By Nathan Dukes
Following successful deployment in New Zealand, SAP Australia today announced the introduction of the SAP Extended Business Program to Australia.
The program works by amalgamating hardware vendors, business consulting firms, integrators, resellers and independent software vendors of various sizes, geographic locations and specialist expertise into larger networks, led by one Master Value Added Reseller (VAR).
Smaller organisations can leverage the size and customer base of their VAR, to expand their operations and open new channels of business.
SAP channel partner Extend Technologies is the first Master VAR to embrace the program locally.
“SAP is committed to providing support for our partners in growing and developing their businesses, and the Extended Business Program is a formal structure that helps to provide this support,” said Helen Masters, General Manager, Growth Markets, SAP ANZ.
“For example, smaller organisations that have specific geographical coverage, niche industry vertical capability or solution specific expertise, are able to partner with Extend Technologies and offer their customers SAP solutions.”
All program members will be aligned with SAP and the SAP brand, and are able to participate in tailored enablement and demand generation programs; supported by their Master VAR who is authorised to re-sell SAP solutions.
The program is ideal for partners who have sales or implementation capabilities but are not able to meet the full requirements or investment of SAP PartnerEdge for channel partners.
SAP and Extend Technologies will provide Extended Business Program partners with an initial induction and a tailored enablement plan; in addition to sales and pre-sales training, technical training and consultant certification.
“People prefer to do business with companies that are based in the same city or that have specific industry expertise,” said Andrew Powell, General Manager – Commercial, Extend Technologies.
“The Extended Business Program network means that we’re able to assist these types of companies to enter the SAP ecosystem and access the wealth of templates, training, and accelerators available. We can enable these companies to develop strong SAP practices with compelling and relevant offers for the markets they service,” Powell said.
Originally launched and trialled in Europe and the Asia Pacific Japan region, the program ‘delivers tangible value to SAP partners’ and companies associated with them.
SAP said the program is part of their commitment to developing the IT ecosystem in Australia, in order to meet the needs of customers and to drive the growth of the region’s software industry.
“We expect that SME ecosystem programs, such as the SAP Extended Business Program, will have a significant, positive impact for our Master VARs and the program members,” said Masters.
