HP Sets Sales Bars For New Channel Program

PartnerOne, HP's new all-encompassing channel program set to go into effect Nov. 1, has three different membership levels: Business Partner, Gold and Platinum.

Solution providers who sat in on an HP Webcast briefing led by Dan Vertrees, HP's vice president of enterprise partners for the Americas, said the Business Partner level could be achieved simply by maintaining current certifications and sales out requirements.

Attaining Gold-level status requires that the solution provider maintain five HP-certified technicians or sell $10 million annually in HP products, said solution providers who participated in the Webcast.

Vertrees said last week that Business Partner-level solution providers would receive no MDF under PartnerOne.

But solution providers who listened to the Webcast said Gold-level partners would receive 0.3 percent MDF for commercial product sales and 1 percent for HP enterprise product sales. Platinum-level solution providers will receive 0.3 percent for commercial sales and 1.5 percent for enterprise sales.

Vertrees said last week that partners could count agent and influence sales toward the sales bars in addition to products they actually take title to and sell.

An HP spokeswoman Monday confirmed the membership level requirements and MDF payment schedule. She added that Business Partner-level solution providers, even though they won't receive MDF, can participate in some of the sales rebate programs associated with PartnerOne, include new account sales and competitive displacements.