NetApp enhances its Unified Partner Program

NetApp announced new updates to its Unified Partner Program to complement and align with its partners’ business capabilities and models. NetApp’s partner program will be simplified and expanded to deliver a consistent program experience, enable digital transformation for customers, accelerate partner profitability, and provide partners with a predictable business environment. 

“As a channel driven organization, NetApp is committed to enabling our partners in the Middle East with the necessary tools to help grow the business. The enhanced Program recognizes partners based on demonstrated expertise and their ability to accelerate the customers’ digital transformation efforts,” said Kristian Kerr, VP Partner Org EMEA, NetApp. “At a time when business continuity and sustainability is key for customers, partners have access to our strong solutions portfolio which gives them an edge in helping customers deal with rapid changes in their business. It gives partners the right motivation to drive customers to build their data fabric architecture and create business opportunities while optimising costs and operations.”

Enhancements to the Unified Partner Program in NetApp FY’21 will:  

• Simplify. NetApp will unify contracts and agreements; streamline guides and policies; offer fewer, more focused, deal-based incentive programs; and offer growth attainment rebate programs. 
• Expand. NetApp will provide Registered Partners with access to more information, communications, enablement, and training. The updates will also include bringing Cloud First Partners into the NetApp^® Unified Partner Program and expanding NetApp Learning Services training programs for cloud partners and service providers. NetApp will also expand and update its specializations with new content and benefits, including the addition of SAP and XaaS (“anything as a service”). 
• Invest. NetApp will continue to invest in tools that make business planning and incentive management and measurement simpler and more collaborative for partners. It will offer a bigger payout in its New Account Incentive Program and allow rebates to be paid faster through the Run to NetApp Incentive Program. NetApp also launched a new Tech Refresh Incentive Program that helps partners take advantage of the extensive NetApp installed base. 
• Differentiate. NetApp now organizes partners by Registered, Gold, Platinum, and Star program levels. The program will showcase partners with specific and focused specializations, highlighting partners who provide services across key focus areas, including XaaS, implementation, support, cloud, foundation, hybrid cloud, and converged infrastructure. 

“Our clients tell us that when it comes to choosing a partner to help navigate their digital transformation, differentiation and simplification drive their decision-making process,” said Deborah Bannworth, senior vice president, Partner Alliances, Inside Sales, Maintenance Sales & Services at Sirius, a NetApp partner. “NetApp’s Unified Partner Program makes it easier for the Sirius team to deliver tangible benefits for our clients and solve their digital transformation challenges, while also expanding, accelerating, and growing as experts ourselves.”  

NetApp’s simplified, partner-first approach enables partners to grow and succeed by providing access to a leading portfolio of hybrid cloud data services and data management solutions. This portfolio and partner program enable the partner ecosystem to solve customers’ challenges and invest in the delivery of key business outcomes, no matter where their data lives.