IBM announced this week a new initiative aimed at empowering its partners to embrace cloud, mobile, and big data analytics technologies as resources for revenue.
As part of that initiative, IBM is providing tools and services to partners to help leverage digital marketing. It is also providing its partners with one-year free access to cloud-based IBM Digital Analytics technology that helps in the analysis of big data in order to identify patterns in customer preferences and to improve marketing strategies.
“With this capability, businesses can mine data on interactions via web, mobile, and other digital channels, including interactions referred from all major social networks, to better adjust and personalize market campaigns based on that insight,” states IBM in a press release submitted to ChannelPro-SMB.“With this initiative, business partners will now have free access to this cloud-based technology to apply deep analytics to mine big data and enable them to compete in today’s digital and social environment.”
“The interdependence of mobile, social, big data, and cloud is undeniable, and will only multiply as data growth and mobile use continue,” says IBM’s Global Business Partners general manager Mark Hennessy. “We are committed to the success of our business partners in this shift in the way we do business across industries and around the globe.”
Ready for IBM MobileFirst
In order to help partners address the proliferation of mobile devices, IBM is launching a program called Ready for IBM MobileFirst. This effort is designed to help IBM’s business partners bring innovative mobile solutions to the market in a variety of industries.
Additionally, independent software vendors will be able to embed mobile technologies into their solutions with the Software Value Plus program. IBM will also offer mobile certifications, workshops, and incentives for resellers and systems integrators.
IBM is also enabling IBM Business Partners to help credit-qualified clients take advantage of simple, flexible lease and loan packages for the Ready for IBM MobileFirst portfolio and Big Data analytics, starting at as low as 0 percent for 12 months with no upfront costs. Additionally, IBM will also provide marketing support to business partners to help reach new buyers in this space.
Technical Sales Training
To help business partners improve sales related to expert, integrated systems, IBM’s Systems & Technology Group plans to increase its dedicated channel sales and technical sales specialists by 50 percent in 2013.
In addition, IBM is improving existing and rolling out new PartnerWorld Specialty and Certification Programs for IBM System x, PureFlex, and Flex Systems. These programs are designed to assist partners in developing specialized skills.
