HP has revealed that 40 channel businesses in Ireland are in the process of qualifying for its elite preferred partner programme which was launched at the end of October.
The preferred partner programme is divided into nine specialisations, including computing systems, imaging and printing, mobility, networking and security, services and high-performance computing. Each specialisation has its own qualification criteria and benefits.
Martin Cullen, head of PSG and SPO, HP Ireland, said the programme would help channel partners to focus on specific areas and help to drive specialisation. “It’s a win for everyone in the chain,” he claimed.
Some channel partners would have to decide which areas to specialise in while others would have historical strengths in some areas and it would be a matter of “continuing that and driving it into the new format”.
Cullen said he expected to have the accreditation process for the preferred partner programme completed by May 2006.
HP also took the opportunity last month to launch a smart portal – “the official online resource for HP partners” – and what it described as a “multi-million euro advertising campaign”.
Smart Portal is a Web site that offers a wide range of information, interactive tools and services designed to aid business between HP and its partners.
HP quoted a Benchmark survey of SME senior executives across Europe that revealed over 50 per cent thought large vendors “could do more to cater to their business needs in terms of tailored solutions, payments options and support”.
Cullen described the portal as a “valuable tool in the kit bag. It’s hugely important for us. It will make us more dynamic, more accessible and more efficient”.
The smart portal is available to all partners in the EMEA region, but access varies by partner level. Preferred partners get priority access to product and special pricing information.
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