2023 Partner Program Guide: 5-Star System And Data Center Vendor Programs

As part of the Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some vendor channel programs as 5-Star Programs. Here are the 5-Star Programs among IT system and data center technology vendors for 2023.

A Systemic Approach

The CRN 2023 Partner Program Guide offers the information solution providers need to evaluate the channel programs operated by the IT vendors they work with or are considering partnering with. The guide is based on detailed applications submitted by vendors – more than 300 this year – outlining all aspects of their partner programs.

As part of the Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some programs as 5-Star Partner Programs because they provide the most comprehensive lineups of incentives, resources, training, services and benefits.

Here we provide snapshots of the 5-Star designees in the Systems and Data Center space. Details of every vendor’s partner program can be found here.

Slide shows in the 5-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week include companies that provide products and services in cloud platforms and infrastructure, devices and peripherals, data storage and backup, networking and unified communications, security, software, and systems and data center, in addition to 5-Star partner programs operated by distributors and emerging vendors. While many companies provide products and services that span multiple technologies, we’ve assigned each vendor to the slide show for the technology category in which they are most prominent.

AMD

Program Name: AMD Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2022

Channel Chief: Terry Richardson, North American Channel Chief

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: The most significant addition to our AMD Partner Program is the launch of our new Marketing Performance Portal (MPP) that allows channel partners real-time access to their MDF positions and claim status.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=15

Cyxtera Technologies

Program Name: Cyxtera Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2020

Channel Chief: Nick Voth, VP, Global Channel Strategies and Sales

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Cyxtera is continuing to invest in the program for our channel. Updates to our Referral, Solution Provider programs and the launch of our Ecosystem program as part of the overall Cyxtera Partner Network programs is focused on creating value for our partners and growing our mutual business.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=75

Dell Technologies

Program Name: Dell Technologies Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2017

Channel Chief: Rola Dagher, Global Channel Chief

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We’ve streamlined our Program “tracks”, harmonizing benefits and consolidating requirements across our metal tier hierarchy. This change has provided our partners incentive alignment across all sales motions, allowing them to focus on positioning the best solution for their customer, without compromising on rebates earning potential.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=80

Eaton

Program Name: Eaton Power Advantage Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2009

Channel Chief: Herve Tardy, VP Marketing & Strategy Critical Power and Digital Infrastructure

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: As the merging of Tripp Lite and Eaton continues, we focused on the integration of Tripp Lite by Eaton SKUs to add select SKUs to our deal registration program as well as our rewards program.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=85

Flexential

Program Name: Flexential Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2010

Channel Chief: Melissa McCoy, VP, Channel Sales

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We launched our new partner portal, implemented a new partner commission system, and continued to build out our partner enablement program.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=98

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Program Name: HPE Partner Ready Program

Year Program Established: 2002

Channel Chief: Simon Ewington, Interim Head of Partner Ecosystem

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: HPE is committed to delivering comprehensive, ongoing support that is tailored to our partners’ unique needs and business objectives. This year we announced updates to the HPE Pro Series, enhancements to Partner Connect, and a refresh to the HPE Partner Portal, improving the experience of HPE Partners and their customers.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=111

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Program Name: HPE Partner Ready Vantage

Year Program Established: 2022

Channel Chief: Simon Ewington, Interim Head of Partner Ecosystem

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: HPE Partner Ready Vantage empowers partners to reach new markets and unlock new revenue streams with as-a-service solutions for their business models. Encompassing both Hybrid Cloud and Aruba, Centers of Expertise within Build, Sell and Service Tracks help partners develop capabilities that deliver unique customer experiences and support business outcomes.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=112

IBM

Program Name: IBM Partner Plus

Year Program Established: 2023

Channel Chief: Kate Woolley, General Manager, IBM Ecosystem

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: IBM Partner Plus is a new program, launched in January 2023, that reimagines how IBM engages with its business partners through unprecedented access to IBM resources, incentives and tailored support to deepen their technical expertise and help speed time to market.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=118

