development manager, says Workgroup was chosen as it has "a high level of sophistication in its ability to support business solutions."

Buchalter says from the end of February, Workgroup will be rolling out an intensive recruitment programme to its 3 000-strong reseller channel in SA. The qualifications of those that apply will be carefully scrutinised and only 200-300 will be appointed. "We are looking for partners which are not just box movers. They must add value and be able to do business process consulting, with an understanding of what their clients` business is all about, and be able to make an impact on it. They must make a difference in the entrepreneur`s business."

Andrew Linstrom, national product marketing manager at Workgroup, says those that do not qualify as partners will only be allowed to sell single licenses. "The South African market has thousands of resellers, to ensure high service levels are provided to the end users only certified resellers will be allowed to sell the product. Due to this highly skilled channel approach, FrontRange will be able to reduce their first level support."

He says the preference is for those resellers operating in the SME and SoHo spaces, selling anything from five to 1 000 licences. "Resellers pay a fee to join the programme, which covers technical training from FrontRange, a specialised sales course, and a free 5-user GoldMine 5.5 pack to install in their own offices to help them run their businesses." Sales collateral is included in the deal, such as a PowerPoint presentation, for example.

Mauriette Spies, FrontRange`s channel administrator, says 10 partners have already been appointed to the programme. Interested resellers should contact Spies on (011) 808-6716.