IBM enhances PartnerWorld Program for channel vendors

IBM has enhanced its PartnerWorld Program to improve partner growth in areas including cloud, cognitive behaviour and security.

To do this, the company will introduce new competencies to ensure partners are future-ready. Some of the highlighted areas include information, risk and protection, cloud video, high speed transfer and continuous engineering as part of its Watson Internet of Things (IoT) strand.

Another new competency, in IBM Global Financing, will help partners build up a customer base in financial services, which can be used to differentiate themselves from other partners offering IBM's products and services.

“As digital and cloud solutions continue to transform industries, the time is now for our partners to deliver cognitive solutions with deep vertical expertise built on the IBM Cloud platform and made available in an omni-channel environment,” said Marc Dupaquier, general manager of IBM Global Business Partners.

“We’ve expanded and redesigned the PartnerWorld programme to guide business partners of all types and models in developing capabilities aligned to our cognitive solutions and cloud platform strategy to deliver high client value.”

IBM's updated PartnerWorld Program will also have four new strategic initiatives launching now and in Q2, and these will be reflected in changes to the programme's architecture.

The first part of this is a new embedded solutions agreement, letting partners integrate their own services and value-added services alongside IBM products.

IBM has also introduced a Ready for IBM Cloud validation for ISVs, encouraging them to build their cloud services as part of the company's drive to boost cloud offerings using Bluemix.

Later in the year, IBM will further enhance its PartnerWorld Program with IBM Express Start, designed to make it easier for new business partners to resell IBM's entry-level products. From April, all partners will be able to take advantage of better software incentives with higher rewards and better support to boost sales.

Clare is the founder of Blue Cactus Digital, a digital marketing company that helps ethical and sustainability-focused businesses grow their customer base.

Prior to becoming a marketer, Clare was a journalist, working at a range of mobile device-focused outlets including Know Your Mobile before moving into freelance life.

As a freelance writer, she drew on her expertise in mobility to write features and guides for ITPro, as well as regularly writing news stories on a wide range of topics.