Quantum partners must re-qualify for Alliance programme
Vendor to take best parts of ADIC's scheme to integrate into its own following acquisition
Resellers for both Quantum and ADIC will be required to re-qualify for inclusion into a combined channel programme, following Quantum’s recent $770m acquisition of ADIC (CRN, 23 August).
Quantum will take the best pieces of ADIC’s existing partner programme and integrate them into its own Quantum Alliance partner programme. The vendor claimed the process will be completed by December and that the eventual combined programme will remain branded as the Quantum Alliance partner programme.
Kevin Honeycutt, vice-president of sales and marketing for EMEA at ADIC, told CRN that since the acquisition has been completed, it is important to broadcast a message to the market about exactly why Quantum chose to make the acquisition.
“Partners like getting a portfolio of products from a single supplier,” he claimed. “We don’t expect to have a very rigorous re-qualification process for partners and we don’t think there will be a huge overlap in partners.”
Quantum told CRN that it hopes to integrate all of ADIC’s products into its portfolio over the next five to six months, and brand them under the Quantum name.
Paul Hickingbotham, solutions manager at storage distributor Hammer, told CRN that it is a good move for Quantum to expand its brand name to cover ADIC’s products.
“A redesigned partner programme is a good idea, as long as it’s policed properly,” he said. “The re-qualification of partners is a good thing and shows that the programme has some substance, because there’s little benefit if everyone is included.”
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