IBM unveils One Channel Team

New initiative designed to align channel from across Big Blue

It's all change at IBM as the vendor unveiled its One Channel Team - an effort to "bring simplicity" to partners by helping them build skills, drive demand and increase growth.

The team is designed to align channel operations from across the company in an effort to provide a broader, more competitive partner experience, according to Big Blue, while also increasing IBM's focus on the recruitment of new partners, developers and independent software vendors.

"As IBM continues its move to higher-value solutions in strategic markets, we are helping business partners solve business challenges for clients by providing them deeper skills, collaborative tools and new growth opportunities," said Marc Dupaquier, general manager, IBM Global Business Partners.

"With the One Channel Team, we've built a strong, dynamic partner ecosystem that is designed to make it easier for business partners to build more profitable lines of business. Business partners who have already transformed with us are seeing the results."

IDC analyst Darren Bibby, programme vice president of channels and alliances research at analyst IDC, was on hand to point out that the channel continues to evolve, especially in the cloud arena, with more partners focusing on business solutions rather than product transactions.

"The greater cloud market alone is expected to reach $118 billion this year, representing a huge opportunity for partners who embrace it," he said.

IBM said its intention is to accelerate the pace for partners in order that they can capitalize on this evolution.

Examples of IBM's enhanced offerings to partners include:

• Expanding IBM's Business Transformation Initiative (BTI) with over 300 new workshops

• Developing deeper knowledge and partner skills with a more intuitive platform for resources, including new educational modules around industry shifts

• Delivering greater educational incentives through an improved Know Your IBM learning portal

• Enhancing IBM's dedicated developer engagement community with dW Answers

• Increasing opportunities for growth with cognitive computing and the opportunity to resell Watson Explorer

Big Blue announced its One Channel Team at its PartnerWorld Leadership Conference in Las Vegas this week.