F5 Networks UNITY Program Helps Global Channel Partners Increase Value for Customers
Oct. 20, 2010
Expansion of Comprehensive Program Encourages Partners to Invest in Deeper Sales Engagements That Enhance Customer Experience and Satisfaction
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in Application Delivery Networking (ADN), today announced the continuing expansion of its successful UNITY Partner Program worldwide. The company now offers one comprehensive global program to assist all partners in enhancing F5 engagements with their customers. Building on the previous success of program components in North America and EMEA, UNITY was introduced in Australia and New Zealand on October 1, 2010. The program’s next launch is slated for the Japan market in November 2010, with worldwide rollout continuing through early 2011.
“We made a firm commitment to develop a global partner program focused on helping our resellers and distributors add more value for their customers while ensuring growth, profitability, and return on investment,” said Dean Darwin, VP of Worldwide Channels at F5. “The UNITY program has been extremely well received and quickly gained momentum throughout North America, and EMEA, where the partner community now sees dramatic increases in both pipeline and profitability. We’re excited to see all our global partners reap these benefits as we complete the program’s worldwide rollout in early 2011.”
UNITY Program Details
UNITY underscores F5’s continued dedication to its worldwide channel by including new features that deliver higher returns as partners add more value, provide partners with a deeper knowledge of ADN solutions, and simplify doing business with F5. The program defines clear, measurable expectations and protects the investments of partners, ultimately helping them deliver world-class solutions to meet the diverse, evolving IT needs of their customers. With its full disclosure of rules and requirements, UNITY is one of the most open channel programs in the industry, helping F5 develop strong, collaborative relationships worldwide.
Advantages of the UNITY program include:
Unified Deal Registration – Enabling partners to better identify and pursue opportunities leads to smoother sales cycles and enhanced returns.
Investment Support – UNITY features discounts based on the partner offering clearly defined value-added services, including training programs that increase their customers’ awareness and knowledge of application delivery solutions.
Comprehensive Partner Portal – Tight integration with F5’s CRM infrastructure gives partners the ability to intelligently track sales opportunities, and simplifies access to solution information and other F5 resources.
Marketing Tools Designed for Distributors – F5 arms channel partners with dedicated marketing resources, including programmatic support for lead generation, customer-focused events, and targeted outreach campaigns.
Supporting Quotes
“F5’s partner program is well thought out and offers compelling incentives that are of great benefit to channel partners,” said Paul Black, President of Comm Solutions, a technology integrator that helps organizations optimize, accelerate, and secure their networks for more efficient IT operations. “The program’s discount structure and excellent support and training features have helped us maximize returns on our F5 investments. Those are persuasive reasons for stepping up our commitment and increasing our engagement in the application delivery market as a whole.”
“O2 Networks fully supports F5’s UNITY programme,” said Euan Prentice, Managing Director at O2 Networks, an enterprise networking and security consultancy in Australia. “We believe this programme is superior to those offered by other vendors as it rewards both partnership status and sales investment. Indeed, integrators that invest in F5’s leading technology can demonstrate their value throughout the sales process and be appropriately rewarded for it. Finally?a programme that rewards investment in local technical knowledge and capability!”
“The UNITY program provides great incentives to the channel in that it clearly defines what partners need to do to draw benefits from new opportunities, and it highlights what F5 will provide in return,” said Nick Verykios, Director of Sales and Marketing at Distribution Central Pty Ltd., a leading distributor of security, infrastructure, storage, and other IT solutions in Australia and New Zealand. “This is essential for the success of any channel program. UNITY’s strategy is unique in that it gives partners incentive to grow business and earn more, whilst protecting the reseller working on the opportunity. It also gives them the right tools to capitalise on that opportunity.” |
