In early 2023, Red Hat committed to transforming the global partner engagement experience, aiming to offer greater simplicity, choice, and flexibility. Red Hat has officially announced the first wave of updates to the Red Hat Partner Program, delivering on that promise.
With significant trends emerging in artificial intelligence (AI), virtualization, and more, coordinated cross-collaboration across technology vendors and solution providers is essential. Red Hat has been closely monitoring these market dynamics to understand how they affect partners and customers, leading to an ecosystem-driven approach to IT modernization.
The overhaul of Red Hat’s global partner engagement is built on three main pillars:
- Standardized Global Partner Program: This serves as the foundation, allowing partners to transact more simply and transparently through a consistent tiering framework based on engagement, expertise, and performance.
- Streamlined Partner Incentives: Applicable across all partner types, these incentives are designed to help build and accelerate business pipelines.
- Enhanced Digital Experience: Providing unified tools and access to critical resources through Red Hat Partner Connect, improving the overall digital experience for partners.
These enhancements will empower Red Hat partners to accelerate revenue, engage in collaborative activities, and reduce friction in transacting, building, and managing with Red Hat.
Red Hat is introducing a modular design to its partner program, allowing partners to earn points for activities aligned with their business goals. The first three modules—Resell, Distribution, and Sell With—are now available. Partners can select activities within each module based on their priorities, accelerating growth and profitability. This modular design simplifies partner engagement with Red Hat, whether through a single module or multiple ones.
This initial launch lays the foundation for the Red Hat Partner Program, with additional modules to be introduced throughout the year, supporting further activities across build, sell, and service business motions.
Partners can earn points through the modules, qualifying them for additional benefits, tailored support, and enhanced opportunities based on their engagement level. The standardized deal registration process now allows partners to register opportunities globally, receiving extra discounts and support. Improved market development fund (MDF) tools and processes also make it easier for partners to secure additional funding based on their module activities.
Red Hat plans to continue expanding and deepening partner incentives and benefits throughout the year, reinforcing key focus areas within the partner ecosystem.
To help partners navigate the new modules, Red Hat has upgraded the Red Hat Partner Connect portal with a streamlined interface that guides partners through their activities. Enhancements include real-time, detailed performance and reporting dashboards for opportunity management, increasing visibility to deal registration and business opportunities.
With these new partner modules and benefits, Red Hat is creating a unified global partner engagement experience based on choice and flexibility, aiming to deliver optimal customer value. Partners can now collaborate more easily with Red Hat across multiple engagement routes, unlocking new rewards through a universal activity-based points system. As partners progress through the modules, the transparent program structure offers clear pathways for collaboration, real-time reporting, and greater visibility into business opportunities with Red Hat and the broader ecosystem.
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