Channel Partner’s Role in Mobile Technologies

Cloud computing is hailed as the new revolution in computing technology. More and more IT software companies are coming out with cloud versions of their conventional software and flagship products.

The cloud is not the only buzzword in the industry though. There is mobile, apps, iPhone, and smart phone. Incredible as it may sound, I think that in the future, we would all have the one gadget for everything. As lap tops are still hard to carry and heavy with their considerable dimensions, smart phones like the ubiquitous iPhones and smart portable gadgets like the iPad is turning out to be the go-to gadget in times of boredom and also in idle times when a busy executive could be doing something productive.


partner profiling

Since the conception of the smart phones, applications or “apps” are no longer confined to a desktop computer. They are being used for all sorts of, well, applications be it to enhance productivity at work, help with household tasks to gaming. The business of the mobile apps just keeps growing and with the advent of the Google’s Android phones, Steve Job’s iPhone iTunes just met their match.

When vendors are directly offering these mobile software for their user directly, what then is the role of channel partners and does channel management service play a role?

Well I think channel partners and resellers are more focused on the hardware rather than the software. The iPhone’s exclusive deal with AT&T has definitely caused frustrations for their fans, including me, because of the level of service AT&T brings to subscribers. Dropped calls, low signal, and even the lack of signal are all complains of the customers who wish to own every new iPhone model that comes out.

Fortunately, smart phones are not limited to Apple. Motorola, for example, has a new channel partner program called PartnerEmpowerment. The different program levels reflect different sets of solutions each with requirements and benefits that fit the channel partner’s capabilities. Channel management service is needed to streamline Motorola transactions to ensure that both vendor and reseller get exactly what they want.

Partner Profiles—A Letter to a Parent Company

Dear Recruiting Parent Company,

Hello! I recently heard of your need to recruit new and reliable channel partners for your well¬-known distribution network. I am a retailer that is bent on increasing profits substantially in order to expand as an independent business. Your program offerings and other incentives really stand out and provide great opportunities to affiliates you carefully recruit, and I am very interested to become one of your members.

I know that you are currently considering a lot of partner profiles of companies bigger than I am, but I hope that you will not close your doors to me for I am very capable and competent despite my size. I reviewed your company’s profile and found out that we have a lot in common in terms of mission, vision, objectives and goals. Like you, I am very keen on detailed, excellent work. I always strive for quality and above-average productivity levels. We also share similar views when it comes to the quality of the design and implementation of channel management approaches such as partner relationship management and channel sales strategies.

Hopefully, through these partner profiles, you will be able to acquire the partners that you are looking for. After all, we all know that recruitment is not about the number of partners you get. It’s all about quality and competence, and the overall fit. It is important that all the members mesh well and complement each other especially when it comes to business goals, objectives, operations and strategies. This will ensure the prevention of conflict and a smoother road towards exponential revenue generation.

I will certainly be an asset to your channel distribution network. But more importantly, I truly believe in your mission and vision as a business. I am determined to work hard for you because I am confident about the genuine truth behind your good reputation. You can count on my loyalty if ever you decide to engage me in a mutually profitable business relationship.

Best Regards,

Competent Retailer

About Sudden Cuts and Conflicts

I really don’t know much about channel management or partner portal. The only thing I do know about them is that basically they help the managers and the company organize the people around them.

As an ordinary employee, I shouldn’t be concerned with what the management specifically does since I should be busy with my own work. But when I think about it, perhaps I really should be. After all, whatever they’re going to look at or use or decide or even experiment on would most likely affect nobody else but me. So whether or not they decide to use partner portals, channel management or whatever they agree upon using means that I shouldn’t get involved but I’ll be affected anyway. Really, the points of authority.

I remember reading about the conflicts that happen with channel management on direct selling agents. Considering some companies, it’s really easy for them to cut out the middleman when they already think that the direct selling method isn’t suitable anymore for them. It’s really easy for them to slowly dis-intermediate then all of sudden they lean on eBay. Some companies are really sneaky when it comes to this because they’re already cutting channels, you’ll feel it coming but you can’t dodge it anyway.


What I do like about management is that some of them really make life easier. I remember a friend of mine always boasting about when he wins their small internal contests. In a way, that kind of management boosts the morale as well as the performance of the employees without the danger of suddenly cutting the agents channels out of nowhere. I think agents sell better when they feel like they can do anything, especially if the company lets them feel that way through promotions, contests and even small get-togethers.

Maybe I should start being more optimistic about the management or, more importantly, about myself. It’s hard to fight stress nowadays and it’s even harder when I am afraid of getting my channel cut suddenly. I do wish the management would give me something to look forward to or maybe even something to would boost my morale. In that way, maybe I can sell any product they would give me.

Industries Reliant on Partner Portals

Recently, I have observed the growing number of companies that are relying on partner portals. I understand that they really are important and the production and exchange of information between parent companies and their associates however I also think that it’s absurdly difficult to rely on just that. I also think that big companies who ally themselves with significantly much smaller ones not much to gain. Banks are a good example for these types. After all, it is almost a requirement to them today that they have to get the right information they need to carefully calculate their next move. Experimenting is not so bad but I learned that it may also cost you.


channel management solutions

I learned this from my brother. He is an associate manager of a bank in the city which is aiming to expand and experiment applying their type of business on the countryside. They found themselves some good small time banks to exchange information with so as to know how to determine the cost they are going to invest in their little experiment. Months later, the result was a negative sign for them since their bank system needed a minimum number of clients and customers who were not available on the countryside they chose. Of course, the other small time banks they traded information with now knows a lot about the business on the city, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of those banks suddenly aimed to expand their business in the city.

Some start-up marketing companies are also not an exception to this. Those marketing companies who want to do their business on different channels always had the problem of transferring from one channel to another; especially since some of them really don’t have much flexibility in their system to begin with. Plus if these companies don’t have partner portals or channel management of some sort they often end up on channel conflicts. I remember a close friend of mine often getting angry for having competition over the same prospect with people from the same company. This just goes to show that companies in the industry of marketing and banking are becoming more and more dependent on technology.