Intel unveils new benefits to partners who focus on IoT
Chip maker refreshes partner programme with added benefits and resources for partners who focus on certain markets
Intel has updated its partner programme to hand resellers specialising in certain sectors, including the Internet of Things (IoT), added benefits and resources.
The updates to the Intel Technology Provider programme were announced yesterday at this year's Intel Solutions Summit (ISS) in Abu Dhabi, and see a number of new features within the IoT, education and retail sectors.
Speaking about the programme updates, Richard Peel, Intel's EMEA channel director, said the changes were made to reward the focus of the chip maker's partners.
"What we have done just now with our launch is try to recognise the areas of focus of the companies out there, because they all tell us we focus on SMEs, or education or increasingly IoT – that's a big area for us. And we are trying to recognise our partners who have that vertical focus or specific areas they take to market," he said.
Partners who provide IoT to the retail sector will now have access to pre-sales technical support, which Intel claims will help them "cement their status as trusted advisers to their customers with expertise in end-to-end IoT solutions".
These partners will also be given access to analyst studies and IoT networking events. And they will be provided access to innovation labs, designed to "accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions".
IoT has become a central focus for Intel and in 2014 it recorded revenues of $2.1bn (£1.37bn), up 19 per cent from 2013, from IoT. The technology trend was a central talking point throughout this year's ISS.
Intel has also added benefits to partners in the education sector, making education technical specialists available to them and providing education resources, such as sales training. The chip maker has also said it will provide partners with reward points – which can be used for Intel events, travel, and marketing materials – for sales in education software and certain hardware platforms.
Finally, Intel has made updates in its retail sector, such as delivering access to marketing development managers, face-to-face retail training and also delivering reward points to these partners.
To achieve these benefits, partners are required to have shipped 3,000 units of Intel platform per year and achieved a certain level of training, for the education sector.
For IoT, partners must demonstrate this same level of training and show they can provision solutions. And for the retail category, there is a requirement of 5,000 units per year.
Peel added he expects these specialist reward programmes will expand across other verticals over the coming year.