Veeam Software has announced an expansion to its EMEA ProPartner Programme. This programme enables partners to take advantage of the business opportunities presented by the demand for the Always-On Enterprise. It has gained more than 4,300 EMEA partners in 2015, bringing the total amount of ProPartners in EMEA to 22,700.
The ProPartner Programme is an effective working platform directly mandated to address the challenge of availability of the Always-On Enterprise. With Veeam operating on a purely channel-based business model, the EMEA ProPartner Programme will continue to focus on four main engines for the channel, mainly, SMB, commercial, enterprise and more opportunities for resellers and Veeam Cloud & Service Providers.
The major new enhancements to the ProPartner Programme include:
New features of Veeam EMEA ProPartner Programme:
- The Veeam Accredited Service partner (VASP) programme which identifies a selected list of partners, system integrators and IT consultants who possess the technical skills to deliver value-added and reliable professional services for Veeam product portfolio implementations.
- Enterprise specialisation which aims to support ProPartners engage with enterprise customers regarding Always-On and Business Continuity and is expected to be launched in Q2 2016.
Improved marketing and sales tools to provide additional day-to-day support for ProPartners
- Redesigned ProPartner Portal which enables partners to access technical and informational support, and is due to be available in 2016.
- Enhanced access for partners to marketing funds and sales and marketing resources/campaigns.
Improved training for ProPartners
- Veeam Sales Professional (VMSP) and Veeam Technical Sales Professional (VMTSP) certifications – mandatory requirement for all partner levels.
- Veeam Certified Engineer (VMCE) course and exam on Veeam Availability Suite v9 which was made available in February.
- VMCE Advanced – new certification (2-days course + exam) which will be introduced in mid-2016.
- Free Veeam University courses and technical workshops held by Veeam systems engineers.
In a recent EMEA partner satisfaction report which surveyed 50,400 contacts in 2015, 94% of partners rated Veeam’s ProPartner Programme as ‘very good’ or ‘good.’ EMEA partners also praised Veeam for its quality of products and provided the following statements:
“Data loss” and “object restore” were the top responses from partners on pain points that Veeam products solve for their customers/prospects.
“Veeam operates on a channel-based business model and recognises that the success of its ProPartners has a direct impact on Veeam’s overall success. The new enhancements and updates to the ProPartner Programme in EMEA will create a more empowered and enabled channel community,” said Gilles Pommier, Vice President of Channel & Cloud, EMEA, at Veeam. “While Veeam continues to deliver Availability for the Always-On Enterprise, it also strives to improve and strengthen its partner training, value-add, profitability and integrated marketing support so partners can maintain their reputation as trusted advisors to Veeam customers.”
“Our investment in Veeam has allowed us to become prepared for any eventuality, leaving us in a great position to deliver improved knowledge, value and expertise to our own partners and customers,” said George M. Sabbagha, Founder and CEO of SCASICOMP. “The services the ProPartner Programme offers, such as trainings and certification, are exceptional, while also offering additional tools tailored to our individual needs.”
In Q1 2016, Veeam’s EMEA ProPartner Programme was voted by resellers and distributors as the ‘Best Channel Programme of the year’ for the Dutch IT-channel Award.
In Q2 this year, Veeam is inviting its ProPartners to VeeamON Forums across EMEA, to share best practice sessions and to improve working relationships with partners. The EMEA ProPartner Programme’s standards and requirements will also be extended to Eastern Europe, Russia & CIS, Middle East and India during 2016, with the target of becoming a unified programme by January 2017.
