HP to lower barrier for services partners

Entry level for services specialism will drop from HP's fiscal 2012 as vendor rolls out global structure

HP has announced plans to make its services specialism more accessible to partners and harmonise it across territories.

About 30 UK partners currently hold HP's services specialism, but the badge is set for a global overhaul as HP harmonises its look and feel across its three global theatres.

Paul Early, channel manager for HP technology services UK, said the changes, which will occur at the start of HP's fiscal 2012 in November, would improve its accessibility.

"The entry level for being a services specialist will drop and the more of our portfolio they sell, the more they will enjoy from HP around PfR [Pay for Results], warranty reimbursements and logistics.

"It will be a better services specialisation."

The global shake-up is being fronted by Christophe Bouquet, who was recently promoted from service channel director EMEA to the equivalent post at a global level.

"Some of our partners are big enough to supply pan-geography, pan-EMEA or even in Asia-Pacific and want to come to HP and have a similar model across the globe," said Early.

Partners are set to hear more of the details in the summer, Early added.