EMC intensify SME push with new AP partner initiatives
EMC intensify SME push with new AP partner initiatives
Storage giant EMC Corporation has further signalled its intention get more deeply involved in the SME market in Asia Pacific with the launch of three new partner initiatives in the region.
Once more readily associated with the high end market, EMC has in recent times realigned its focus to reach out to the small to medium business market, aided by its close partnership with Dell, which has greater expertise and experience in this area.
EMC has established seven Partner Support Centres (PSC) in key markets across Asia Pacific. The PSCs are supplemented by a new online Partner Support System (PSS) together with an enhanced Contact Management System (CMS). It provides partners with the latest pricing information, local language support, and access to an array of sales, marketing, training, and support resources.
“Channel partners play a critical role in delivering EMC solutions to small and medium enterprises,” said Gary Jackson, vice president of EMC Partners and Alliances, Asia Pacific and Japan.
“The launch of EMC’s new Partner Support Centres together with a new Partner Support System and Contact Management System is a critical step in furthering our market penetration in Asia Pacific. Designed to be friendly and easy-to-use, it provides significant benefits to our channel partners, resellers and distributors, allowing us to better support and meet their needs to increase penetration in SME and enterprise businesses.”
Located in seven key markets – Sydney, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, and Bangalore, the EMC Partner Support Centre consists of a cross-functional team that adheres to clear service level agreements (SLA) to ensure timely response to partner queries and requests. The process of routing and escalation of partner queries and requests is completely automated by PSS. Partner requests are processed in such a way that missed SLAs are automatically routed to EMC Senior Management for priority attention.
The Partner Support System (PSS) is a web-based application designed to support and enable EMC Asia Pacific partners in their local language. It features an easy and simple-to-use interface designed to help partners providing solutions to the SME market to better service their customers. Some of its key features include automation, routing and escalation for deal registration, pricing assistance, custom professional services quotes, presales questions and answers, and general requests. PSS provides local language support in English and five Asian languages including Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Thai.
The Contact Management System (CMS) introduced during EMC’s Velocity Program has been redesigned for ease-of-use, navigation and additional content. It features e-learning functions, a news centre, new and updated content for the Velocity Program, Authorised Services Network and EMC Proven Accreditation and Certification Programs for 2004. CMS provides local language support in English and four Asian languages including Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.
“These new channel initiatives are designed to attract more partners by creating a great partner experience, offering them access to new opportunities underpinned by strong support from a team of EMC partner-focus professionals,” added Jackson.
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