Microsoft plays matchmaker to find the perfect partner for its dealers
Microsoft is moving into the business of matchmaking with its channel initiative ? the Perfect Match programme.
Dealers are being encouraged to link up because customers are finding it hard to secure a complete solution, according to the vendor.
Under the terms of the scheme, Microsoft will introduce solution developers partners (SDs) to resellers that are equipped with specialist skills, regional coverage and market specialisation.
It is also producing a hard copy directory, issued to soluion providers, which will give a list of all its Microsoft partners? vital statistics.
Gordon Smillie, corporate customer unit manager at Microsoft, said: ?In an open IT world, the one-stop shop is effectively defunct. The solutions they [customers] buy require a broad range of skills, and increasingly several partners provide these.
?Microsoft is in a strong position to encourage co-operation among partners. The Perfect Match programme has therefore been developed to address two issues: firstly for the customer to get the best Microsoft solution for their needs,; and secondly to allow partners to build a critical mass of skills in specialist areas.?
Microsoft is holding a series of partner days which started this week at the Windows Show. Each will target particular industry or technology sectors.
The company is also running a chatline on its new channel Web site. It would like to use the forum to ?encourage freeflow dialogue between like-minded channel partners?.