NetApp’s unwavering commitment towards partners gets manifested in its programs

Ganesan Arumugam
Director - Channel Sales - NetApp India 

NetApp’s commitment to partners’ growth is indicative in the margins and incentives it offers to those who market NetApp solutions, alongside offering comprehensive marketing assistance and resources. The primary aim is to empower them to generate demand and secure new business opportunities. 

Partner programs play a vital role in a company’s marketing strategy. Our partners are at the core of our business, propelling our growth and success. We have built our foundation on a 100% channel partner model, which has consistently delivered impressive results. The strategic NetApp Partner Sphere Program simplifies operations for partners of all kinds, aligning perfectly with their go-to-market strategies. As a part of our strategy, regular meetings and an advisory board offer a platform for collaboration and feedback from our partners, helping us enhance our offerings continually.  

Through our partner program, we leverage the strengths and expertise of our partners, creating a mutually beneficial scenario for all parties involved. The relationships we've built with our partners are invaluable, and our unwavering commitment remains in evolving our program to support their growth and success. 

We value our partners, and in order to ensure their success, we work with them in areas of - 
Partner enablement: We offer a variety of enablement programs to help our partners develop their sales and technical skills. These programs include training and certification, workshops, webinars, and other resources to partners. 
Partner experience: We are focused on delivering an exceptional experience to our partners. We provide them with dedicated account managers and support teams, as well as a variety of online tools and resources that make it easy for partners to do business with NetApp. 
Partner ecosystem: We are committed to building a strong partner ecosystem and working closely with our partners to deliver value to customers. We invest in partner development programs and initiatives that help partners grow their businesses and expand their capabilities. 

Additionally, we have inducted few of our long-standing partners onto our advisory board, a move aimed at gaining deeper insights into the real-world requirements of our customers. During periodic partner summits, we leverage the opportunities to gather valuable feedback from them. The NetApp Partner Sphere Program brings in new engagement models and tiering systems that incentivise and accelerate their reach in flash and cloud with reciprocal value that increases as partners move up the program tiers.