Avaya announces changes in Avaya Connect Channel Partner Program

Avaya has announced changes to its Avaya Connect Channel Partner program to advance partner expertise in successfully solving customers’ challenges using Avaya Collaboration technologies. The program changes will help channel partners differentiate their respective companies and help drive a high-quality end-to-end, customer experience.
Changes to the Avaya Connect Partner Program includes revisions to the requirements for achieving Silver, Gold and Platinum level status and the introduction of six new Solution Experts designations: enterprise unified communications and contact center, midmarket unified communications and contact center, networking and video. To achieve the Solution Expert designation in any one of these areas, partners need to acquire credentials in sales and design, achieve certain revenue thresholds as proof of their experience, and demonstrate customer satisfaction.  The Silver, Gold and Platinum level status will be determined based on the number of Solution Expert designations achieved by each partner company.
The changes to the program make it easier for channel partners to achieve a higher level status for their chosen business model and to distinguish themselves based on their expertise.  Highly flexible, the program supports both capex and opex sales models, allowing channel partners to support premise, cloud and hybrid cloud models. They can also take a ‘full stack’ approach to the Avaya solution portfolio, or they can focus on a particular area such as networking or contact center and still differentiate their expertise and gain the financial benefits for their solution area.
The program changes go into effect on October 1, 2014 with Avaya’s fiscal 2015, allowing partners a transition year during which they can earn their status levels based on current or new requirements, whichever works in their favor.
Avaya Connect Channel Partners can view a replay of Worldwide Channel Vice President Richard Steranka’s presentation and the announcement being made today in the Avaya Virtual Partner Forum.