Open-source solutions provider Red Hat announced the transformation of its global partner experience to offer improved simplicity, choice and flexibility to collaborating partners. With this, Red Hat is modernizing its partner engagement model by launching a new program framework, upgraded tools to streamline cross-collaboration and easier access to critical technology, training and resources.
To address changing customer demand, Red Hat’s streamlined partner-engagement model will provide greater transparency across the ecosystem and apply a partner program framework that is purposely designed with the end customer in mind.
Partners will have greater choice and flexibility in how they choose to work with Red Hat, helping to align more closely with existing business strategy and customer need. The enhancements will help improve the partner experience and encourage ecosystem co-creation to deepen partner capabilities, better supporting customers.
As part of the shift, Red Hat is introducing the Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Program to focus on identifying, enabling, validating and incentivizing partners within the commercial segment, including SMB and mid-market customers. With this program, partners can lead the full commercial customer lifecycle while providing differentiated and impactful business outcomes using Red Hat’s Ansible Automation Platform and OpenShift. The Partner Practice Accelerator Program comprises a select group of partners that have demonstrated advanced technical knowledge and proven business practices by achieving Red Hat professional services credentials and certifications related to automation and application development. This positions them as trusted experts architecting, implementing and configuring tailored solutions for commercial customers.
As experts in automation and application modernization, certified services partners can help envision, shape and execute digital transformation roadmaps for customers, no matter how complex. To do this, they will gain extensive access to resources and professional services opportunities for enhancing profitability, differentiating in the market and generating customer success using Red Hat technologies.
Partners that have completed professional services certification – and currently participating in the Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Program – include Li9 Technology Solutions, Linux Plus, Sekom and Stone Door Group.
“This latest evolution of Red Hat’s partner engagement model sends a clear signal to our partners that Red Hat is prioritizing the ecosystem as the leading catalyst for customer value,” said Stefanie Chiras, SVP, Partner Ecosystem Success, Red Hat. “In order to deliver on the promise of hybrid cloud with customers, it is critical that we innovate collectively and transparently, and empower partners with easy access to information and shared data so we can address our customers’ unique challenges as a united front.”
Red Hat is also investing in making resources, expertise and open source solutions more accessible to partners. In supporting its updated engagement model, the company expects to help them more seamlessly operate with customers. In addition to continuous improvements to partner certification and credential pathways on the Red Hat Partner Training Portal, and expanded visibility for co-created solutions in the Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog, Red Hat is offering partners a platform for on-demand product demonstrations, including step-by-step instructions and talking points for customers.
The Red Hat Demo Platform, which will be available through Red Hat Partner Connect, will provide product demos that span the entire Red Hat portfolio, allowing partners to showcase open source innovations with customers in a low-risk environment. The platform includes multi-product demos and scripted workshops to deliver one- or two-day experiences for customers. Red Hat Demo Platform will also grant participating partners early access to demos of new product releases ahead of general availability.
Red Hat Partner Connect offers a single destination for new and current Red Hat partners to access new enhancements and Red Hat tools and resources to drive customer value and partner profitability.
Red Hat plans to launch its updated partner engagement model and programming in the second half of 2024. Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Program is an invite-only program now open to eligible partners globally. Red Hat Demo Platform is scheduled to be available in May 2024.
