Red Hat updates partner programme for 'simplicity and flexibility'
Red Hat is launching a revamped partner programme to enable streamlined collaboration and easier access to key tech
Red Hat is launching an updated partner programme to provide simplicity, choice and flexibility for partners.
As part of this update, the open source vendor is introducing upgraded tools to enable streamlined collaboration and easier access to key technology, training and resources.
IDC predicted 70 per cent of vendors will pursue a customer-led ecosystem approach by 2025, indicating technology vendors must align with partners to deliver coordinated solutions, services and flexibility customers want today.
To address changing customer demands, Red Hat is simplifying its partner engagement model to provide transparency across the ecosystem and a framework designed with the customer in mind.
"Partners globally contribute over 70 per cent of our revenue," Penny Philpot, VP of EMEA partner ecosystem at Red Hat tells CRN.
"Our approach is ‘customer first, partner always' and we take that very seriously. The Red Hat partner ecosystem stands out because we come together as specialists, working on exciting new technologies from edge to AI to cloud."
The programme revamp aligns with Red Hat's pillars of sustainable cloud growth, expanding distribution partner skills, and deepening integrated offerings over the next 2-3 years.
The goal, Philpot says, is to build, connect and catalyse on an open partner ecosystem, engage simply and transparently, co-create solutions and accelerate partner business growth.
The Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Programme focuses on enabling, validating and incentivising partners for commercial customers including mid-market and SMB.
It's designed to empower partners to lead the commercial customer lifecycle using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform and OpenShift.
To support the updated model, Red Hat is investing in making expertise and solutions more accessible to partners.
This includes an on-demand demo platform with product demos and workshops ahead of general availability.
The updated partner engagement model and programming rolls out in the second half of 2024.
The Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Program is invite-only and open to eligible partners globally.
The demo platform will be available in May 2024.
Partner response
Armando Arias, CEO of Li9 Technology Solutions told CRN: "Partners are excited about the new Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Programme's value in identifying experienced partners committed to expertise with OpenShift and Ansible to deliver business and technology value."
Burak Şahin, assistant general manager at Sekom, also commented that the programme aligns with Sekom's service excellence commitment and will establish the firm as a trusted expert for complex digital transformation projects using Red Hat technologies.