Intel

Program Name: Intel Partner Alliance

Year Program Established: 2021

Channel Chief: John Kalvin, VP, Sales, Marketing and Communications Group; General Manager of Global Partners & Support

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Since the launch of Intel Partner Alliance, we’ve continued to expand our program to embrace more ecosystem partners, and create opportunities for collaboration and engagement for all channel partners globally. We have also continued to enhance benefits that provide value to support our partners’ business needs.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=131

Lenovo

Program Name: Partner Engage Program

Year Program Established: 2018

Channel Chief: Pascal Bourguet, COO and Channel Chief, International Markets

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Combining our client and server program teams has enabled us to streamline processes and share best practices across both sides of the business. We also launched specific programs for OEM and MSP partners and added attributes to our standard program that include incentives for as-a-service and solutions opportunities.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=148

Nutanix

Program Name: Nutanix Elevate Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2020

Channel Chief: David Gwyn, SVP, Worldwide Channels and Customer Success

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Enhancements To Nutanix’s Elevate Partner Program include: net new business individual incentives for identifying, registering and winning new business; a special individual incentive when partners sell Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Azure solutions; a new Referral Program; and a new organizational rebate for channel-led solution sizing.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=184

Nvidia

Program Name: Nvidia Partner Network

Year Program Established: 2014

Channel Chief: Alvin Da Costa, VP, Worldwide Partner Organization

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Integrated Networking partners into the NVIDIA Partner Network Program, as a result of the Mellanox acquisition; Launched an ISV Partner Program, including an accelerated software validation capability. Enhance and expanded our Global System Integrator Program.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=185

Scale Computing

Program Name: Scale Computing Partner Community

Year Program Established: 2016

Channel Chief: Scott Mann, Global Channel Chief

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We continued to shift towards a digital campaign model that leveraged the robust internal resources and tools as an extension of our partners teams.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=229

Schneider Electric

Program Name: mySchneider Contractor Program

Year Program Established: 2019

Channel Chief: Natalie Block, Global Contractor Channel Director

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Our Partner program has grown and expanded to more countries, which have enabled more connections to partners worldwide, to support each other with problems and challenges within their fields. We have also released more training modules and newer innovative offers that will help partners in their day-to-day responsibilities.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=231

Schneider Electric

Program Name: EcoXpert Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2015

Channel Chief: Virginie Milhaud, EcoXpert Program Director

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: In 2022 the EcoXpert Partner Program underwent a major evolution in its framework. We merged competencies to strategically align with local market opportunities and added two new competencies for eMobility and Microgrid, designed to help our partners expand their bid scope and win new projects.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=232

Schneider Electric

Program Name: mySchneider IT Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2022

Channel Chief: Shannon Sbar, VP, Channels, North America

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: In 2022 we introduced the new mySchneider IT Partner Program that has a simplified program structure and enables specializations to adapt to partners’ evolving business needs. The IT Solution Provider specialization is currently available and provides an updated range of sales tools, training and our relaunched Rewards program.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=233

Schneider Electric Industries SAS

Program Name: mySchneider Panel Builders Program

Year Program Established: 2019

Channel Chief: Luis Daniel Campobello, Global Head of Panel Builders Channel

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: Update of benefits and duties associated with each program tier, including new strategic channel priorities such as software, services and sustainability

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=234

Vertiv

Program Name: Vertiv Partner Program

Year Program Established: 2016

Channel Chief: Peter Klanian, SVP, North American Sales

Most Significant Changes To Partner Program Over The Past Year: We plan to add a dedicated partner programs management and support function to the regional channel marketing team to ensure program design and implementation is aligned with our regional partner marketing needs. Also, we continue to make additions to our partner portal, including certifications, co-brandable library assets, and TCMA capabilities.

Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2023-details.htm?c=295