ActiveIntranet unveils partner strategy
SME resellers to sell Workspace Portal offering
Intranet knowledge sharing software developer ActiveIntranet has launched a new partner strategy for small to medium sized enterprise (SME) resellers to sell its Workspace Portal product.
Workspace Portal is a cross-platform contact and collaboration software tool that allows company users to access and use information stored on the intranet.
Frank Foxall, ActiveIntranet's head of operations, said: "There is a good opportunity for end users that want to make use of their intellectual capital. Many organisations have spent a lot of money on web development, and are now ready to invest in their intranets."
Vaughn Hanning-Lee, managing director of reseller Steelden, said: "It is good for resellers because we no longer have to go to different vendors to integrate a knowledge management solution, and it is much simpler because it is web-based."
Resellers are included in the second tier of ActiveIntranet's three-tier programme. Foxall said resellers will have to go through an accreditation process to qualify as a partner.
"It wasn't that difficult for us to become accredited because it is an easier way of doing what we have already been doing," said Hanning-Lee.
Foxall believes the innovative approach by the SME marketplace to get the best out of technology, and the integration skills of resellers, will encourage the development of new software by other vendors.
The first tier of the partner programme sees companies such as Cap Gemini and EDS marketing the software. Technology partners such as Citrix will make up the third tier and the company hopes these partners will actively promote the ActiveIntranet products.
ActiveIntranet is not alone among vendors in seeing knowledge management solutions delivered over the intranet as a probable growth area. Mark Ryan, software vendor Lotus' programme marketing manager, Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: "Knowledge management software is a primary investment for Lotus because we see it as a new growth area."