5-Star Methodology: How We Chose the Top 65 Partner Programs

Each year, VARBusiness revisits how it awards the 5-Star rating, given to vendors that have the most comprehensive channel offerings for their particular markets and technology sets. This year, we looked for elements of partner enablement and support. These characteristics aren't reserved for the largest vendors with the breadth, resources and experience to craft and implement comprehensive channel programs or simply serve their largest and most profitable partners. The 5-Star rating reflects how well these vendors support the gamut of solution providers in their universe.

More than 230 vendors applied for the honor, and only 65 made the cut. In the following pages, you'll see some highlights of their programs, including the program participation requirements, incentives and how VARs measure partner success. The criteria used to select a 5-Star program reflect the maturity of a channel program and, in many cases, the vendor's delivery on the promise of channel commitment.

Vendors not receiving the 5-Star rating don't necessarily have bad or incomplete programs. Each market and technology specialty is unique, and sometimes channel programs don't require some of the elements used by other vendors. Every channel program has value, which is why you can find online a searchable database of all the vendors that submitted information about their partner programs.

Solution providers can use these resources in their evaluations to find vendors that offer not only innovative technologies but also channel programs that can support VARs' entry into new markets. Solution providers already participating in these 5-Star programs can use the rating as affirmation that they've made the right choice in the way of vendor partners.

Let us know what you think of the 5-Star programs we've selected. Affirming and dissenting opinions are welcomed at varletters@cmp.com.

NEXT: Breakdown of partner programs by tech specialization.